ANDREW ADGATE
Andrew Adgate (b. Norwich, Conn., 22 March 1762; d. Philadelphia, Pa., ca. 30 Sept. 1793) was a singing master, concert organizer, conductor, and wool-card manufacturer. He assisted Andrew Law at a singing school in Philadelphia in April 1783, and by 1784 he had established there an 'Institution for the Encouragement of Church Music,' reorganized in 1787 as the Uranian Academy. Adgate's schools were supported by subscription. Between 1785 and 1790 subscribers received tickets to choral concerts given by singing scholars under his direction. As well as the tunebooks mentioned here, Adgate compiled an anthology of sacred texts: Select Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Mr. Adgate's Pupils (Philadelphia, 1787). Evans and others have also claimed him as the 'Absalom Aimwell' who compiled The Philadelphia Songster (Philadelphia, 1789), though without producing evidence for the attribution.
Amerigrove, Baker's, Bio-bib, DAB, Grove, Metcalf. Also Crawford 1968, p. 63-69; Cummings 1975; Lowens 1976, p. 20; Rourke 1942, p. 170-76; Sonneck 1907. p. 103-21. Birth date in Perkins 1900, p. 6.
See also Nos. 346, 456, 503, and 504.
PHILADELPHIA HARMONY & RUDIMENTS OF MUSIC, 1788-1808
In 1788 Andrew Adgate, identifying himself as 'P.U.A.'-President of the Uranian Academy-brought out a manual which he called Rudiments of Music. Thus begins the complicated history of the most frequently reprinted tunebook to appear outside New England during the years before 1810. Rudiments contains no music, which makes it unusual, since musical instructions normally introduced a collection of tunes. The year after Rudiments appeared, Adgate added a tune collection, Philadelphia Harmony, to it. The combination has caused bibliographical confusion, chiefly because Adgate maintained the separate identity of the two parts by including two title-pages in all editions. By so doing he protected the copyright of Rudiments, and he made it possible to continue selling Rudiments separately. Rudiments of Music, though combined with Philadelphia Harmony, continued to be paged separately through the edition of 1791. The title-page of Philadelphia Harmony, the primary title of the work, is printed from an engraved plate; in no issue does it give the edition number or date. In contrast, the Rudiments title-page was freshly set in type for each edition. It carries full imprint data and, from the third edition (1790) on, an edition number. Adgate and Ishmail Spicer were co-compilers of the first two issues of Philadelphia Harmony, but in 1791, when the fourth edition appeared, Spicer's name was dropped from the title-page, never to return. Apparently the two men had a falling out. On 11 Νον. 1791, Andrew Law wrote from Alexandria, Virginia, to William Law in Cheshire, Connecticut: Mr. Spicer tells me that he has done with Adgate, and shall return to his friends in Connecticut next Spring and quit this part of the Country.' (Law Papers; quoted in Crawford 1968, p. 62n.) A further complication occurred in 1791, with the appearance of Philadelphia Harmony Part II, which survives in two forms: bound with Rudiments of Music, and bound in as an addendum to Philadelphia Harmony, both forms bearing the same undated title-page. Thus, by 1791, Philadelphia Harmony / Rudiments consisted of three separate items which, though they formed a whole, also were sold individually.
Adgate died in 1793, but his collection enjoyed several posthumous editions. From 1796, the new publisher, Mathew Carey, issued all three parts together and paged them consecutively. Bibliographical hazards persist, however, for in some surviving copies the first title-page (Philadelphia Harmony) is missing, so that the second (Rudiments of Music), because it is complete with edition number, imprint, and date, has been mistaken by cataloguers for the only title.
Rudiments of Music, [1st ed.], 1788
(ASMI 2)
Rudiments of Music. By Andrew Adgate, PU.A. Philadelphia, printed and sold by John M'Culloch, in Third-Street, near Market-Street. M.DCC.LXXX.VIII.
22 p. 13 x 23 cm.
Copyright granted, 27 March 1788, Philadelphia County, to Andrew Adgate. Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 8 April 1788, advertises work as just published. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. 3-4. "Chapter 1'; p. 4-11, 'Chapter 2'; p. 11-14, 'Chapter 3'; p. 15-19, 'Chapter 4: p. 20-22, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice.'
No music.
E20916 (RPJCB). ICN, RPJCB*
NOTE: The newspaper announcement of the work's appearance notes: "This performance is introduced into the Uranian Academy of this city: it contains new and advantageous improvements on the former method of teaching music. Adgate's 'improvements' are cen-tered in the section 'Of Transposition, p. 7-11. Here he introduces an original solmization system using seven syllables instead of the standard four. According to Adgate's method a major scale is sung; fa, so, la, ba, do, na, me, fa. A footnote on p. 11 reads in part: "This method of solfaing, has many advantages above the old British mode of repeating the same syllable with every fourth note. (For a conflicting opinion by a contemporary, see 'Mr. Adgate's New Plan of Solfaing, Examined," in Andrew Law, The Musical Magazine 1 [1792]; No. 346.) The 'old British mode,' in which a major scale was sung: fa, sol, la, fa, sol, la, mi, fa-and which was used universally in eighteenth-century America-was reintroduced in the 8th ed. of Adgate's work (1803).
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, [2d ed.], 1789
(ASMI 3)
Philadelphia Harmony, or, A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems, selected by Adgate and Spicer, together with The Rudiments of Music, on a new, and improved, plan, by A. Adgate. P.U.A. Philadelphia: printed for the authors, & sold by Westcott & Adgate, at their card-manufactory, Front-Street, seven doors below Arch-Street. [2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music. By Andrew Adgate, P.U.A. Philadelphia, printed and sold by John M'Culloch, in Third-Street, near Market-Street. M.DCC.LXXX.IX.
1 p.l., 20, 56 p. 13 x 23 cm. p.l., p. 1-56 engraved.
P.l. recto, t.-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. 3-17, 'Rudiments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. 17, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 18-19, texts for 3 hymns; p. 20, 'Index'; p. 1-56, music.
61 compositions, incl. 4 anthems & 1 set-piece, for 4 voices, some for 2 & 3; full text. Attribs. to Billings (7), Brownson (2), Bull (2), Carpenter, Edson (3), Horton, King (2). Dr. Madan (2), Read (3), Spicer (2), J. Stephenson (2), Strong, Swan (3), Tansur (5). Weal, Williams (9), Wood. 3 1st pr. identified (CARLISLE, NEW JERSEY, PSALM 136). 30 American compositions, 30 non-American, unidentified [MORNING HYMN] (28 attrib. Americans, 2 traced [NORWICH, OCEAN]; 19 attrib. non-Americans [MORNING HYMN attrib. Tans'ur-wrongly], 12 traced). 48 Core Repertory.
E21629 (PHI). DLC (lacks 2d t-p.; front matter inc.), MiU-C*, PHi (lacks 1st t-p.).
NOTE: The copyright notice, dated 27 March 1788, is the one for Rudiments of Music. It is included in all editions through the 7th (1801).
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 3d ed., 1790
(ASMI 4)
Philadelphia Harmony, or, A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems, selected by Adgate and Spicer. Philadelphia: printed for the authors, & sold by Westcott & Adgate, at their card-manufactory, Front-Street, seven doors below Arch-Street. [2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music. By Andrew Adgate, P.U.A. The third edition. Philadelphia, printed by John M'Culloch, in Third-Street, near Market-Street. And sold by the author, opposite the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, between Market and Arch-Streets. M.DCC.XC.
1 p.l., 20, 56 p.p.l., p. 1-56 engraved.
Contents same as 2d ed. (No. 3). Engraved portions printed from same plates as 2d ed.
Music same as 2d ed.
E22299 (MWA). CtHC (music inc.), CtHi (personal copy of Ishmail Spicer), CtY, DLC, MWA, NN, PHi.
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 4th ed., 1791
(ASMI 5)
Philadelphia Harmony, or, A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems, selected by A. Adgate: together with The Rudiments of Music, on a new and improved plan, by A. Adgate. PU.A. Philadelphia: printed for the author, & sold by Westcott & Adgate, at their card-manufactory, Front-Street, seven doors below Arch-Street[.]
[2d t-p.] Rudiments Of Music. By Andrew Adgate, P.U.A. The fourth edition. Philadelphia, printed and sold by John M'Culloch; and also sold by the author, at No. 59. North Front-Street. M.DCC.XCI. (Entered according to act of Congress.)
1 p.l., 20, 56 p.p.l., p. 1-56 engraved.
Contents same as 3rd ed. (No. 4). Engraved portions printed from same plates as 2d ed. (No. 3); Spicer removed from t-p.
Music same as 2d ed.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). NcWsM, NJPT.
(ASMI 5A)
Philadelphia Harmony... selected by Adgate and Spicer... Philadelphia: printed for the authors, & sold by Westcott & Adgate, at their card-manufactory, Front-Street, seven doors below Arch-Street.
[2d t-p.] Rudiments Of Music.... The fourth edition... M.DCC.XCI. (Entered according to act of Congress.)
1 p.l., 20, 56 p. p.l., p. 1-56 engraved.
Contents same as main entry. Engraved portions printed from same plates as main entry, except that t-p. of 2d & 3d eds., mentioning Spicer, retained.
Music same as main entry.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). PHi".
Philadelphia Harmony, Philadelphia Harmony Part II, Rudiments of Music, 4th ed., 1791
(ASMI 6 )
Philadelphia Harmony…
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music.. The fourth edition.....
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony, or, A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems, selected by Andrew Adgate. Part II.
1 p.l., 20, 56 p., 11., 24 p. p.l., p. 1-56, leaf, p. 1-24 engraved.
Pl. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. 3-17, 'Rudiments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. 17, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 18-19, texts for 3 hymns; p. 20, 'Index' covering p. 1-56; p. 1-56, music; l. recto, 3d t-p.; verso blank; p. 1-24, music. p.l., p. 1-56 printed from same plates as 4th ed. (No. 5).
Music of Philadelphia Harmony same as 2d ed. (No. 3).
Part II: 29 compositions, incl. 1 set-piece & 1 canon, for 4 voices, some for 2 & 3; some w. full text, others textless. Attribs. to Benham, Billings, Cornwell, Revd. Dr. Davidson, A. Davis, Edson, Lyon, Dr. Madan, Morgan (6), Tuckey. 4 1st pr. identified (CHAMBERSTOWN, DESPAIR, HOSANNAH, NORRISTOWN), also 1 1st Am. pr. (WILLIAMSBURG). 15 American compositions, 13 non-American, 1 unidentified [WILLIAMSBURG] (14 attrib. Americans, 1 traced [NEW 100]; 1 attrib. non-Americans, 12 traced). 10 Core Repertory.
E46110 (MWA). MH, MWA
Philadelphia Harmony Part II & Rudiments of Music, 4th ed., 1791
(ASMI 7 )
Philadelphia Harmony … Part II.
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music.... The fourth edition…
1 p.l., 20, 24 p. p.l., p. 1-24 engraved.
Contents of Rudiments same as 4th ed. (No. 6). Contents of Philadelphia Harmony Part II same as 4th ed. Engraved portions printed from same plates as in 4th ed.
Music same as Philadelphia Harmony Part II, 4th ed.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). MH, NJPT.
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 4th [t.e., 5th] ed., 1796
(ASMI 8)
Philadelphia Harmony … Philadelphia: printed for and sold by Mathew Carey No. 118 Market Street.
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music.... The fourth edition. Philadelphia, printed for, and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 118, Market Street. M.DCC.XCVI. (Entered according to act of Congress.)
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony Part II.
1 p.l., 102 p.p.l., p. 21-102 engraved.
Pl. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice, with note: "The Copy-Right of the above book has been regularly transferred to the present publisher.'; p. 3-17, 'Rudi-ments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. 17, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 18-[19], texts for 3 hymns; p. [20], 'Index' covering p. 21-102; p. 21-76, music; p. [77], 3d t-p.; p. [78] blank; p. 79-102, music. The p.l. and p. 21-68, 70-71, 74-75, and [77]-102 are printed from the same plates as Philadelphia Harmony, 4th ed., and Philadelphia Harmony Part II (1791) (No. 6), with only the t-p. imprint and the page numbers changed. (P. 1-48, 50-51-54-55 of the earlier item are renumbered 21-68, 70-71, 74-75; the p.l. and p. 1-24 of Part II are renumbered [77]-102.) P. 69, 72-73, and 76 have the same music as the original p. 49. 52-53, and 56 but are reengraved.
Music same as 4th ed. (No. 6): 90 compositions, incl. 4 anthems, 2 set-pieces, & 1 canon, for 4 voices, some for 2 & 3; most w. full text, some textless. Attribs. to Benham, Billings (8), Brownson (2), Bull (2), Carpenter, Cornwell, Revd. Dr. Davidson, A. Davis, Edson (4), Horton, King (2), Lyon, Dr. Madan (3), Morgan (6), Read (3), Spicer (2), J. Stephenson (2), Strong, Swan (3), Tansur (5), Tuckey, Weal, Williams (9), Wood. Not 1st pr. identified. 45 American compositions, 43 non-American, 2 unidentified [MORNING HYMN, WILLIAMSBURG] (42 attrib. Americans, 3 traced; 20 attrib. non-Americans [1 wrongly], 24 traced). 58 Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). NJPT, OCIWHi (lacks 1st t-p.; music inc.), PPIPT.
Philadelphia Harmony Rudiments of Music, 5th [i.e., 6th] ed., 1797
(ASMI 9)
Philadelphia Harmony...
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music...... The fifth edition. Philadelpia: printed for, and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 118, Market-Street. M,DCC,XCVII. (Entered according to act of Congress.)
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony Part 11.
1 p.l., 102 p. p.l., p. 21-102 engraved.
Contents same as 4th (i.e., 5th] ed. (No. 8). p.l., p. [77]-102, and most of p. 21-76 printed from same plates as 4th [i.c., 5th] ed., 1796 (No. 8).
Music same as 4th [i.e., 5th] ed.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). CtY* (b.w. [Cole,] The Beauties, 1804).
NOTE: The process of re-engraving the plates of Philadelphia Harmony, which began in the edition of 1796, was completed by 1803. Re-engraving took place piecemeal. Sometimes whole pages were redone, sometimes only titles or attributions or texts. The re-engraving process needs to be traced in detail through the several editions, but that has not been attempted here.
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 6th [i.e., 7th] ed., 1799
(ASMI 10)
Philadelphia Harmony…
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music.... The sixth edition. Philadelphia: printed for, and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 118, Market-Street. Jan. 14th, 1799. (Entered according to act of Congress.)
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony … Part II.
1 p.l., 110 p.p.l., p. 21-110 engraved. 1 p. 5 wrongly numbered 9.
P.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. 3-17, 'Rudiments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. 17, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 18-19, texts for 3 hymns; p. [20], 'Index' covering p. 21-102; p. 21-76, music; p. [77], 3d t-p.; p. [78] blank; p. 79-110, music. p.l., p. [77]-102, & some of p. 21-76, printed from same plates as 4th [L.e., 5th] ed., 1796 (No. 8).
Music same as 4th [i.c., 5th] ed. (No. 8), except that an anthem attributed to Williams is added, p. 103-10, making the final count 91 compositions, incl. 5 anthems, 2 set-pieces, & 1 canon, for 4 voices, some for 2 & 3; most w. full text, some textless. Attribs. to Benham, Billings (8), Brownson (2), Bull (2), Carpenter, Cornwell, Revd. Dr. Davidson, A. Davis, Edson (4), Horton, King (2), Lyon, Dr. Madan (3), Morgan (6), Read (3), Spicer (2), J. Stephenson (2), Strong, Swan (3), Tansur (5), Tuckey, Weal, Williams (to), Wood. No 1st pr. identified. 45 American compositions, 44 non-American, 2 unidentified [MORNING HYMN, WILLIAMSBURG) (42 attrib. Americans, 3 traced; 21 attrib, non-Americans [1 wrongly], 24 traced). 58 Core Repertory.
E35083 (RPJCB). CtHC, InGo (inc.; b.w. Holden, The Union Harmony 1, 3d ed., 1801), NBuG (inc.; lacks p.l., p. [77-78], all after p. 102), NRU-Mus, OCIWHi, PHi*, PPIPT, RPJCB (music inc.).
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 7th [i.e., 8th] ed., 1801
(ASMI 11)
Philadelphia Harmony …
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music. The seventh edition, enlarged by the addition of an anthem from sundry scriptures. Philadelphia: printed for, and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 118, Market-Street. October 1st, 1801. (Copy right secured according to act of Congress.) [3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony Part II.
1 p.l., 110 p.p.l., p. 21-110 engraved.
Contents same as 6th [i.c., 7th] ed. (No. 10), except that the 'Index' covers p. 21-110. p.l., p. [77]-110, & some of p. 21-76, printed from same plates as 6th [i.e., 7th] ed.
Music same as 6th [i.e., 7th] ed.
S22 (PPPrHi). CtY (lacks 3d t-p.), NjPT (lacks 1st t-p.), PHi, PPPrHi*.
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 8th [i.e., 9th] ed., 1803
(ASMI 12)
Philadelphia Harmony …
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music: by Andrew Adgate, late president of the Uranian Academy. The eighth edition, enlarged by the addition of an anthem from sundry scriptures, and the old British mode of solfaing. Philadelphia: printed for, and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 118, Market-Street. August, 1803. (Copy right secured according to act of Congress.)
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony Part II.
1 pl., 13, 15-16, 18, 21-110 p. p.l., p. 21-110 engraved. The gaps in pagina-tion, found in all complete copies, occurred when Rudiments was set on 16 p. rather than 20. Apparently in an attempt to conceal the resulting gap-from 1796 on, the plates for the music were numbered beginning with p. 21-the pagination of the present Rudiments was made eccentric.
Pl. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-13, 'Rudiments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. 15, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 15-16, texts for 3 hymns; p. 16, 'Rules for finding Mi, and calling the Notes agreeable to the old British mode'; p. 18, 'Index To The Tunes'; p. 21-76, music; p. [77], 3d t-p.; p. [78] blank; p. 79-110, music. p.l., p. [77]-110 printed from same plates as 6th [i.e., 7th] ed. (No. 10). P. 21-76 now entirely reengraved since 4th [i.e., 5th] ed. (No. 8).
Music same as 6th [ie., 7th] ed.
S3698 (MWA). ICN (lacks 1st 1-p.; front matter & music inc.), MWA, MIU-C (2), NN (lacks 1st t-p.; b.w. Fobes, The Delaware Harmony, 1809), OCTWHi (t-ps. lacking, front matter & music inc.).
Philadelphia Harmony Rudiments of Music, 9th (i.e., 10th) ed., 1807
(ASMI 13)
Philadelphia Harmony...
[2d t-p.] Rudiments of Music... The ninth edition... Philadelphia: printed for and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 122, Market Street. March, 1807. (Copy right secured according to act of Congress.)
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony Part II
1 p.l., 15, [1], 21-110 p.1 p.l., p. 21-110 engraved.
Pl. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 2d t-p.; p. [2] blank, p. 3-13, ['Rudiments of Music'] in 4 'chapters'; p. 14. "Lessons for Tuning the Voice'; p. 14-15, texts for 3 hymns; p. 15. 'Rules for finding the Mi, and calling the Notes agreeable to the old British mode'; p. [16], 'Index To The Tunes'; p. 21-76, music; p. [77], 3d t-p.; p. [78] blank; p. 79-110, music. Engraved portions printed from same plates as 8th [i.e., 9th] ed. (No. 12). The publisher's address on the p.l. is changed.
Music same as 6th [i.c., 7th] ed. (No. 10).
S11948 (MWA). MWA".
Philadelphia Harmony & Rudiments of Music, 9th [ie., 11th ed., [1808]
(ASMI 14)
Rudiments of Music: by Andrew Adgate, late president of the Uranian Academy. The ninth edition... Philadelphia: printed for and sold by Mathew Carey, No. 122, Market Street. March, 1807. (Copy right secured according to act of Congress.) [2d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony or A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems, Selected by A. Adgate. Together with the Rudiments of Music on a new & improved plan by A. Adgate P.U.A. Copy right secured. With an improved mode of teaching music to facilitate the progress of a learner-by John Jenkins Husband. Philad. Pub. by M. Carey No. 122 Market St.
[3d t-p.] Philadelphia Harmony... Part II.
15, [1] p., 31, 21-110 p. p. 1, 1st 1. recto, 2d & 3d 1. verso, p. 21-110 engraved.
Music printed in a form of shape notation invented by John Jenkins Husband. [1808.] A series of 4 letters in the Carey Papers from John Jenkins Husband to Mathew Carey, 1806-8, traces Husband's successful effort to convince Carey to convert this work from standard notation to a shape notation Husband had devised. The new notation involved putting short lines through the note heads, with the solfa syllables being identified by the direction of the lines. Husband's letter of 7 June 1808 reports to Carey that he has corrected the proofs for the new edition, so it was probably issued not long after that date. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-15, 'Rudiments of Music' in 4 'chapters'; p. [16], 'Index'; 1st 1. recto, 2d t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto blank; verso, 'Lessons for Tuning the Voice on an Improved Plan'; 3d 1. recto blank; verso, more lessons; p. 21-76, music; p. [77], 3d t-p.; p. [78] blank; p. 79-110, music. p. [1], p. 21-110 printed from same plates as 8th [i.e., 9th] ed. (No. 12), with marks added for shape notation. An addition is also made to p. [1].
Music same as 6th [i.e., 7th] ed.
Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). DLC, ICN*.
NOTE: One more issue appeared after 1810: 10th [i.e., 12th] ed. (Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1811). The only copy located to date is in PPIPT.
ASMI pp. 80 - 88