Da Capo reprinted HARPS IN THE WIND, the story of the Hutchinson Family
Singers, as well as a two-volume memoir by one of the brothers. There's
another single-volume "bio" of them by Philip Jordan, if memory serves,
called SINGING YANKEES. You probably know Stow Perss' THE DECLINE OF
AMERICAN GENTILITY (a good start, even if it is 20 years old). If you
can, get hold of Vera Brodsky Lawrence's STRONG ON MUSIC I: RESONANCES,
which was on remainder counters when last I looked. It's the first of
three projected volumes with the musical portions of GTS's diaries, and
go4es from 1836 to 1850. Strong wasn't awfully "sentimental" in his
musical tastes, but it is a start, and VBL's running commentary is worth
at least as much as GTS's entries. Finally, your library will certainly
have a run of AMERICAN MUSIC (the journal of the Sonneck Society), and
there are some articles there you might find helpful.
John Ogasapian, Music History
UMass/Lowell
ogasapiaj@woods.uml.edu