JACOB KIMBALL, JR.
Jacob Kimball, Jr. (b. Topsfield, Mass., 15 Feb. 1761; d. there, 6 Feb. 1826) was a composer, singing master, poet, schoolmaster, and lawyer. Born into a musical family, he was a drummer in the militia during the Revolutionary War (1775) and graduated from Harvard College in 1780. Serving as a schoolmaster in Ipswich (1781-83) and Topsfield (1792-94,1797, 1799, 1804, 1809, 1811, 1813-14), he also studied law and in 1795 was admitted to the bar in Strafford County, New Hampshire, though he seems to have practiced only briefly. He taught singing schools in Marblehead in the early 1790s and at Danvers in 1800, and he enjoyed a reputation as a good singer. His tunebooks contain almost exclusively his own music, which shows the harmonic influence of European theoretical principles, perhaps through the influence of Hans Gram, whom he seems to have known. Kimball is reputed to have been a heavy drinker who died in poverty. The Essex Institute in Salem owns a manuscript collection of more than sixty unpublished pieces by him, dated 26 May 1808, Malden, Massachusetts.
Amerigrove, Baker's, Bio-bib, Grove, Metcalf, Sonneck-Upton. Also Wilcox 1957; Wilcox 1958.
THE ESSEX HARMONY, 1800
ASMI 307
The Essex Harmony: an original composition, in three and four parts. By Jacob Kimball, Junr. A.B. Author of the 'Rural Harmony.'
Music's bright 'influence, thrilling thro' the breast, / 'Can lull e'en raging anguish into rest, / 'And oft its wildly, sweet-enchanting lay, / 'To fancy's magic heav'n steals the rapt thought away.' Harris.=
Published according to act of Congress. From the music-press of H. Ranlet, Exeter. Printed for T. C. Cushing and B. B. Macanulty, and sold at their book-stores in Salem. 1800.
111, [1] p. 13 x 22 cm. p. 13 wrongly numbered 14.
Copyright granted, 6 Jan. 1801, District of Massachusetts, to Thomas C. Cushing, as proprietor (Mass. 1:112). p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Dedication'; p. [iii]-viii, 'A concise Introduc-tion to the art of Singing'; p. [9]-111, music; p. [112], 'Index.' 'To the Essex Musical Association, founded in 1797, The following Work is inscribed: with an ardent wish that it may contribute, in some small degree, towards furthering the object of the Society; the ameliorat-ing and refining the Taste for Music in this Country; and that it may have a tendency to increase innocent amusement, as well as to exalt the feelings in public devotion, by their humble servant. The Author.' (Dedication in full.)
46 compositions, incl. 2 anthems & 4 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to S. Holyoke (2), the rest presumably by Kimball. 46 1st pr. identified. All are American.
No Core Repertory.
E37732 (MWA). CLU, CtY, DLC (2), ICN (2), MB, MBC, MH, MHi, MSaE (3), MWA*, N, NBUG, NN, NRU-Mus, NjPT, RPB.
NOTE: See also No. 179, The Essex Harmony, Part II (1800).
THE RURAL HARMONY, 1793
ASMI 308
The Rural Harmony, being an original composition, in three and four parts. For the use of singing schools and musical societies. By Jacob Kimball, Jun. A.B.
The man who has not music in his soul, / And is not mov'd by concert of sweet sounds,
[/ Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; / The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
/ And his affections dark as Erebus.-Shakespeare.
Published according to act of Congress. Printed, typographically, at Boston, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. Sold at their bookstore, No. 45, Newbury Street; by said Thomas in Worcester; and by the booksellers in Boston, and elsewhere. - 1793-
111, [1] p. 13.5 x 22 cm.
Preface dated Topsfield, Nov. 1793. Boston Columbian Centinel, 23 Nov. 1793, advertises work as just published. Copyright granted, 3 Dec. 1793, District of Massachusetts, to Jacob Kimball as author (Mass 1:32). p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Preface'; p. [iii]-xvi, 'Introduction to the Art of Singing'; p. [17]-111, music; p. [112], 'Index' & 'Errata.' 'In a country where music has not yet become a regular profession, it cannot be expected that a composition of this kind can stand a rigid criticism; but as every attempt to subserve the interest, or to encrease the innocent pleasures of the community, deserves public patronage, the author of the following work, without further apology, presents it to the public eye. [New par.] He has aimed at originality in his compositions, and endeavoured to deviate (as far as he deemed it justifiable) from the common style; where he has given into it, he has attempted to improve it by a particular attention to the harmony. [New par.] Those who have encour-aged the work by subscription, are respectfully thanked.' (Extract from Preface.)
71 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 3 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. T-p. attribs. all to Kimball. 69 1st pr. identified (all except INVITATION, ROWLEY). All are American.
No Core Repertory.
E25695 (MWA). CLU, CtHC (lacks t-p.), CtY, DLC, ICN, MB, MH, MHi, MSaE (2; 1 b.w. other works as Musical Miscellany No. 2), MWA*, NN (2), NRU-Mus, NcWsM (lacks p. 27-30), NjPT, RPB.
NOTE: Evans 30662 posits a 2d ed. (1796), but fails to document it, quoting only a publisher's statement-'This is a work of great merit, and stands first in the list of American [original] Musical Compositions' from an advertisement in the back of Oliver Holden, The Worcester Collection, 6th ed. (Boston, 1797).
ASMI pp. 379-381.