HARMONIA COELESTIS, 1799

ASMI 97 

Harmonia Coelestis: a collection of church music, in two, three, and four parts. With words adapted to each, comprehending not only the metres in common use, but the particular metres, in the Hartford Collection of Hymns; the tunes correctly figured for the organ and harpsichord.-W an inttoduction [sic] to music. Chiefly collected from the greatest masters in Europe, and never before printed in America. By Jonathan Benjamin. North-ampton: printed, typographically, by Andrew Wright, for Oliver D. & I. Cooke, booksellers, Hartford. Sept. 1799. Published according to act of Congress.

79. [1] p. 14 x 21.5 cm.

P. [1], t-p.; p. [2], 'Advertisement'; p. 3-8, rudiments and instructions; p. 8, 'Errata'; p. [9]-79, music; p. [80], 'Index to the Music. At the repeated importunity of a great number of Musical Friends, this work have been undertaken. The greatest pains have been taken to select such tunes as should be useful in Public Worship; and at once unite simplicity, variety, and sublimity of style... [New par.] The works of Handel, Giardina, Purcell, Madan, Millgrove, Arnold, &c. &c. will recommend themselves. The public are assured that they are printed verbatim from the original copies. There are a number of tunes of American composition in this work, but for certain reasons, the Authors have not credit for them. [New par.] The leading part, or Air, in the following tunes, is generally next the Bass, which ought to be performed by the First Treble; as there is not, perhaps, one proper Tenor voice to an hundred singers, that can reach the compass of an octave, and do every note justice in the Tenor: But if they perform the Seconds, or upper part, together with the Second Treble, the music will be much more full and complete. [New par.] N.B.-The reason that there is no reference as to the words, is, that the whole of those excellent Hymns, may be found in the Hartford Collection, now publishing, by the Rev. Messrs. Strong, Flint, & Stewart." (Extract from Advertisement.)

          53 compositions, incl. 8 set-pieces, mostly for 3 voices w. figured bass for accompani-ment, a few for 2 & 4; full text. No attribs. 1 27 1st Am. pr. identified (BARNEY, BENSON, BERKLEY, CHAPEL, CLAPTON, COLNBROOK, DETTENGEN, FREDERICKSBURG, GEORGIA, HANDEL'S, KIMBOLTON'S, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LEA, LEINSTER, MAN-CHESTER, MIDDLESEX, MILFORD, MITCHAM, NEWTON, OKEIGNHAM, PALESTINE, SKIPTON, SOUTHAMPTON, SOUTHBOROUGH, STEPNEY, VERONA, WEYMOUTH). 2 compositions traced to Americans (CHRISTMAS, VERONA), 47 to non-Americans, 4 unidentified (BARNEY, MANCHESTER, PALESTINE, PSALM 4). 13 Core Repertory (PSALM 34 here called WILTSHIRE).

          E25179 (MHi). Ct, CtHC, CtHi, CtY, DLC (2; 1 w. music inc.), ICHI, ICN (2; 1 w. music inc.), MB, MHi*, MWA, NHI, NN, NNUT, NcWsM (front matter inc.), PPiPT, RPB.

NOTE: See Osterhout 1978, p. 234-40.

ASMI pp. 167-168