AMPHION, CA. 1789

ASMI 133

Amphion or The Chorister's Delight, containing a select number of psalm tunes hymns and anthems from the most approv'd authors, in three and four parts. Fitted to the psalms used in the churches in general; besides the necessary rules of psalmody. C. Tiebout sculpt. New York Engrav'd printed and sold by John Burger Junr and Cornelius Tiebout.

2 p.L, 32, [4] p. 12.5 x 21 cm. 1st p.l., p. 1-32 engraved.

[ca. 1789.] The engraved introductory matter, p. 1-4, is copied almost verbatim from Andrew Law, The Rudiments of Music (q.v.), the 2d ed. of which appeared in Sept. or Oct., 1786 (No. 354), which places Amphion at a later date. In their prefatory essay the compilers refer to their youth; though neither's birthdate has been established, Tiebout's is given in Groce & Wallace as ca. 1773, which would make him only 16 years old in 1789, the date handwritten on the back flyleaf of the British Library copy. It seems doubtful that Tiebout could have done so skilful an engraving job, or that he and Burger would have launched so ambitious an enterprise, before his mid-teens. So 1789 seems a sensible if tentative date. ist p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto, "To the Patrons of Genius and Lovers of Divine Music'; verso, 'Index'; p. 1-4, rudiments; p. 5-32, music; p. [33-35], texts for five hymns; p. [36] blank. "The Subscribers, after a series of incessant application to the study of the art of Engraving and Copperplate Printing, have acquired, without the aid of a teacher, a knowledge of those useful branches of business, which hath enabled them to lay before the Public, the following Collection of Church Music. In selecting the tunes, they have depended but little on their own judgment, nor on the judgment of any particular person; this they have submitted to the taste of a number of approved Musicians. Musical Books in general are either large and high priced, or extremely small and entirely destitute of such tunes as are absolutely necessary for the use of congregations. The Editors therefore, in order to recommend this edition, have attended to such Music only as is now in general use in this state. [New par.] The price of this Book being set as low as possible, and the proprietors (who are not yet arrived at an age of maturity) having been at great pains and expence, in acquiring their present knowledge of engraving and printing, flatter themselves their ingenuity and industry will meet the patronage of their fellow citizens . . . N.B. Any person may be furnished, at a trifling expence, with Copies of any number of Tunes, contained in this book, by applying to the Subscribers, at No. 207. Queen-street. They will also, on application, engrave and print any favorite anthem, &c.' (Extract from introductory statement.)

          33 compositions, incl. 2 anthems, for 3 & 4 voices; most textless, anthems w. full text. Attrib. to Edson. No ist pr. identified. 16 American compositions, 17 non-American (1 attrib. American, 15 traced [BRIDGE WATER, BROOKFIELD, BUNKER-HILL, GREEN-FIELD, MIDDLETOWN, MONTAGUE, NORWICH, PSALM 136, RAIN BOW, SHERBURNE, SOPHRONIA, STAFFORD, VIRGINIA, WILLIAMSTOWN, WORCESTER]; 17 traced to non-American sources).

25 Core Repertory. 

          Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). British Library (lacks p. 9-10), NNUT.

NOTE: The title-page reproduces very closely the design of Lyon's Urania (Philadelphia, 1761), which was also the model for the title-page of Law's Select Harmony ([Cheshire], 1779). (See Lowens 1964, p. 63.) The title-page wording also closely resembles that of Urania, as does its single-word, Latin-derived title. 'Burger & Tiebout' advertised 'Copper Plate Printing and Engraving' in the New-York Weekly Museum, 19 June 1790, promising: 'Bills of exchange and lading, message and shop cards, large maps and music, are neatly executed and printed at a reasonable price and may be had at the shortest notice.

ASMI pp. 211-212