One of my all time favorite books was the songbook we used in country school when I was in the first grade, 1960-1961. We sang from this book with our teacher, but I can't remember if she played the piano that was in our one-room schoolhouse. I absolutely loved many of these songs. My copy is dilapidated, but treasured.
The back cover.
My very favorite song, "Largo," which I tried rather unsuccessfully to play on our old pump organ.
And I played "Santa Lucia" over and over.
And the hauntingly sad "Old Black Joe." The older I got, the sadder this became to me, but I still love the tune.
And "Solomon Levi" was another I played so many times. The tune never failed to cheer me up on a bad day!
The book has patriotic songs, hymns, Christmas favorites, little children songs, etc.
I feel blessed growing up with these songs.
