DANIEL BELKNAP
Daniel Belknap (b. Framingham, Mass., 9 Feb. 1771; d. Pawtucket, R.I., 31 Oct. 1815) was a composer, singing master, poet, farmer, and mechanic. Belknap spent most of his life in Framingham. He joined a Masonic lodge there as early as 1795. His first tunebook (1797) describes him as a 'teacher of music in Framingham.' He married around 1800, and the Framingham birth records of his five children identify him as 'Capt.' Daniel Belknap. As well as several collections of psalmody, Belknap also compiled a secular tunebook, The Middlesex Songster (Dedham, 1809), to which he contributed his only known instrumental composition, "Belknap's March. He moved to Pawtucket in 1812.
Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Metcalf, Sonneck-Upton, Wolfe. Also Framingham Records 1911; Lowens 1976, p. 113.
THE EVANGELICAL HARMONY, 1800
AMSI 83
The Evangelical Harmony. Containing a great variety of airs, suitable for divine worship: besides a number of favourite pieces of music, selected from different authors; chiefly original. To which is prefixed, a concise introduction to the grounds of music. By Daniel Belknap, author of the Harmonist's Companion. Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at Boston, for the author, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, Faust's statue, No. 45, Newbury-Street. -Sept. 1800.
79. [1] p. 13 x 22 cm.
Preface dated Framingham, Aug. 1800; copyright granted, 13 Aug. 1800, District of Mas-sachusetts, to Daniel Belknap as proprietor (Mass. 1:109). Boston Columbian Centinel, 26 Nov. 1800, advertises work as just published. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Preface'; p. [iii], 'Subscrib-ers' Names' (includes Samuel Babcock, Watertown; Lieut. Thomas Baird, Ward; Barth-olomew Brown, Sterling: Lieut. William Eager, Northborough; Capt. A. Hamilton, Worces-ter, Joseph Stone, Ward; and Capt. A. Wood of Northborough; all Massachusetts composers of music in this collection); p. [iv]-vi, 'A Concise Introduction to the Grounds of Music'; p. [7]-79, music, p. [80], 'Index. The encouragement the Editor met with, in the rapid sale of the Harmonist's Companion, induced him to publish the following sheets. In the selec-tions, which have been made for this Work, few pieces are admitted, which have before appeared in any Collection. It was the design to present the Public with a number of useful and pleasing Airs, the benefit of which has hitherto been denied them.' (Extract from Preface.)
77 compositions, incl. 1 anthem & 1 set-piece, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs, to Allen, Babcock (6), Baird (4), Belknap (32), Billings (2), Brown (3), Eager (3), Fisher, Hamilton (5), Parmenter, Stone (4), Wood (3). 52 1st pr. claimed; 53 identified (FRANKLIN is a 1st pr.). 77 American compositions (65 attrib. Americans, 2 traced [LYNN, WEST-FORD], 10 assumed to be American since identified as 1st pr.). Core Repertory.
E36939 (MWA). CtHC, CtY, DLC, ICN, MB, MBNEC, MH (2), MWA, MIU-C, N, NBuG, NN (music inc.), NNUT, NRU-Mus, NeWsM, NJPT, RPB, RPJCB.
THE HARMONIST'S COMPANION, 1797
ASMI 84
The Harmonist's Companion. Containing a number of airs suitable for divine worship: together with an anthem for Easter, and a Masonic ode. Never before published. Composed by Daniel Belknap, teacher of music, in Framingham.
Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.-Psal. cxlix. 1.
Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at Boston, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, Faust's statue, No. 45, Newbury-Street-Oct. 1797.
31, [1] p. 13.5 x 22 cm.
Preface dated Framingham, 11 Sept. 1797; copyright granted, 14 Oct. 1797, District of Massachusetts, to Daniel Belknap as author (Mass 1:78). p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], 'Preface'; p. [3]-31, music; p. [32], 'Index. "The design of the following Publication, is to furnish Schools and Musical Societies with a number of original Airs suited to Divine Worship; two pieces only, except those which are especially adapted to that important purpose, are therefore inserted. [New par.] A View of the Temple, a Masonic Ode, which appears in this Work, was set to musick by particular desire, and performed by the Author with several Brethren of the Fraternity, at the Installation of Middlesex Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, in Framingham, in 1795. [New par.] Books of this kind are commonly presented to the Public with a very concise Introduction; which may apologize for the omission here." (Extract from Preface.)
27 compositions, incl. 2 set-pieces, for 4 voices (1 for 2, 1 for 7); full text. T-p. attribs. all to Belknap. 27 1st pr. identified. All are American. No Core Repertory.
E31792 (MWA). DLC, MWA, NN, RPB (badly mutilated).
NOTE: E28255 lists an edition of 1794, but there is no evidence that such an edition was published. Shipton & Mooney label it 'a ghost of 31792.
JUDGMENT ANTHEM, 1810
ASMI 85
Judgment Anthem. Printed by H. Mann, Dedham, for D. Belknap.-1810. 10 p.13.5 x 21 cm.
P. [1], caption title; p. [1]-10, music.
1 set-piece for 4 voices; full text. No attrib. Not a 1st pr. American composition (by Justin Morgan). Not in Core Repertory.
Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). MWA, RPB*.
THE MIDDLESEX COLLECTION, 1802
ASMI 86
The Middlesex Collection of Sacred Harmony. Containing, L. A concise introduction to the grounds of music. II. A large collection of psalm tunes and favourite pieces of music. Adapted to all the metres in Dr. Watts' and Dr. Belknap's psalms and hymns. By Daniel Belknap. Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at Boston, for the author, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, Faust's statue, No. 45, Newbury-Street.-Nov. 1802.
111, [1] p. 13 x 22.5 cm. p. vi wrongly numbered iv.
Preface dated Framingham, Nov. 1802. Copyright granted, 13 Nov. 1802, District of Mas-sachusetts, to Daniel Belknap as author (Mass 1:145-46). p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii] blank; p. [ii], 'Preface'; p. [iv]-[vi], 'A Concise Introduction to the Grounds of Music'; p. [vi], Errata & editor's note; p. [7]-111, music; p. [112], 'Index.' 'By the flattering success, which the Editor of the present work has received, both from the public and singing societies, of two former publications. he is induced to offer the public the following work[.]... [New par.] In this Collection, a considerable number of the following pages are appropriated to original music; for which, if it do not meet the approbation of every learned examiner, it is hoped, there will be a sufficient apology, in a consideration that every intentional design, in our present day of enterprise and improvement to promote the advancement of any art or science, is highly commendable, and particularly the sublime art of Music. (Extract from Preface.) 'Original Music for future Editions of this, and of the Evangelical Harmony, will be thankfully received by the Editor, in Framingham.' (Editor's note in full.)
124 compositions, incl. 2 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Albee (3), Babcock (6), Baird, Belknap (45), Billings (3), Brown (5), Capen (3), Eager, Fisher, Hall (2), Hamilton (3), Hitchcock, Holden (13), Holyoke, A. How (3), Ingalls, Kimball (2), Mann, Parmenter, Smith [American], Stone, Swan, Temple (5), Wood (2). 52 1st pr. claimed; 52 identified. All are American (106 attrib. Americans, 18 traced). 5 Core Repertory.
S1857 (MWA). CtY, DLC, ICN, MHi (lacks t-p.; music inc.), MWA", MIU-C, NN, NcWsM (2; 1 w. music inc.), RPB (front matter inc.).
NOTE: Britton 1949, p. 508, reports a 'Second Edition' at CtY, but a search there has failed to uncover it. The item he mentions is probably No. 388, the Middlesex Musical Society's The Middlesex Collection of Church Music, 2d ed. (Boston, 1808), of which CtY owns two copies.
THE VILLAGE COMPILATION, 1806
The Village Compilation, [1st ed.], 1806
ASMI 87
The Village Compilation of Sacred Musick. By Daniel Belknap. Boston: printed for the au-by J. T. Buckingham .... 1806. thor
151, [1] p. 13.5 x 22 cm. p. no. 106 wrongly numbered 109, & p. 109-12 wrongly numbered 111, 110, 109.
Copyright granted, 29 Oct. 1806, District of Massachusetts, to Daniel Belknap as author; preface dated Framingham, Nov. 1806. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], copyright notice; p. [iii], 'Preface'; p. [iv] blank; p. [v]-vii, 'A Concise Introduction to the Grounds of Musick'; p. viii, "Mod-ulation'; p. [9]-151, music; p. [152], 'Index. Induced by the repeated solicitations of his friends, and the liberal patronage which he has received in former publications, the compiler offers the publick the following work. [New par.] This volume contains upwards of one hundred and forty pieces of musick, calculated for divine worship, besides a number of set pieces for occasional purposes. [New par.] Should the Compiler receive that encourage-ment which has attended his former publications, his patrons may expect soon to receive something further from [him]. (Extract from Preface.)
153 compositions (154 printed, WESTBOROUGH twice), incl. 2 anthems & 3 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs, to Albee (3), Babcock (7), Baird, Belknap (56), S. Bender (3), Billings (2), Brown (2), Capen (3), Eager, Edson, Fisher, E. Goff (11), Hall, Hamilton, Holden (11), A. How, Jenks (2), Kimball, I. Lane, Dr. Madan, Mann (3), Newhall, Parmeter, Dr. Randall, Rippon, Sacchini, Sanger (4), Stone, Thorley, West, Wood (2).140 1st pr. claimed; 40 identified (BARNWELL Wrongly claimed as ist pr.; Anthem: I heard a great voice, identified as 1st pr.), also 1 1st Am. pr. (ROWE). 147 American compositions, 5 non-American, 1 unidentified [ROWE] (122 attrib. Americans, 25 traced; 5 attrib. non-Americans). 6 Core Repertory.
S9953 (MWA). CSmH, CtY (2), ICN, MB, MBA, MH-AH, MHi, MSaE, MWA", MIU-C, NJPT, RPB.
The Village Compilation, 2d ed., 1806
ASMI 88
The Village Compilation of Sacred Musick. By Daniel Belknap. Second edition. Boston: By J. T. Buckingham .... 1806. printed for the author
151, [1] p.
Since the 1st ed. appeared late in 1806, it is curious that Belknap would have issued a 2d ed. before the end of the year. Nevertheless, the t-p. date indicates that he did; other dates in the 2d ed. (copyright notice, Preface) are the same as in the 1st ed. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], copyright notice; p. [iii], 'Preface'; p. [iv] blank; p. [v]-vii, 'A Concise Introduction to the Grounds of Musick'; p. viii, 'Modulation'; p. [9]-151, music; p. 151, 'Errata'; p. [152], 'Index.'
151 compositions (152 printed, Wesтвоrough twice), incl. 2 anthems & 3 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices, full text. Atribs., to Albee (3), Babcock (7), Baird (2), Belknap (51). S. Bender (3), Billings (2), Brown (2), Capin (3), Eager, Edson, Fisher, E. Golf (8), Hall, Hamilton, Holden (11), A. How, Jenks (2), Kimball, I. Lane, Dr. Madan, Mann (3) Newhall, Parameter, Dr. Randall, Rippon, Sacchini, Sanger, Stone, Thorley, Troop, Watson, West (8), Wood (2). No 1st pr. claimed, 2 identified (DIANA, MOUNT VERNON. 145 American compositions, & non-American, 1 unidentified [Rows]. (121 atrib. Americans, 24 traced. 5 attrib, non-Americans). 6 Core Repertory.
Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). DLC, MΗ-ΑΗ
NOTE: Musical changes from the first edition are found on p. 33-48, 89-96, 145-51.
ASMI pp. 157-160