JOHN AITKEN

John Aitken (b. Dalkeith, Scotland, ca. 1745; d. Philadelphia, Pa., 8 Sept. 1831) was a composer, music engraver, publisher, and dealer, and metalsmith. Arriving in Philadelphia by 1785, he began to publish music in 1787. Between that year and 1793 he issued at least 20 items, mostly secular collections and pieces. Active as a publisher of secular music before anyone else in America, he is also the first American known to have engraved music plates with steel punches rather than by hand. From 1793 to 1806 he worked at his trade as a silversmith, issuing few music titles. In 1806 he returned to the music business; between that year and 1811 he brought out many secular songs and collections, and more sacred music as well-a total running to some 200 items in all.

        Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Grove, Metcalf, Wolfe. Also Krummel 1958, p. 116-22; Philadelphia Dir., 1793-1825; Wolfe 1980, p. 41-42, 108-15, and elsewhere.

See also No. 531.

AITKEN'S COLLECTION OF DIVINE MUSIC, 1806-7

Aitken's Collection of Divine Music, [1st ed., 1806]

( ASMI 15 )

Aitken's Collection of Divine Music, consisting of psalms, hymns, chants & anthems. For one, two, three & four voices[,] organ & pianaforte[.] Pr. dols. Philad. pub. by John Aitken No. 33 South Second Street. [The t-p. is unusually elaborate, including 4 illustrations, 3 headed with biblical inscriptions.]

4 p.l., 2, 120 p. 19 x 26 cm. p.l. 2-4 typeset; the rest engraved. Unsigned, but probably engraved by John Aitken, a music engraver himself.

Copyright notice dated 13 Aug. 1806, District of Pennsylvania, to Aitken as proprietor. Announced under 'New Works' in Monthly Anthology and Boston Review (Oct. 1806). 1st p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto, copyright notice; verso blank; 3d 1. recto & verso, Introduction'; 4th 1. recto, 'Subscribers Names' (includes William White, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania; also Rayner Taylor, Alexander Reinagle, John Cole, and John Connelly); verso, 'Index'; p. 1-2, rudiments; p. [1] blank; p. 2-120, music. The Holy Scriptures are a sufficient testimony, that vocal and instrumental music have been used in the earliest ages. No evil spirit cares to abide where music or harmony is settled: and certainly, when it is composed into a sweet and regular composition, suitable to the subject, it renders it more fit for the holy spirit to work upon, and convey more truth to the understanding.' (Extract from Introduction).

        152 compositions (160 printed, 13 times [MAGDALENE/SURREY/WOOBURN] & 6 twice [MILES'S LANE / SCARBOROUGH; also 5 Core Repertory pieces, q.v. below]), incl. 3 anthems, 1 set-piece, 1 canon, & 26 chants, for 2, 3. & 4 voices, some w. keyboard acc.; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arne, Dr. Arnold, Emmanuel Bach, Dr. Boyce, Brenthank, Bristol Coll., H. Carey (3), Jeremiah Clark, Conder, Corelli, Courteville (2), R. Creyghton, Dr. Croft, Denby, Edson (2), F. England, 'from the German' (2), Dr. Green, George Green, Handel (3), Harrison (2), R. Harrison (3), Dr. Heighington, Hopkinson (2), Dr. Hourd, Saml. Howard, P. Humphries, Jackson (2), G. Kirby, Knibb's Coll., 'ascribed to M. Luther," Dr. Madan, Revd. Mr. Martin Madan, B. Milgrove, Dr. Miller (4), John Milton, I. Norris, Porter, Dr. Randal, Ravenscroft, Shrubsole, Is. Smith (3), Stephenson, Tansur, R[ayner] Taylor (6), Thorley, Dr. Turner, Wainwright, Wm. Wheall, Whitehead, Williams. 7 1st pr. (Anthem: Try me; 3 chants attrib. R. Taylor, HYMN attrib. Taylor, PHILADELPHIA, TRIO attrib. Taylor), 47 1st Am. pr. (Anthem: O Lord; ARTAXERXES, BANBURY, BOUND-LESS LOVE, BRODSWORTH, CAMBDEN, CAMBRIDGE, 21 chants [Benedictus; Chants attrib. Dr. Green, Jackson, Porter, Dr. Turner, 5 unattrib. items labeled "Chant"; 3 Double Chants, 1 unattrib. 1 attrib. Jackson & 1 attrib. I. Norris; 2 labeled Gloria in Excelsis; Glory be to Thee; Grand Chant; Magnificat; Nunc Dimittis; Response to the Ten Command-ments; Venite Exultemus], CHARD, GALLWAY, LEEDS, LONSDALE, MONTGOMERY, NEWMARKET, PSALM 63, PSALM 95, REFUGE, RETURN, RIDLEY, SANCTUS, ST. ANDREW'S, ST. MICHEL'S, ST. PETER'S, ST. PETER'S CHURCH, SALISBURY, SED-DON, SUFFOLK), & 1 poss. 1st Am. pr. (ST. PAUL'S). 11 American compositions, 115 non-American, 34 unidentified [BANBURY, BOUNDLESS LOVE, 16 chants (Benedictus; Chant attrib. Jackson; 5 unattrib. Chants; 1 unattrib. Double Chant & 1 attrib. Jackson; 2 Gloria in Excelsis; Glory be to Thee; Magnificat; Nunc Dimittis; Response to the Ten Commandments; Venite Exultemus), CHRIST ASCENDING, LEEDS, MORNING HYMN, PSALM 18, PSALM 63, PSALM 95, REFUGE, RETURN, SANCTUS, ST. ANDREW'S, ST. MICHEL'S, ST. PETER'S, ST. PETER'S CHURCH, SEDDON, SHIPHAM, SUFFOLK] (10 attrib. Americans, traced [PARIS]; 58 attrib. non-Americans, 57 traced). 33 Core Repertory (actually 38 printed, ST. JAMES twice, and 4 duplicated under other titles: BURFORD AS NORWICH, NEWTON AS FALCON STREET, ST. GEORGE'S As LINCOLN, WINDSOR AS GOOD FRYDAY).

Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). MWA".

Aitken's Collection of Divine Music, [2d ed., 1807?]

(ASMI 16) 

Aitken's Collection of Divine Music, consisting of psalms, hymns, & anthems. For one, two, three & four voices[.] organ & pianaforte[.] Pr. dols. Philad. pub. by John Aitken No. 33 South Second Street. [Same decorations on t-p. as No. 15.]

1 p.l., 160, [1] p. 16 x 25.5 cm. Engraved throughout. Unsigned, but probably engraved by John Aitken, a music engraver himself.

Copyright granted, 7 Oct. 1807, District of Pennsylvania, to Aitken as proprietor, for 'A Collection of Sacred Music (Penn. 2:167). Perhaps that was for this work, whose musical content, despite the title-page similarity, overlaps very little with No. 15. The notice of Aitken's 'A Collection of Divine Music' in the Monthly Anthology and Boston Review (Oct. 1806), p. 555, refers to a 120 p. book, pointing to No. 15 rather than this item, which has 160 pages. A title-page comparison reveals this as later than No. 15: a gap is seen where the word 'chants' had first appeared between 'hymns' and '& anthems on No. 15's t-p. p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. 1-160, music; p. [161], music. T-p. printed from the same plate as No. 15.

        65 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 21 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices w. keyboard accompaniment; full text. Attrib. to Dr. Arne, G. Breillat, M. Madan (5), Milgrove (2), Sicilian Evening Service, J. Tucker. 16 1st Am. prs. identified (Anthem: Set up thyself; CASTLE GREEN, EXALTATION, GRAFTON ST., HINTON, HORSLEY, JORDAN NEW, MACHPELAH GRAVE, PENITENCE, SEVERN, SOFT FALLING SNOW, STAUGHTON, THE SINNERS ONLY PLEA, TRUMPET, WILDE ST., WOBURN ABBEY). 13 American compositions, 49 non-American, 13 unidentified [Anthems: I will greatly rejoice, Set up thyself; CASTLE GREEN, EXALTATION, GRAFTON ST., JORDAN NEW, MACHPELAH GRAVE, PENITENCE, PSALM 95, REFUGE, SEVERN, SOFT FALLING SNOW, THE SINNER'S ONLY PLEA] (3 traced to Americans [AMERICA, Anthem: The Lord is risen; SUTTON); 11 attrib. non-Americans, 38 traced). 13 Core Repertory.

Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). CtY.

A COMPILATION OF THE LITANIES AND VESPERS HYMNS AND ANTHEMS, 1787-91

A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems, [1st ed.], 1787

(ASMI 17) 

A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as they are sung in the Catholic Church[.] Adapted to the voice or organ by John Aitken Philadelphia. 1787.

3 p.l., [1], 136 p. 26 x 20.5 cm. 1st p.l., p. 1-136 engraved. Unsigned, but probably engraved by John Aitken; according to Sonneck-Upton and Wolfe, Aitken was active as a music engraver from 1787.

Endorsement dated Philadelphia, 28 Nov. 1787; copyright granted, 8 April 1788, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, to Aitken. ist l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto, endorsement from 4 Philadelphia clergymen; verso blank; 3d 1. recto, copyright notice, "Contents'; verso blank; unnumbered page blank; p. 1-15, A New Introduction, to the Grounds of Music'; p. 16-136, music. 'Whereas John Aitken, of the City of Philadelphia, hath humbly requested our Approbation of a Work he is now preparing to publish at his own Expence, entitled "A Compilation..." We desiring to encourage an Undertaking so conducive to the Decency and Solemnity of religious Worship, do hereto set our Names in Testimony of our Approbation. Philadelphia Revd. John Carroll, Revd. Robert Molyneux, Revd. Francis Beeston, Revd. Lawrence Graessl. (Endorsement, almost in full.)

        59 items, incl. 22 anthems, 5 set-pieces, 1 Mass, 1 Requiem, 1 Vespers, & 7 litanies, set in keyboard score for 2 & 3 voices; most w. full text, some textless. No attribs. 56 1st Am. pr. identified (all except CHRISTMAS HYMN, PSALM 104, SING YE PRAISES). 2 compositions traced to Americans (CHRISTMAS HYMN, PSALM 104); 57 assumed to be non-American. No Core Repertory.

E20186 (MWA). DLC (2; 1 w. 2 p.l., [1], 136 p.), MWA, PPACHi.

NOTE: This item has been published in facsimile, with an introduction by Father J. C. Selner, Father Jules Baisnee, and Albert Hyma (Philadelphia, 1956).

A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems, [2d ed.], 1791

(ASMI 18) 

A Compilation of the Litanies Vespers Hymns & Anthems as they are sung in the Catholic Church[.] Philadelphia printed and sold by John Aitken 1791

2 p.l., 181 p. 20 x 25 cm. Newly engraved throughout. Unsigned, but probably engraved by John Aitken.

Copyright granted, 16 Nov. 1791, District of Pennsylvania, to Aitken as author. 1st 1. recto, t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto, copyright notice; recto & verso, "The Contents'; p. 1-181, music.

        58 items, incl. 27 anthems, 4 set-pieces, 2 Masses, 1 Requiem, Vespers, 6 litanies, & 2 chants, set in keyboard score for 2 & 3 voices; full text, including complete liturgical texts for litanies and chants. No attribs, 18 1st Am. pr. identified (Anthems: Asperges, Jesu Dulcis, O Escaviatorium, O Jesu Deus, O Salutaris; Litany [p. 2], Litany VI, O Aller Höchste). 2 compositions traced to Americans (CHRISTMAS HYMN, PSALM 104); 56 assumed to be non-American. No Core Repertory.

E23106 (RPJCB), DLC, PHi, PPACHI, RPJCB.

NOTE: A Collection of Litanies, Vespers, Chants, Hymns, and Anthems as used in the Catholic Churches of Philadelphia, and throughout the United States (Philadelphia: Charles Taws, 1814) was mostly printed from the plates used for Aitken's A Compilation. Aitken's name appeared nowhere in the issue; Charles Taws had sold music for Aitken in 1807-11 (see Wolfe, p. 1160). Сору in MWA.

ASMI pp. 88 - 91