EBENEZER CHILD

(ASMI pp. 221 - 222)

Ebenezer Child (b. Union, Conn., 17 Aug. 1770; d. Brandon or Castleton, Vt., 1866), a composer, farmer, and town official, settled with his father's family in Leicester, Vermont, around 1782. He was married in Brandon in 1792, and lived there during the rest of his life. Child was apparently a Freemason.

Bio-bib. Also Child 1881, p. 309-12.

THE SACRED MUSICIAN, 1804, ASMI 140

The Sacred Musician, and Young Gentleman and Lady's Practical Guide to Music. In three parts. Part I. An introduction to the rudiments of psalmody, on a new plan.-Part II. A great variety of psalm tunes, constituting the different metres, airs and keys usually introduced into sacred music.-Part III. A large number of anthems, odes, dirges and lengthy pieces of music, &c. 'Sacred to devotion.' A great part never before published. By Ebenezer Child.

Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of the saints. / Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: Praise him with the psaltery and harp: Praise him with the timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. King David.

Published according to act of Congress. Boston: printed by Manning & Loring, for the author. Oct. 1804.

118, [2] p. 14 x 21.5 cm.

Dedicatory Preface dated Brandon, Vt., 25 June 1804. p. [i], t-p.; p. [2], space for owner's name in decorative border; p. [iii]-[iv], 'Dedicatory Preface'; p. [v]-xiv, 'Part I. An Intro-duction to the Rudiments of Psalmody, on a new plan'; p. [15]-118, music (p. [15]-80, Part II. A Great Variety of Psalm Tunes, &c'; p. [81]-118, 'Part III. A Large Number of Anthems, Odes, Dirges, &c.'); p. [119] blank staves; p. [120], 'Index. To all Lovers of Music throughout the State of Vermont, and to the Subscribers for the Sacred Musician in particular, this Volume of Sacred Music is humbly and respectfully dedicated, by their devoted Friend and Fellow Citizen, The Author.... [New par.] That degree of perfection which Music has attained to, in these States, as well as the number of experienced masters and able critics in the art, renders a work of this kind (where the Author wishes to escape censure) exceedingly critical; but be assured that these compilations were never intended for the "scrutinizing eye of the malevolent critic," but solely for the amusement of those on whose candour he can rely, and who will grant every indulgence to a young adventurer in music, whose greatest ambition is to please. "Tis not that vanity so peculiar to authors that tempts me to appear publickly in that character," but an earnest desire to oblige a number of friends, on whose frequent solicitations I have ventured on this perilous under-taking... [New par.] The great dissimilarity of taste in the several professors of music renders it exceedingly difficult to make such a collection that each tune would sound harmonious to every nice musical ear... [New par.] Those pieces which are original were not composed for public inspection; very sensible is the Author that they cannot stand the test of a rigid criticism, but need the fostering care of a generous public.' (Extract from Dedicatory Preface.)

        68 compositions, incl. 2 anthems & g set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices, 1 for 5; full text. Attribs. to Belknap, Benham, Child (28), French (3), Harwood, Holden (2), Holyoke (2), Ingalls, Janes (2), Mann (2), Stone (7), Swan, West (3), Wood (3). 1 29 1st pr. claimed; 28 identified (HAVERHILL had appeared in Shumway, The American Harmony, 1793), also 1 1st Am. pr. (NEWBERN). 167 American compositions, 1 unidentified [NEWBERN] (57 attrib. Americans, 10 traced). 2 Core Repertory.

S6011 (MWA). CCC, CtHC (p. 1-35 mutilated), ICN, MB, MWA*, NcWsM, PMA.