OLIVER BROWNSON
Oliver Brownson (b. New Hartford or Bolton, Conn., 13 May 1746; d. Smithfield, N.Y., 20 Oct. 1815) was a composer, singing master, and printer. The Norwich Packet, 16-23 Feb. 1775, mentions 'Oliver Brunsen' of Litchfield, Connecticut, as a singing master. Brownson, a Baptist, lived in New Hartford and Simsbury between 1776 and 1802; some time between 1802 and 1805 he left Connecticut, settling near Peterboro, New York. His son, Greene C. Bronson, was chief justice of the Supreme Court of New York State. His tune VIRGINIA won wide popularity.
Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Metcalf. Also Bagg 1877, p. 6or; Connecticut Magazine 1902, p. 3-4, Crawford 1985, p. 613-14. Birthdate given but not documented in Wilson 1979, p. 54; death noted in Connecticut Courant, 4 June, 1816.
A NEW COLLECTION OF SACRED HARMONY, 1797
ASMI 130
A New Collection of Sacred Harmony. Containing a set of psalm tunes, hymns and anthems: likewise the necessary rules of psalmody by Oliver Brownson. Simsbury: (Connecticut) printed and sold, by the author at his dwelling house. 1797. Z. Howe sc.
56 p. 12 x 21 cm. Engraved throughout by Zadoc Howe.
Hartford, Connecticut Courant, 11 Dec. 1797, advertises work as 'now printing and will be ready for sale in a short time, at Simsbury in Connecticut. Said book . . . [is] designed for the use of schools. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-6, rudiments; p. 6, 'Preface'; p. 6-7, 'In forming and Tuning the voice'; p. 8, 'Index'; p. 9-56, music. As the design of the Publication was to serve the intrest of social Worship, no pains have been spared in collecting a set of Psalm Tunes, Hymns and Anthems, best adapted to the worship of that GOD who is author of Harmony.' (Preface in full.)
51 compositions, incl. 1 anthem, 3 set-pieces, & 1 canon, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Belknap, Benham (2), Billings (4), Brownson (7), Edson, Handel, Lee, Madan, Morgan (3), Newcomb, Read (5), Slater, Stone, Swan (5), Weeks, West, Willcox (3), Wood. 14 1st pr. identified (BANCRAFT, BRIDPORT, CANAAN, DENBIGH, EDOM, ESSEX, HADLEY, MERIDEN, ONTARIO, ORANGE, PENUMBRA, VERGEAN, VOICE OF MY BELOVED, WESTFIELD), also 1 1st Am. pr. (CANNON). 1 40 American compositions, 8 non-American, 3 unidentified [BRIDPORT, CANNON, HEXHAM) (38 attrib. Americans, 2 traced [DAUPHIN, LAMENTATION); 2 attrib. non-Americans, 6 traced).
6 Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). Ct, CiHi.
ASMI 130A
A New Collection of Sacred Harmony. Containing a set of psalm tunes, hymns and anthems: likewise the necessary rules of psalmody by Oliver Brownson. Z. Howe sc.
56 p. Engraved throughout.
Issued after 1797. The imprint information on the t-p. below Brownson's name was scraped off but remains dimly visible, proving that this issue followed the main entry. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], cut of a man's figure with poetic caption; p. [3]ff., same as main entry. May he who touch'd the lips of Jesse's son, / And set his harp in Concert with the spheres / Assist my Song. (Poetic caption in full.) Printed from same plates as main entry.
Music same as main entry.
E31884 (NNUT). NNUT.
SELECT HARMONY, 1783-91
Brownson's Select Harmony carries no imprint or place of publication. Both Evans and Metcalf assign the work, without documentation, to New Haven. However, Brownson advertised his collection in a Hartford, not a New Haven newspaper, and in October 1783 he listed his residence as New Hartford. Thus, the work was likely issued in the Hartford area.
All copies of the work have the same title-page and pagination; all are signed by the engraver and dated 1783. A comparison of the contents, however, reveals that at least four different issues appeared.
ASMI 131
Select Harmony[.] Containing the necessary rules of psalmody together with a collection of approved psalm tunes, hymns and anthems, by Oliver Brownson. [1. S]anford sculp. 1783. [The t-p. depicts the inside of a meeting house; title information is inset and encircled by a canon with text beginning 'Welcome, welcome every guest."]
1 p.l., 7. (1), 84 p. 12.5 x 21.5 cm. p.l. & p. 1-84 engraved by I[saac] Sanford.
Hartford, Connecticut Courant, 31 Dec. 1782, advertised work as 'Now Collecting, and will be published as soon as the nature of the work will admit, noting that 'the Engraver' was 'now at work. The same paper, 21 Oct. 1783, announced that Brownson had just compleated a small number of Singing Books, which are now in the hands of the Binder, and will be finished in a short time. As soon as they are ready notice will be given.' Notice of when the work was first available has yet to be found. p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1] 'Preface' & 'Advertisement'; p. 2-4. 'In Forming and Tuning the Voice'; p. 5-6, texts for 6 hymns; p. 7, 'Index'; p. [8] blank; p. 1-4, rudiments; p. 5-84, music. As the design of this Publication was to serve the interest of social Worship, no pains has been spared in collecting a set of Psalm Tunes, Hymns and Anthems, best adapted to the worship of that God who is the author of Harmony.' (Preface in full.) The Author having made alterations in some of the Tunes that were given out of his hands, desires that those who have received former Copies, would conform to this Publication." (Advertisement in full.)
71 compositions, incl. 5 anthems, 1 set-piece, & t-p. canon, for 4 voices (1 for 3); full text. Attribs. to Benham (8), Billings (6), Brown, Brownson (22), Chandler (2), Edson (2), King. Strong (7).37 1st pr. identified (AMERICA, ANDOVER, Anthem: Holy; BEDFORD, BOLTON, BRANDFORD, BUCKLAND, BYFORD, CAMBRIDGE, CHATHAM, COL-CHESTER, DEATH'S ALARM, DRESDEN, DURHAM, FRIENDSHIP, GUILDFORD, HE-BRON, INVITATION, KETERY, LITCHFIELD, NORFOLK, PSALMS 19, 90, 95. REPEN-TANCE, ROXBURY, ROYALTON, SALISBURY, STAFFORD, SUNDAY, SUNDERLAND, SUTTON, TRUMBULL, WAKEFIELD, WESTFIELD, YARMOUTH, YORK), also 2 1st Am. pr. (Anthem: We have heard; Canon). 52 American compositions, 17 non-American, 2 unidentified [Anthem: We have heard; WILLINGTON] (49 attrib. Americans, 3 traced [KETERY, NORWICH, PSALM 33]; 17 traced to non-Americans).
11 Core Repertory.
E17857 (no copy on Readex). MB" (t-p. mutilated; lacks p. 77-82; has tune on p. 59, bottom, crossed out by hand. See Table 5, Variant a, for possible explanation.)
ASMI 131A
Select Harmony . . . I. Sanford sculp. 1783.
1 p.l., 7. [1], 84 p.p.l. & p. 1-84 engraved.
[1784?] This issue is clearly later than the main entry. Changes in content-e.g., on p. 59 BLENDON is replaced by PITTSFIELD-are not reflected in the index, which remains the same as the first issue. Since Select Harmony first appeared in 1783, and since a later issue was published in 1785 (see below), the date 1784 is suggested here. Brownson's changes were few: he removed Anthem: Arise, Shine, and BLENDON, and he added four different pieces in their stead. Perhaps legal maneuvering prompted the changes. In 1781 Andrew Law claimed Connecticut copyright on more than 50 compositions, including Anthem: Arise, Shine, and BLENDON. Perhaps after Brownson published his Select Harmany he learned of Law's copyright and removed the offending pieces without having a new index printed. The only copy of the first issue discovered lacks p. 77-82, the pages on which Anthem: Arise, Shine, is printed; BLENDON is crossed out by hand in that copy. (On Law's copyright, see Lowens 1964. p. 58-60). Contents same as main entry. p.l., p. 1-58, 60-76, 82-84 printed from same plates as main entry.
74 compositions, incl. 5 anthems, 1 set-piece, & t-p. canon, for 4 voices (1 for 3); full text. Attribs. to Benham (8), Billings (6), Brown, Brownson (24), Chandler (2), Edson (2), King, Strong (7). 2 1st pr. identified (NEWPORT, WINDHAM), also 1 1st Am. pr. (PITTSFIELD). 54 American compositions, 17 non-American, 3 unidentified [Anthem: We have heard; PITTSFIELD, WILLINGTON] (51 attrib. Americans, 3 traced [KETERY, NORWICH, PSALM 33); 17 traced to non-Americans.
11 Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). CtHi (front matter inc., lacks p. 71-74; dated 11 Sept. 1785 in hand of early owner), NcWsM* (lacks p. 1-3).
ASMI 131B
Select Harmony . . . 1. Sanford sculp. 1783 [i.e., 1785).
1 p.1., 8, 84 p. p.l., p. 1-84 engraved.
[1785.] The Hartford Connecticut Courant, 5 Dec. 1785, carries Brownson's advertisement for 'A Collection of Music, to be sold at this office [Hudson & Goodwin] and at Brownson and Benham's, New Hartford.. A number of new tunes have been lately added by the ingenious Mr. Swan.' The new music is on p. 73-81. p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1], 'Preface' & 'Advertisement'; p. 2-4, 'In Forming and Tuning the Voice'; p. 5-6, texts for 6 hymns; p. 7. 'Index'; p. 8, 'Words for Bristol'; p. 1-4. The Gamut, or Scale of Music,' rudiments; p. 5-84, music. p.l., p. 1-72, 82-84 printed from same plates as No. 131A.
81 compositions, incl. 3 anthems, 1 set-piece, & t-p. canon, for 4 voices (1 for 3); full text. Attribs, to Benham (9), Billings (6), Brown, Brownson (24), Chandler (3), Edson (2), King, Lee, Strong (7), Swan (7).19 1st pr. identified (BABYLON, BALLOON, BRISTOL, ENFIELD, FLANDERS, GEORGIA, LISBON, MAJESTY, POLAND), & 1 poss. 1st pr. (RAINBOW). 64 American compositions, 15 non-American, 2 unidentified [PITTSFIELD, WILLINGTON) (61 attrib. Americans, 3 traced [KETERY, NORWICH, PSALM 33]; 15 traced to non-Americans).
14 Core Repertory (1st pr. BRISTOL, ENFIELD; poss. 1st pr. RAINBOW).
Not in Evans (CtY copy on Readex as E23227). CtHi (2; 1 lacks t-p.), CIY, DLC (2; verso of t-p. of one dated 1788 in hand of early owner; lacks t-p. & front matter), MHi (2; 1 lacks p. 15-18; front matter of the two copies has differing type setup), NjPT (front matter inc.; verso of t-p. dated 1785 in hand of early owner).
ASMI 131C
Select Harmony . . . 1. Sanford sculp. 1783 [i.e., 1789-91].
1 p.l., 8, 84 p.p.l. & p. 1-84 engraved.
[1789-91.] Variant c contains the anthem 'My friends I am going a long and tedious journey, first printed in Jacob French's The New American Melody (Boston, 1789), which carries the t-p. claim 'the whole entirely new'; and the copy in InGo is dated 8 April 1791 by the early owner. Therefore, it was published some time between mid-1789 (French deposited a copy of his work for copyright on 25 Aug. 1789) and April, 1791. Variant c also contains CUMBERLAND and 49TH, by Asahel Benham, both published in Benham's Federal Harmony (New Haven, 1790), described on its t-p. as 'a collection of church music; (most of which are entirely new.)' Benham's Federal Harmony was published around 15 Dec. 1790, and proof that Brownson took these tunes from Benham's book would conclusively establish early 1791 as the publication date of Brownson's Variant c, hence confirming Evans's undocumented date of publication. However, Brownson and Benham knew each other, Benham had contributed music to earlier issues of Select Harmony. Thus, Brownson may have obtained Benham's tunes directly from the composer, rather than from his book. Contents same as No. 1318. p.l., p. 1-14, 16-25, 28-32, 34-37, 39-56, 60, 65-84 printed from same plates as No. 131B.
83 compositions, incl. 3 anthems, 1 set-piece, & t-p. canon, for 4 voices (1 for 3); full text. Attribs. to Benham (8), Billings (7), Brownson (31), Chandler (3), Edson (2), Hibbard, King, Lee, Reed, Strong (6), Swan (7).13 1st pr. identified (JUDGMENT, LARK, SHARON). 72 American compositions, to non-American, 1 unidentified [PITTSFIELD] (68 attrib. Americans, 4 traced [Anthem: My friends; KETERY, OCEAN, PSALM 33]; 10 traced to non-Americans).
15 Core Repertory.
E23227 (MWA copy on Readex as E17857). InGo (front flyleaf dated 8 April 1791 by early owner), MB, MWA (lacks p. 63-66), MIU-C, NN.
NOTE: The MiU-C copy is identical to Variant c, except that p. 63-64 is that of Variant B. This is obviously a mistake, for FAREWELL ANTHEM, which begins on p. 61, is left unfinished, and Anthem: O that mine eyes, whose conclusion is on p. 63, lacks its first two pages.
ASMI pp. 204-209