THE BEAUTIES OF CHURCH MUSIC, 1804

ASMI 161 

The Beauties of Church Music; and The Sure Guide to the Art of Singing: containing, I. An introduction to the grounds of practical music, or easy and familiar Rules for learners. II. A cursory development of the proportions of harmony, for the use of those who would become proficients in composition, and those likewise who would wish to form a just estimate of the merits of the pieces which they perform. III. A choice collection of psalm tunes, chorusses, and anthems, from the most approved authors, adapted to the capacities of learners, calculated to amuse and delight the connoisseur, and particularly suited to the dignity and solemnity of divine worship. By William Cooper.

Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. - Psalm C. 

Published according to act of Congress. Boston: printed by Manning & Loring, (Proprietors) and sold, wholesale and retail, at their book-store, No. 2, Cornhill.

199, [1] p. 113.5 x 22.5 cm.

[1804.] Copyright granted, 24 Jan. 1804, District of Massachusetts, to 'Maning & Loring' as proprietors. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], copyright notice; p. [iii], 'Preface'; p. [iv]-ix, 'A Concise Introduction to the Grounds of Practical Music'; p. x-xi, 'Of The Proportions Of Harmony'; p. [xii], 'Dictionary Of Musical Terms'; p. [13]-199, music; p. [200], 'Index. The motives which induced the Compiler to publish this Collection of The Beauties of Church Music, arose from a conviction, that a book intended for the instruction of schools, should be perfectly correct in point of composition, in order that the learner may form his taste and establish his principles upon a system which is never departed from. Our present collections contain a medley of good and bad tunes, in continual contradiction to each other in point of composition, which leave no criterion whereby to determine the right from the wrong, and tend to involve genius in perplexity and error. Agreeably to the design of the Compiler, in this collection, he has been under the necessity of either excluding some pieces of music which he highly esteems, or to make some little alterations in the harmony. He has preferred the latter. They are now submitted to the public . . . [New par.] It has become a general opinion among good singers, that the music in use before the revolution in 1775, is much better than that which has succeeded. As the Compiler must confess, that he did as much as lay in his power, to produce this lamentable revolution in music, in contempt of the opinion of his fathers of better taste, he thinks it his duty in this selection to restore some of that music, which experience has taught him contains every thing that is beautiful in point of composition, delightful to the hearer; and which, above all, is calculated, from its solemnity and dignity, to raise our devout affections to Heaven.' (Extract from Preface.) 

          138 compositions, incl. 17 anthems & 8 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices, 1 for 5; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arnold (3), Billings (26), Bull, Clark & Green, Deaolph, Edson, Handel (4), Harmonia Sacra (2), Holdrayd, Holt (3), Ingalls, Kirby, Knapp (2), Lane, Lock Hospital (20), Milgrove, Original (7), Parmeter, Rippon's Coll., Sacchini, Selby (2), Smith, Stephen-son (7), Stickney's Col. (2), Swan, Tansur (3), Welden, West (2), A. Williams (11), Williams Col. (16). 11 1st pr. claimed; 11 identified, also 8 1st Am. pr. (ANAXTERXES [AR-TAXERXES in index], Anthem: Thou art my portion; CHILTON, Gloria in Excelsis, GRAND CHORUS, IPSWICH, SECOND ADVENT, WINWICK). 150 American compositions, 87 non-American, 1 unidentified [Gloria in Excelsis) (47 attrib. Americans, 3 traced [BURLINGTON, NORWICH, FOR THANKSGIVING]; 79 attrib. non-Americans, 8 traced). 

38 Core Repertory.

          S6079 (MWA). CLU, CtY, DLC, ICN, MWA, NBuG (front matter and music inc.), NNUT, PMA.