JONATHAN HUNTINGTON

Jonathan Huntington (b. Windham, Conn., 17 Nov. 1771; d. St. Louis, Mo., 29 July 1838) was a composer, singer, singing master, and flute teacher. Huntington seems to have been a singing master all of his working life. He apparently lived in his home town until 1804, except for a stay in Albany around 1800. Thereafter he lived in Troy, New York (1806), Northampton, Massachusetts (1807-11), and Boston (1812-29), before settling in St. Louis. In 1808 he advertised in Northampton: 'Musical Instruments. For sale, and instructions given by J. Huntington'; and he advertised both singing schools and flute lessons in Boston in 1818 and 1820. A founding member of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society, he sang 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' from Handel's Messiah at the Society's first public concert on 25 Dec. 1815 and was still performing it in public as late as 1822.

          Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Metcalf. Also Handel & Haydn 1893, p. 38, 44, 62, 74, 85; Huntington 1915, p. 608-9; Murray 1975, p. 449-50; Osterhout 1978, p. 252 & n., 343-48, 352-55.

THE ALBANY COLLECTION, 1800

ASMI 277 

The Albany Collection of Sacred Harmony. Containing, a plain and intelligible instruction for learners of church music; together with a lesson for every mood of time, and for every key made use of in psalmody. Also, a collection of psalm-tunes, hymns, and anthems, suited to all the different keys and metres made use of in the American churches; both for the expression of joy and thankfulness, or for funerals and subjects of grief. By Jonathan Huntington. Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at North-ampton, by Andrew Wright, for Daniel Steel, book-binder, Court-Street, corner of Hudson-Street, Albany. And sold by him wholesale and retail - and by C. R. and G. Webster. 1800.

xii, [9]-91, [1] p. 113 x 22.5 cm. p. ix wrongly numbered xi.

Albany Gazette, 14 Aug. 1800, advertises work as 'just printed, and for sale. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii] blank; p. [iii], 'Preface'; p. vi-xii, introduction in 'Lectures' and lessons; p. [9]-91, music; p. [92], 'Index to the Music.' 'Vocal Music is, without doubt, one of the most Pleasing and Useful sciences when rightly understood, and well performed, by reason of its being made use of to sound forth the praise and glory of the grand Parent of the universal world.' (Extract from Preface.)

          77 compositions (78 printed, ANGELS HYMN twice), incl. 3 anthems & 3 set-pieces, for 4 voices (2 for 3, 1 for 2; 2 calling for optional instrumental accompaniment); full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arne, Babcock, Belknap, Billings (7), Chandler, Edson (4), French, Gillet, Hall, Handel, Holdrad, Huntington (4), Kibby, Luther, Madan, Mann, Morgan (2), Read (6), Stephenson (3), Swan (3), Tans'ur, Williams (2), Wood. 14 1st pr. claimed; 4 identified, also 4 1st Am. pr. (AMANDA, CHANT, NEW-HOLLAND, SPRING) & 1 poss. 1st pr. (LIVONA). 146 American compositions, 25 non-American, 6 unidentified [AMANDA, CHANT, LIVONA, NEW-HOLLAND, SPRING, WESTFIELD] (34 attrib. Americans, 12 traced [AMANDA-P. 65, BABYLON, GRATITUDE, MESSIAH, NORFOLK, NO. 4, OCEAN, PSALM 17, SALISBURY, SUFFERING SAVIOUR, WARREN-P. 29, WILLIAMS-TOWN]; 12 attrib. non-Americans, 13 traced). 

34 Core Repertory.

          E37667 (NN). CtHi (b.w. Bull, The Responsary, 1795, and Jenks & Griswold, The American Compiler, 1803), NN*.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE ALBANY COLLECTION, 1801-2

ASMI 278 

[Supplement to the Albany Collection. By Jonathan Huntington. Albany: C.R. and G. Webster, for Daniel Steele, 1801-2].

The Albany Gazette, 11 Oct. 1802, carries an advertisement signed by Daniel Steele and dated Albany, 7 Oct. 1802, that reads in part: 'Church Music. The Albany Collection, to which is added a Supplement, containing XV of the best Tunes now in print. By J. Huntington.' Nine months earlier Steele had advertised as 'just printed, and for sale . . .  Albany Collection of Sacred Harmony' (Albany Gazette, 7 Jan. 1802). But The Albany Collection had been in print since August 1800. Perhaps it was the Supplement that was 'just printed' at the beginning of 1802.

          Not in Shaw-Shoemaker. No copy located.

THE APOLLO HARMONY, 1807

ASMI 279 

The Apollo Harmony, contains, plain and intelligible rules for singing by note, a universal collection of psalm and hymn tunes, suited to all metres and keys, with a number of set pieces and anthems, proper for all occasions, together with the instructions for the bass viol, and German flute: selected from the most celebrated European and American compositions, with some pieces entirely new. Selected and set by Jonathan Huntington. Published accord-ing to act of Congress. Printed typographically at Northampton, Ms. By Horace Graves. 1807.

xiv, [2], [9]-127, [1] p. 12.5 x 21 cm. p. no. 80 inverted. Index lists POLAND ODE (P. 127), HOTHAM (р. 130), CHARITY ODE (P. 131), ASCENSION (p. 136), NEW YORK (P. 140), but none of these appear in book.

Copyright granted, 25 June 1807, District of Massachusetts, to Huntington as author. Northampton Republican Spy, 7 July 1807, advertises work as just published. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Observations'; p. [iii]-ix, 'A Short Introduction To Psalmody'; p. x-xiii, instructions for playing 'German Flute' and 'Bass Viol or Violincello'; p. xiv, 'Musical Terms Explained Alphabetically'; p. [xv] blank; p. [xvi], 'Index'; p. [9]-127, music; p. [128], copyright notice. By long experience, just trial, and thorough examination, I find that there is as many different tastes for Music, as other things. Some will be pleased with Old Hundred, Bath, Plymouth, Wantage, &c. Others would prefer light and airy tunes - I have therefore given a general assortment, and hope it may be viewed with candour. [New par.] The Violincello, and German flute, being Instruments much used with vocal Music, and their tone being nearest the human voice (when well played) induces me to insert instructions for them in this book.' (Extract from Observations.)

          97 compositions, incl. 2 anthems & 6 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Addington (2), Addington's Coll., Dr. Arne (2), Austin, Babcock (2; 1 erroneously attrib. Bacock), Billings (5), Wm. Buckmaster, Bull (3), Chandler, Coan (2), Corelli, Doolit-tle, Edson (3), Frary, German, Giardini, Dr. Green, Handel (2), Harwood, Hibbard, Holden (2), Holdrid, J. Huntington (4), Ingalls, Kilbourn, Kimball, I. Lane, Lockhart, M. Luther, Dr. Madan (5), Milgrove, Morgan (2), Munson, Olmstead, T. Olmstead (2), Original, Read (7), Rollo, Sacchini, Shrubsole, Is. Smith (3), Swan (5), Tanzur, Dr. Taylor, Union Harmony, Dr. Wainwright, S. Warriner (2), Weeks, G. Whitefield (2), T. Williams's Coll., Mr. Wood. 1 1st pr. claimed, 7 identified (CHRISTIAN'S SONG, PRAISE, PSALMS 51, 65, 84, RENSSELAER, SAVANNAH), also 3 1st Am. pr. (PSALM 92, SALEM, SCOTLAND). 64 American compositions, 31 non-American, 2 unidentified [PSALM 92, SCOTLAND] (57 attrib. Americans, 7 traced; 30 attrib. non-Americans, I traced [MEAR]). 

22 Core Repertory.

          S12796 (MWA). CtHC (lacks t-p., all front matter, much music), CtY (lacks t-p.), DLC (2; 1 b.w. Warriner, The Springfield Collection, 1813), ICN, MBC, MWA* (b.w. Huntington, The English Extracts, 1809), NHi, NNUT, NRU-Mus, NcWsM, RPB.

ASMI 279A 

The Apollo Harmony . . . 1807.

xiv p., 1 1., [9]-148 p. p. no. 8o inverted. Pagination after p. 128 garbled: p. nos.129, 133 missing from pagination; p. nos. 137-38 repeated in pagination. Index same as other issue, but only HOTHAM (P. 130) conforms to it.

Assumed to be later than 128-p. issue because of additional pages. Content same as main entry through p. [128]; then: p. 130-148, music.

          108 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 8 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices (1 for 5); full text. Attribs, to those in main entry; also Deolph, Dr. Green, Handel, Madan, Williams. No 1st pr. identified. 66 American compositions, 39 non-American, 3 unidentified [PSALMS 4, 92, SCOTLAND] (58 attrib. Americans, 8 traced; 34 attrib. non-Americans, 5 traced [Anthem: Arise; HOTHAM, MEAR, PORTUGAL, ST. HELEN'S]. 

27 Core Repertory.

          Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). MiU-C* (b.w. Huntington, The English Extracts).

NOTE: See Osterhout 1978, p. 343-48.

THE ENGLISH EXTRACTS, 1809

ASMI 280 

The English Extracts, or Hampshire Musical Magazine. No. I. Containing-three anthems, and several hymn and psalm tunes, suited to all different occasions, where singing is required, of the plain worshiping tunes. - Extracted principally from the Magdalen Chapel Collection of Hymns, where the most pious and eminent professors of divinity and music were employed, and lent their peculiar aid in that religious institution. Numbers to contain 32 pages, and sold for 25 cents each-at Northampton. If the first number should meet with encour-agement, another number of different tunes will be offered next season.

Praise God, from whom all mercies flow.

J. Huntington, compiler. Printed at Northampton-for the compiler.- 1809.

[2d title] The English Extracts, Or Hampshire Musical Magazine. No. II. The index for both numbers is annexed to the end of this number.

56 p. 12.5 x 21 cm. p. no. 19 inverted.

P. [1], t-p.; p. 2-32, music; p. [33], caption title giving 2d title; p. [33]-56, music; p. 56, 'Index For Both Numbers.'

          40 compositions, incl. 2 anthems & 4 set-pieces, for 2, 3, & 4 voices (1 for 5); full text. Attribs. to Addington (2), Dr. Arne, Blancks (2), Green (2; 1 to Dr. Green, Rippon's Coll.), Handel (5), J. Husband (3), Dr. Madan (6), Magdalene Hymns (2), Milgrove, Pleyel, Portuguese Hymn, Is. Smith (3), J. Smith, W. Tansur, Williams, Williams's Coll., A. Williams (2).12 1st Am. pr. identified (ADORATION, COMMUNION). I American composition (JEHOVAH REIGNS); 38 non-American, 1 unidentified [MORNING HYMN] (1 traced to American source; 35 attrib. non-Americans, 3 traced). 

13 Core Repertory.

          Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). MWA, MiU-C*. Both b.w. Huntington, The Apollo Harmony.

NOTE: Although the two numbers were issued serially, they were indexed together by the compiler, and for that reason they are treated here as one item. There is no record that more numbers were published.

See Osterhout 1978, p. 352-55.

ASMI pp. 342-345.