ELIJAH GRISWOLD
Elijah Griswold (b. Simsbury, Conn., 20 Aug. 1762; d. there, 21 Dec. 1844) was a composer and perhaps also a singing master. He served as a soldier in the American Revolution.
Bio-bib, Metcalf (mentioned, p. 156, in entry on Jenks). Dates from Griswold 1943. P. 94-95.
THE HARTFORD COLLECTION OF SACRED HARMONY, 1807
ASMI 229
The Hartford Collection of Sacred Harmony; being a new selection of psalm tunes, hymns and anthems; from the most approved American and European authors. Likewise, the necessary rules of psalmody made easy. The whole particularly designed for the use of singing schools and musical societies in the United States. By Elijah Griswold, Stephen Jenks, and John C. Frisbie.
The singers went before with joy, / On instruments they play'd: The damsels with their timbrels then / In beauty were array'd. Psalm lxviii. 25. / O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with Psalms. Psalm xcv. 1, 2.
Hartford: printed by Lincoln and Gleason. 1807.
60 p. 12 x 20.5 cm. p. 5-60 engraved, probably by Abner Reed. The uncluttered look of the page and the upright way of making stems and note-heads found in Atwill's The New-York Collection (1795), signed by Reed, are duplicated here. Furthermore, Reed recorded 'engraving music-plates for S. Jinks' in a diary, and this is the only one of Jenks's tunebooks whose engraving resembles Reed's style.
See Stiles 1892, 2, p. 635.
Copyright granted, 25 Nov. 1807, District of Connecticut, to Stephen Jenks as proprietor. Preface dated Hartford, Dec. 1807. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. [3], 'Preface'; p. [4], 'Index to the Music'; p. 5-8, 'Concise Rules of Psalmody'; p. 9-60, music. All must allow music to be the gift of God, as a true representation of the sweet concert and harmony which his infinite wisdom hath made in his first creation, and is given to us as a temporal blessing, for his service and our recreation.' (Extract from Preface.) p. 5-8 printed from same plates as No. 287, Jenks, The Delights of Harmony, 1804.
55 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 1 set-piece, for 4 voices (1 for 3); full text. Attribs. to Anderson, Dr. Arne, Austin, Belknap, Billings, Bull (3), Doolittle, Dr. Drake, Fisher (3), Frisbie, Gillet (3), Handel, Hill, Holden, Ingalls, Jenks (12), M. Luther, Dr. Madan, Milgrove, Reed, Stephenson, Swan (2), Tans'ur, Weeks (2), Dr. Wetmore, Williams (6), Wood. 16 1st pr. identified (Anthem: Hail Glorious Day; BUCKLAND, ELLINGTON, EVENING SHADE, FADING NATURE, GLAD-TIDINGS, HUMILITY, IMMORTALITY, MARCELLUS, MORNING STAR, NEW GREENFIELD, NEW HAVEN, RETIREMENT, ROME, SOLITUDE, TORRINGTON), also I 1st Am. pr. (BATAVIA). 36 American compo-sitions, 17 non-American, 2 unidentified [BATAVIA, PSALM 4] (36 attrib. Americans; 14 attrib. non-Americans, 3 traced).
16 Core Repertory.
S12698 (CtHi). CtHi, CtHT-W, ICN, MB*, N.
NOTE: Crawford 1971, 671n., claims that this item is typographically printed; in fact, it is printed from engraved plates.
Connecticut Harmony, [1st ed., 1796]
ASMI 230
Connecticut Harmony. Containing a collection of psalm tunes anthems and favourite pieces many of which were never before published[.] To which are added, concise rules of singing. Designed for the use of worshipping assemblies and singing societies. By Elijah Griswold and Thomas Skinner.
Sing unto the Lord a new song[.] Sing ye praises with understanding.
62 p. 11 x 20.5 cm. Engraved throughout. (See 2d ed., below.)
[ca. 1796-98.] The Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Western Star, 19 Sept. 1796, advertises that the work was 'to be sold at the printing office in Stockbridge,' the earliest evidence of its publication so far discovered. There were at least two editions. This one, because it has several pages of numbered blank staves which are filled in with music in the other, obviously appeared first. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-9, 'Rules of Psalmody'; p. 10, 'Index'; p. 11-35, music; p. 36-37, blank staves; p. 38-50, music; p. 51, blank staves; p. 52-55, music; p. 56-62, blank staves.
37 compositions, incl. 2 anthems & 2 set-pieces, for 4 voices; most w. full text, some w. partial text. Attribs. to Banjamin, Clark & Green, Edson, Hall, Hibbard, Kilbourn, Langdon, Lee (9), Lyon, Morgan (3), Rollo, Unknown (9), Willard.9 1st pr. identified (EXHORTATION, GRANBY, MANSFIELD, ODE ON FRIENDSHIP, PLYMOUTH, PSALMS 50, 98, REPENTANCE, SCOTLAND), also I 1st Am. pr. (CYPRUS). 1 34 American compo-sitions, 2 non-American, 1 unidentified [CYPRUS] (21 attrib. Americans, 13 traced; 1 attrib. non-American, 1 traced [MEAR]).
14 Core Repertory.
Not in Evans (no copy on Readex). CtHi (2), CtY,* DLC (front matter missing, music inc.).
Connecticut Harmony, [2d ed., ca. 1798]
ASMI 231
Connecticut Harmony.... By Elijah Griswold and Thomas Skinner.
Sing unto the Lord a new song[.] Sing ye praises with understanding.
Published as the act directs. Allen sc.
62 p., 41. Engraved throughout. T-p. signed by [Joel] Allen; p. 37, 61 signed by [Daniel] Willard.
[ca. 1798.] The staves that were blank in the first edition are here filled in, showing this to be the later of the two issues. A copy in CtHi is dated 1798 in manuscript. 1 p. [1], t-p., p. [2] blank; p. 3-9, 'Rules Of Psalmody'; p. 10, 'Index'; p. 11-61, music; p. 62, 1. 1-4, blank staves. Printed from same plates as 1st ed. (No. 230), with blank staves before p. 62 now containing music.
47 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 2 set-pieces, for 4 voices; most w. full text, some w. partial text. Attribs. to Jon. Benjamin (3), Clark & Green, Edson, Griswold (4), Hall, Hibbard, Kilbourn, Langdon (2), Lee (9), Lyon, Morgan (3), T. Olmstead, Rollo, Stephen-son, Unknown (11), Willard. 2 1st pr. identified (PSALM 90, RUTLAND), also I 1st Am. pr. (MIDDLESEX). 139 American compositions, 6 non-American, 2 unidentified [CYPRUS, MIDDLESEX] (29 attrib. Americans, 10 traced; 2 attrib. non-Americans, 4 traced [BETHES-DA, MEAR, PALMIS, ST. MARTIN'S]).
17 Core Repertory.
E30521 (MWA). CtHi (2), MWA*, N, RPB (2; 1 lacks 4 1.).
ASMI pp. 295-297.