An expansive resource of square dance history, repertoire, and more. Also contains a vast collection of stories, photographs, video, and audio.
An archive of almost 1600 Ozark Mountain folk songs, recorded between 1956 and 1976.
From Missouri State University
The MacEdward Leach collection of Songs of Atlantic Canada
This collection includes songs from Cape Breton and Newfoundland.
From Memorial University
Early American Songsters, 1734-1820: An Index
This resource is an index of all of the known songsters currently available. Lowens defines a songster “as a collection of three or more secular poems intended to be sung.” Most of the songsters do not include music, although many contain references to the names of tunes to which the song could be sung. References to where to find the songsters is provided.
Compiled by Robert M. Keller
Juneberry 78s: Early American Roots Music
Collection of recordings from the 1920s and on in an online listening library. Many genres of early US folk as well as Cape Breton, Calypso, Irish, and more.
Canadian Folk Music is a journal published by the Canadian Society for Traditional Music containing articles, notices, reviews, and commentary on all aspects of Canadian folk music.
This collection provides access to digital images for over 3,000 pieces from the collection, published in the United States between 1850 and 1920.
From Duke University Libraries
GEMS: The Best of The Country Dance and Song Society Diamond Jubilee Music, Dance and Song Contest
This online collection contains American (e.g., contra, mixer, triplet) dances, English dances (with music), tunes, and songs composed by the country dance and song community.
From CDSS
Digital Library of Appalachia (Music Collection)
A searchable database of several thousand non-commercial sound recordings that document much of Appalachian music’s geographic, ethnic, vocal, and instrumental diversity.
From the Appalachia College Association
Peter and Mary Alice offer more than 30 (and adding more all the time) free downloads of sheet music of accessible choral arrangements, mostly a cappella SATB, that are steeped in traditional music. Most are Amidon arrangements; there are a few by other old and new composers and arrangers, including a selection of classic American shape note songs.
From Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.