THE UNIVERSAL HARMONY

The Norwich Packet, 9-16 Feb. 1775, carried a proposal for printing by subscription a work by Oliver King of Bolton, Connecticut, to be called The Universal Harmony. The work was apparently never published. However, the subscription proposal is unusually interesting, and because of its wealth of detail and early date it is here quoted at length.

'Whereas the Subscriber has for several Years past been imployed in teaching Psalmody, and hath found by long Experience that Complaints have generally subsisted amongst the ablest Masters and best Teachers of Music, with regard to the Collections of Music that have as yet been made public. In almost every Collection we find a very considerable Part both of Tunes and Anthems, which have not been generally approved of, nor thought worth while to be learned; so that in order to purchase those Tunes that are had in the highest Esteem at the present, and probably will continue so, we are put to a greater Expence for the Purchase of those Tunes, and Anthems with them, that are entirely and altogether useless: In order to remedy the above Inconveniency, the Subscriber, at the Advice and Desire of a Number of Gentleman of the Colony of Connecticut, proposes to engrave by Subscription, The Universal Harmony, A Collection of the most choice and valuable Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Anthems and Canons, with proper Words adapted to the greatest Part, from the most approved Authors, and especially such as have obtained the Approbation of the best Masters in Music: to which will be added, some Pieces which have not yet been published; set by some of the greatest Masters of Music. Also, a plain and easy Explanation of the Rules of Music, fitted for all Teachers, Learners, and musical Societies.

CONDITIONS.

          I. The Book will be printed on a fine Paper and the Plates executed by a good Engraver, the Whole carefully corrected, set in Score, and the Books well bound.

          II. The above Collection will contain 150 Pages of the same Dimensions as Lyon's Urania.

          III. The Price to Subscribers will be six Shillings, Lawful Money, for each Book.

          IV. Any Person who shall subscribe for twelve Copies, shall have a Thirteenth gratis.

          V. The Money to be paid when the Books are delivered.

          Subscriptions are received by Mr. Ingersol, Singing-Master, at Lebanon; Mr. Oliver Brunsen, Singing-Master, Litchfield; Mr. Elisha Barber, Simsbury; Mr. Jonathan Benjamin, Singing-Master, Andover; Mr. Bull, Singing-Master, New-York; Mr. Charles Deaolph, Sing-ing-Master, Brookline; Mr. Deaolph, Singing-Master, Preston; Mr. Andrew Law, Singing-Master, and Mr. Philip Paine, Booksellor, Providence; Mr. William M'Alpine, Printer, and Mr. Andrew Barclay, Booksellor, Boston; at the Printing-Office, Norwich; and by the Sub-scriber at Bolton.

          Those Persons that incline to become Subscribers, are desired to do it as soon as may be, as the Gentlemen who have Subscription Papers in their Hands, will be desired to return them to Messrs. Robertsons and Trumbull, Printers, Norwich, or to the Subscriber, in Bolton, by the 20th of April next.

          That the Undertakers may know what Encouragement they may have to proceed, the Subscriber will esteem it a Kindness if Gentlemen employed in teaching Music, or any others, will favour him with those Tunes and Anthems they may be acquainted with that have not been made public, by sending them to Messrs. Robertsons and Trumbull's Printing-Office, Norwich, or to the Subscriber at Bolton.... [signed] Oliver King Bolton, Feb. 15, 1775.' (Same notice also appears in issues of 16-23 Feb., 23 Feb.-2 March, 2-9 March & 9-16 March.)

ASMI pp. 381-383.