GEORGE E. BLAKE
George E. Blake (b. Yorkshire, England, 1775; d. Philadelphia, Pa., 14 Feb. 1871) was an instrument maker, a music dealer, arranger, engraver, and the most prolific music publisher of his time. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1793. He was especially active from 1803 on, issuing secular pieces, both in sheet music form and in collections.
Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Metcalf, Wolfe. Also Wolfe 1980, p. 45-47, 267-70, and elsewhere.
VOCAL HARMONY, CA. 1808-10?
Vocal Harmony, [1st ed., ca. 1808]
ASMI 115
Vocal Harmony; being a collection of psalms, hymns, anthems & chants, compiled from the compositions of the most approved authors ancient & modern. By G. E. Blake. Pr[ice]. Dols. Philadelphia, published & sold by G. E. Blake No. 1 south 3d. Street. [Illustrated t-p. pictures a church.]
64 p. 16 x 26 cm. Engraved throughout. Unsigned, but Blake was a music engraver (see, e.g., Cole, The Divine Harmonist, [1808]; No. 147), and he probably engraved this work too.
[ca. 1808.] This date, suggested by Wolfe, p. 80, is given here in the absence of specific information about the work's publication. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3, 'Index'; p. [4] blank; p. 5-8, 'Rules for Singing'; p. 8, 'Lessons For Tuning The Voice'; p. 9-64, music.
85 compositions for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to B. Ashron, Billings (4), Bland, Brownson, Bull, Carpenter, H. Cary, Courtville, Dr. Croft, Edson (3), Handel, Harrison, F. Hopkinson (2), Horton, K., King, Luther, Lyon, M. Madan (3), Magdaline Society (2), Morgan, Dr. Randal, Read (2), Is. Smith (2), Spicer (2), Stephenson (2), Swan (2), Tans'ur (2), T. Thorley, Tuckey, Weal, Whitehead, Williams (4), Wood. 3 1st Am. pr. identified (FUNERAL HYMN, MORNING HYMN, MOUNT HOLLY). 27 American compositions, 47 non-American, 11 unidentified [CHIDDINGTON, FUNERAL HYMN, MAGDALINE, MORNING HYMN/Tans'ur, MOUNT HOLLY, PSALM 50 PROPER, ST. ANDREW'S, ST. MICHAEL'S, ST. PETER'S, SHIPHAM, TRANSPORT] (24 attrib. Americans, 3 traced [GREENWICH, NORWICH, PARIS]; 27 attrib. non-Americans, I perhaps wrongly, 21 traced). 44 Core Repertory.
Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). DLC*.
Vocal Harmony, [2d ed., ca. 1810?]
ASMI 116
Vocal Harmony... Philadelphia, published & sold by G. E. Blake No. 1 south 3d. Street.
[Illustrated t-p. pictures a church.]
200 p. Engraved throughout.
Date undiscovered, but added pages indicate this issue followed the 64-page version. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-4, 'Index'; p. 5-8, 'Rules for Singing'; p. 8, 'Lessons For Tuning The Voice'; p. 9-200, music. p. 1-64 printed from same plates as 1st ed. (No. 115).
160 compositions, incl. 11 anthems, 19 set-pieces, & 15 chants, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arnold, B. Ashron, C.B., W.B., Bannister (2), Benham, Billings (4), Bladgrove, Bland, Breillat (4), Brownson, Bull, Carpenter, H. Cary, Courtville, Dr. Croft, Edson (2), Goff, Handel (2), Harrison, F. Hopkinson (2), Horton, Husband, K., King, C.L., Lyon (2), M. Madan (12), Magdaline Society (2), W. E. Miller, Morgan (3), Dr. Randal, Read (2), Shrubsole, Is. Smith (2), Spicer (2), Stephenson (6), Swan (2), Tans'ur (2), T. Thorley, Tuckey (2), I.W., Weal, Whitehead, Williams (4), A. Williams, Wood. 16 1st Am. pr. identified (Anthem: Now is Christ risen; FALL OF BABYLON, ODE ON CHAR-ITY, PHILADELPHIA, PSALM 106, SOLEMNITY). 1 40 American compositions, 88 non-American, 32 unidentified [11 from 1st issue; 6 1st Am. pr.; 15 chants] (31 attrib. Americans, 9 traced [Anthem: The Lord is risen; CALVARY, FRIENDSHIP, GREENWICH, LISBON, NORWICH, PARIS, RUSSIA, WILLIAMSTOWN]; 56 attrib. non-Americans, 2 wrongly -Anthem: The Lord is risen, is by Billings; origin of MORNING HYMN/Tans'ur question-able-34 traced). 155 Core Repertory.
S8041 (MB). CtY*, MB.
ASMI pp. 188-189