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Strong Songs of the Dead
Strong Songs of the Dead: The Pagan Rites of Sacred Harp | Th. Metzger
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Sacred Harp singing is a uniquely American synthesis: religion and release, the loud sound of olden times and the joy in the ever-present now, traditional practices that hold together hundreds of raw, raucous human voices. It’s sometimes asked, “Why does the Devil get all the best music?” In this case, God (or as author Th. Metzger claims - the gods) gave to America a wild gift.
Birthed before the U.S. was a nation, ebbing and swelling across the centuries, Sacred Harp singing is not just a collection of old hymns, but a vibrant social phenomenon, drawing in singers from far beyond the church. Driven into rural backwaters, where it hung on during its lean decades, in the twenty-first century, it is experiencing a renaissance, after northerners ventured to get the taste and feel, not just the sound, that has survived in pockets in the Deep South. Free and democratic, this is music for amateurs in the truest sense, that is, for those compelled by love, rather than a desire for money or accolades. Underneath the thin veneer of piety, singers – both old and new – feel a powerful, insistent, heartbeat.
Strong Songs of the Dead is the tale of a journey, not a mere travelogue, but venturing back into ancestral time, to that place called by some “That Old Weird America.” Th. Metzger goes in with eyes and ears wide open. And he goes deep, in more than one case singing in the heart of the earth, as though to discover the secret subterranean well-springs of the sound. The living and the dead, the lost and the found, strangers and dear friends, join him on this journey.
A current of darkness runs through Sacred Harp singing; and neither does Strong Songs of the Dead shy away from grief, loss, and longing. Like the songs at the heart of the story, the chapters of Metzger’s memoir are short, plentiful, and unrestrained, yet they all lead to themes of heartfelt living and holy dying. There is tragedy here, but through all that pulses a passionate vitality, an irrepressible cry for life.
LibraryThing
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“Th. Metzger uses short, individualistic chapters to get the reader to feel the connection to ancient beliefs and practices, to our ancestors and their manners and music.“

Sue Hengelsberg reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 for the 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒌 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/sue-hengelsberg-reviews-strong-songs...

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA

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Mildred Faintly from the 96th of October literary journal reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th, Metzger.

Read the full review and purchase the book at: https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/96th-of-october-says-book-is-a-wonde...

#HollowSquare #FASOLA #SacredHarp #StrongSongs #SingLoud

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Another wonderful review on Amazon for 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th. Metzger.

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #amazonreviews

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Nick Pappas reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th. Metzger.

Read the full review at: https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/nick-pappas-reviews

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #StrongSongs

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A recent Amazon review for 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th. Metzger.

#HollowSquare #FASOLA #SacredHarp #StrongSongs

Read the full review at:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/a-mystical-look-at-the-mind-states-s...

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Sarah Perry reviews Th. Metzger's 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅.

Read the full review at StrongSongsoftheDead.com

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #BookReview

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Find out more:

StrongSongsoftheDead.com

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #SingLoud

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More kind words for 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 from our advanced readers.

Read their reviews and order the book at:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/kelly-macklin-and-erin-fulton-review

#HollowSquare #FASOLA #SacredHarp #StrongSongs #BookReviews #AdvancedReaders

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After five days and five ratings, 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th. Metzger is still holding on at five stars!

Thank you for standing with us in the #HollowSquare.

#SacredHarp #FASOLA #StrongSongs #Amazon

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David Smith from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by Th. Metzger.

Read the full review and purchase the book at:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/david-smith-reviews

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA

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Alex Kies, copy editor for 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑, interviews author Th. Metzger:

https://alexkies.substack.com/p/strong-songs-of-the-dead

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AVAILABLE NOW❗️

In 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅, author Th. Metzger takes the reader deep into the experience of #SacredHarp singing, exploring the evolution of this raw and raucous sound from its origins before the birth of the United States to its renaissance in the twenty-first century.

Available WORLDWIDE as a Paperback, eBook, and a Limited Signed Hardcover Edition of only 99 copies❗️

Stand with us in the #HollowSquare.

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Author Carl Abrahamsson reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger.

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #StrongSongs

Read the full review and pre-order the book at:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/carl-abrahamsson-author-of-source-ma...

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Pre-order 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger:

StrongSongsoftheDead.com

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #ShapeNoteSinging #StrongSongsoftheDead

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Steven Sherrill reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅.

Read the full review and pre-order the book at:

https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/review-steven-sherrill

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #BookReview

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The Sacred Harp is often called “singers' music,“ rather than “listeners' music“, and our little possum friend extols you to SING LOUD❗

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #FASOLA #SingLoud

UnderworldAmusements T-shirts, tunebooks, stickers and more available at:

StrongSongsoftheDead.com
5mo
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LibraryThing is giving away 30 FREE #ebook copies of 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 as part of their Early Reviewers program❗

🚨Registration ends on June 25th🚨

———⬇———
https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/librarything-givaway-of-strong-songs...

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Chip Smith of Nine-Banded Books reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger.

Read the full review and pre-order the book at:

StrongSongsoftheDead.com

#HollowSquare #SacredHarp #BookReviews

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Stand inside the #HollowSquare.

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger is available for pre-order❗

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UnderworldAmusements
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LibraryThing is giving away 30 FREE #ebook copies of 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 as part of their Early Reviewers program❗

🚨Registration ends on June 25th🚨

———⬇———
https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/librarything-givaway-of-strong-songs...

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Christian Goodwillie reviews 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger.

#HollowSquare

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Read the full review and pre-order the book at: StrongSongsoftheDead.com

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Step into the #HollowSquare with Th. Metzger in 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑, available for pre-order now❗

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 delves into the uniquely and deeply American tradition of Sacred Harp singing, exploring its evolution from its origins before the birth of the United States to its renaissance in the twenty-first century.

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𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger delves into the uniquely and deeply American tradition of Sacred Harp singing, exploring its evolution from its origins before the birth of the United States to its renaissance in the twenty-first century.

#HollowSquare

Now available for pre-order❗
———⬇️———
https://underworldamusements.com/collections/books

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LibraryThing is giving away 30 FREE copies of 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑 by Th. Metzger (eBook) as part of their Early Reviewers program!

Find out more:
https://strongsongsofthedead.com/blogs/news/librarything-givaway-of-strong-songs...

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Publisher Kevin I. Slaughter reads Chapter 1: DOWN IN THE FLOOD from Th. Metzger's new book, 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑.

#HollowSquare
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𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 is now available for pre-order❗

https://youtu.be/Z20t_qNOd0o?si=p6w966C44QIPSYLd

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Step into the #HollowSquare with Th. Metzger in:

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑
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Birthed before the U.S. was a nation, ebbing and swelling across the centuries, Sacred Harp singing is not just a collection of old hymns, but a vibrant social phenomenon.

UnderworldAmusements 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 is the tale of a journey, not a mere travelogue, but a venturing back into ancestral time, to that place some call “That Old Weird America.” Th. Metzger goes in with eyes and ears wide open. And he goes deep, in more than one case singing in the very heart of the earth, as though to discover the secret subterranean well-springs of the sound. The living and the dead join him on this adventure. 6mo
UnderworldAmusements This ain't no church choir music. This is a wild gift given by the old gods! 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 is the the story of America's oldest, and darkest, living folk music tradition. 6mo
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