Gospel Mandolin

Gospel Mandolin is a select group of gospel songs, hymns, and spirituals arranged for the mandolin, written in notation and tablature. Also included are four songs from the original sacred harp tradition. Shape-note music of the sacred harp tradition is sung a cappella in three or four parts, which are: Tenor (or melody), bass, treble, and usually alto or counter. The popularity that it enjoyed in the northeast United States in the 1780s recurred in communities in the rural south and central states by the early 1800’s. So many of these songs are authentically American-sounding and are very beautifully played on the mandolin.