The late Ogasapian (music history, U. of Massachusetts) discusses the musical practices of religious groups in America from 1620 to 2000 for general readers, professional church musicians, pastors and seminarians, and students. He surveys some of the more prominent groups and their church music--making a distinction between it and sacred music--covering music from psalmody to black spirituals and white gospel hymns. The most emphasis is on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He does not include discussion of the Spanish colonies, synagogue music, or the liturgical music of the Eastern Orthodoxy and omits musical examples and analysis to keep the book nontechnical. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)