Peter Mercer-Taylor is Professor of Musicology at the University of Minnesota. His teaching and scholarship have been divided between the nineteenth-century classical tradition--Felix Mendelssohn in particular--and contemporary popular music. Mercer-Taylor's articles have appeared in a range of journals, including 19th-Century Music, Popular Music, Musical Quarterly, The Journal of Musicology, Music & Letters, and Music Theory Spectrum.

"The text presents a lens into church hymnody that has been untapped by church music scholars in the past. This is a text to be read by students, directors, and those with a love and passion for hymnody." -- Thomas L. (Tom) Baynham, Jr., Senior Pastor at Friedens United Church of Christ in St. Charles, Missouri., The Hymn A Journal of Congregational Song

"An extensive companion website offers recordings and scores for more than 260 hymn tunes, making this erudite study accessible to a wide audience." -- P. D. Sanders, CHOICE

"Fascinating and beautifully written. A major achievement!" -- Stephen A. Crist, Emory University

"Mercer-Taylor's well-researched and erudite text is a revelation. Tracing the fascinating rise in popularity of European classical music in the US during the antebellum period, Mercer-Taylor provides a rich and informative explanation of how hymnody brought this music to a wide audience. Especially useful are the appendices and web site which tabulate the entire repertoire. Highly recommended." -- Andrew Shenton, Professor of Music, Boston University