Ananias Davisson

Ananias Davisson (1780-1857) was a successful entrepreneur, farmer, businessman, and publisher. Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, Davisson lived most of his life in and around Harrisonburg, VA (Rockingham County). In 1816, Davisson published "Kentucky Harmony" which was an immediate success and ultimately became the model for most shaped-note tunebooks published in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout the South. Davisson's collection, which went through many editions, utilized popular melodies of the day including folk hymns and anthems from some of the popular New England singing school manuals (Billings, et al).

Here is a note concerning Davisson activities from an historical account (I can't remember where I got it but I'm tracking it down and will post the source later):

Davisson was buried in a small church cemetery at Cross Keys, VA located about 5 miles east of Harrisonburg and his grave stone can still be seen today.

Ananias Davisson's Gravestone in Cross Keys, VA

Here are some other views of Davisson's gravestone. Click on any thumbnail to see an enlarged view:

Here's a nice view from the back of the cemetery showing the idyllic setting of goats grazing in an adjacent field:

Ananias Davisson Bibliography:

Eskew, Harry. "Shape-Note Hymnody." In The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie, 17, 223-228. Washington, D.C.: Grove's Dictionaries of Music, 1980. This is a scholarly article that notes Rockingham County efforts on shaped note music. Ananias Davisson and Joseph Funk are highlighted.

Eskew, Harry. "Shape-Note Hymnody in the Shenandoah Valley" (1966). Doctoral Dissertaion, Tulane University.

McDaniel, Lucille. The Singing-School Movement in Virginia.. [Bridgewater, Va.]: [Bridgewater College], 1992. i, 60p. Bibliography: p. 58-60. Typescript copy. A paper done at Bridgewater College for a senior honors project. This scholarly study looks at the importance of singing schools in Rockingham County. The emphasis is upon Ananias Davisson and his Kentucky Harmony and Joseph Funk and his musical work including the Harmonia Sacra. The continuance of shaped note singing and study is noted.

Lowens, Irving. Music and Musicians in Early America. New York: W.W. Norton, 1964. 328p.: illus., tables. Bibliography: p. 311-321. The role of Ananias Davisson and his shaped note singing book, Kentucky Harmony, is described in this scholarly study of early American music.