Songs for the Season

Henry Purcell wrote a “Harvest Home,” and in old England, harvest songs to celebrate the changing season were in fact a tradition. Closer to home, our own Jeremiah Ingalls published one such song in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1805. We find its eloquent melody and somber text to be much in keeping with the current moment, and herewith offer it to you, paired with another tune that Ingalls employed, “The Cuba March.”

Here we hear:

Harvest Hymn (Jeremiah Ingalls) William Hite, tenor; Daniel McCabe, baritone; Joel Frederiksen, bass. From Trav’ ling Home, American Spirituals 1770-1870

The Cuba March (Anglo-American March, 18th c.) with The New Union (Jeremiah Ingalls). With: Eric Martin fiddle; Jesse Lepkoff, flute; Reinmar Seidler, cello. From Free America! Early Songs of Resistance and Rebellion (Harmonia Mundi, 2019)