JOSIAH FLAGG
Josiah Flagg (b. Woburn., Mass., 28 May 1737; d. Boston?, ca. 2 Jan. 1795) was a conductor, bandmaster, engraver, and jeweler. Between 1764 and 1773 he was active in Boston's musical life, both sacred and secular. He engraved and printed his own Sixteen Anthems (Boston, 1766), devoted to compositions by English psalmodists, and he may also have engraved William Billings's The New-England Psalm-Singer (Boston, [1770]). Flagg organized a benefit concert for himself on 29 June 1769 in Boston's Concert Hall. Over the next several years he organized public concerts in which he was joined by local professional musicians and also by the band of the British 64th Regiment. In an advertisement of 1773, Flagg called himself the 'First Founder' who 'at great Expense of Time, Trouble, etc., instructed a Band of Music to perform before the Regiment of the Militia in this Town.' Some time after 1773 Flagg moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and fought in the Continental Army during the War of Independence, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. By 1790 he was living again in Boston. His death was reported in the Boston Columbian Centinel, 3 Jan. 1795.
Amerigrove, Baker's, Bio-bib, DAB. Also Brigham 1954, p. 16-18, 36-37, 86-89; Camus 1976, p. 48; McKay 1975, p. 45n., 69; Music 1989; Sonneck 1907, p. 261-64, 298.
A COLLECTION OF THE BEST PSALM TUNES, 1764
ASMI 189
A Collection of the Best Psalm Tunes, in two, three, and four parts, from the most approv'd authors, fitted to all measures, and approv'd of by the best masters, in Boston New England; to which are added some hymns and anthems the greater part of them never before printed in America[.] By Josiah Flagg[.] Engrav'd by Paul Revere; printed & sold by him and Josiah Flagg Boston, 1764
66 numbered leaves, pr. on alternate facing rectos & versos. 13 x 22 cm. Engraved throughout by Paul Revere, except for 1. [2], which is typeset.
[Boston Gazette, 5 Nov. 1764, advertises work as just published. L. [1] recto, t-p.; verso blank; 1. [2] recto blank; verso, 'Preface'; 1. [3] recto, index; verso blank; 1. 4-[6], 'An Introduction'; 1. 7-66, music. 'It may possibly be thought necessary, that some Apology should be made, for offering to the Publick, a new collection of Psalm Tunes, at a Time when there are already so many among us: The Editor has only this to say in general, that he has endeavour'd, according to the best of his Judgment, to extract the Sweets out of a Variety of fragrant Flowers: He has taken from every Author he has seen, a few Tunes, which he judges to be the best, and compriz'd them within the Compass of a small Pocket Volumn; as the Tunes were compos'd by different masterly Hands, the Air of them is various, which affords Reason to Hope they will not fail of gratifying in some Measure Persons of every Taste.... [New par.] It is hoped, it will not diminish the Value of this Book, in the Estimation of any, but may in some Degree recommend it even to those who have no peculiar Relish for the Musick, That however we are oblig'd to the other side the Atlantick chiefty, for our Tunes, the Paper on which they are printed is the Manufacture of our own Country." (Extract from Preface.)
119 compositions, incl. 2 anthems, 2 canons, & 1 chorus, for 2, 3, & 4 voices (1 for 5), many with figured bass; some w. full text, some textless. Attribs. to Ard [Arnold] (23), As [Anchors], As_h [Ashworth] (4), Jon. Battishill, Dr. Blow, Dr. Crofts, D_v_t [Davenport], Handle, Ln [Lyon], Dr. Nares, Rly [Riley] (5), Wm. Riley (2), Wm. Tansur (10), W_m_s [Williams] (24), J. Worgan. 160 1st Am. pr. identified (AILOFF ST., AMERICA, AMSTERDAM, 2 Anthems; APOSTLES, AVELY, BEMINSTER, BLACKMORE, BOSTON, BRENTWOOD, BURNHAM, 2 canons, CHARLOTTE, CHORUS, CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, CLIFTON, CUMBERLAND, DALSTON, DENTON, EAGLE ST. NEW, EVANGELIST, GRAYS, GREENS 100, HALIFAX, IRISH, KINGSBRIDGE, LAINDON, LEIGHTON, LITTLETON, MARCH OF RICHARD, MECKLENBOURG, MORTON, NAZING, NORFOLK, PENBURY, PLYMOUTH, PSALMS 90, 103, RICKMANSWORTH, ST. BENNETS, ST. BRIDGET'S, ST. CHRISTOPHER'S, ST. GEORGE'S, ST. PANCRAS, SHEFFIELD, SOLOMON'S SONGS, SOUTH OCKENDEN, STORTFORD, STROUD, SUTTON, TROY, WANSTED, WANTAGE, WELSH, WENDOVER, WESTMINSTER NEW, WILLINGAIL, YARMOUTH), also 5 poss. Ist Am. pr. (ABINGTON, ALL SAINTS, GUILFORD, HARLINGTON, TRINITY). 11 American composition, 104 non-American, 14 unidentified [AMERICA, Anthem: O praise; BURLINGTON, 2 canons, CHORUS, CLIFTON, DENTON, MORNING HYMN, PSALMS 67, 108, SOLOMON'S SONG, WARWICK, WILLINGAIL] (1 attrib. American, but origin of MORNING HYMN undiscovered, I traced [PSALM 100 NEW]; 76 attrib. non-Americans, 28 traced).
36 Core Repertory (1st Am. pr. DALSTON, IRISH, KINGSBRIDGE, ST. GEORGE'S, SUTTON, WANTAGE; poss. Ist Am. pr. ALL SAINTS, AMSTERDAM, BANGOR, FUNERAL THOUGHT, PLYMOUTH WESΤΟΝ FAVEL).
E9659 (MWA). ↑ DLC (several pages mutilated), ICN (t-p. mutilated; 1 1. of music missing), MB (inc.), MHi (inc.), MWA* (lacks t-p.), NN (t-p. & 1st 1. mutilated).
SIXTEEN ANTHEMS, 1766
Daniel 1966, p. 40, reports that Flagg's Sixteen Anthems also appeared under the title A collection of All Tans'ur's and a number of other Anthems from Williams, Knapp, Ashworth and Stephenson. Daniel apparently took his information from the newspaper advertisement announcing the work's publication (see entry for reference), which described Flagg's work with the 'title' Daniel gives. However, all copies discovered are called Sixteen Anthems on the title-page.
ASMI 190
Sixteen Anthems, collected from Tans'ur, Williams, Knapp, Ashworth & Stephenson. To which is added, a few psalm tunes. Proper to entertain and improve those who have made some proficiency in the art of singing. Engraved and printed by Josiah Flagg, and sold by him at his house near the Old-North Meeting-House, and a[t] his shop in Fish-Street, also by the booksellers in Boston, New-England. (Price 6 shillings.)
[2], 5-60 numbered leaves, pr. on alternate facing rectos & versos. 13.5 x 22 cm. L. 5-60 engraved by Josiah Flagg. Despite the imprint and colophon, Brigham 1954, p. 30, contends that Revere engraved Sixteen Anthems. Brigham's claim stems from his mistaken belief that Revere, who had engraved the frontispiece for Billings's The New-England Psalm-Singer (1770), was also responsible for engraving the music. (See Brigham, p. 65-70.) It is much more likely that Flagg engraved the music for both. (See No. 106, Billings, The New-England Psalm-Singer, above. See also McKay 1975, p. 44n.-45n.)
[1766.] Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter, 2 Oct. 1766, advertises work as just published. L. [1], t-p.; 1. 2, 'To The Reader', 'An Explanation of foreign Words, & index, "An Alphabetical Table'; 1. 5-60, music. 'Although the Rules in my first Book of Psalm Tunes are concise and plain; yet I thought it not improper to add the following.' (Note 'To the Reader' then gives advice on vocal production and pronunciation.)
25 compositions, incl. 17 anthems, for 4 voices, a few for 2 & 3; most w. full text. Attribs. to Ashworth (2), Handel, Knapp (3), Lion, Smith, Stephenson (2), Tans'ur (10), Williams (3).21 1st Am. pr. identified (all except DAGENHAM, DUTCH, LITTLE MARLBORO, ST. HELLEN'S). 125 non-American compositions (1 attrib. wrongly to an American; 22 attrib. non-Americans, 3 traced). 13 Core Repertory (1st Am. pr. of 'Thro all the changing scenes' [PSALM 34]).
E41612 (MWA). MWA* (2;1 lacks 1. 53).
ASMI 190A
Sixteen Anthems . . . (Price six shillings.)
[2], 5-60 numbered leaves, 10 unnumbered leaves pr. on alternate facing rectos & versos. L. 5-[70] engraved.
The added leaves, not covered by the index, mark this issue as later than main entry. Contents same as main entry, except: 1. 5-[70], music. L. 5-60 printed from same plates as main entry.
28 compositions, incl. 19 anthems, for 4 voices, a few for 2 & 3; most w. full text. Attribs. to Ashworth (2), Handel, Knapp (4), Lion, Smith, Stephenson (2), Tans'ur (10), Williams (4).12 1st Am. pr. identified (Anthems: Behold I bring you, Bring unto the Lord). 28 non-American compositions (1 attrib. wrongly to an American; 24 attrib. non-Americans, 4 traced).
13 Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). DLC*.
ASMI pp. 271-274.