NEW YORK REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH
A COLLECTION OF THE PSALM AND HYMN TUNES, 1774
ASMI 397
A Collection of the Psalm and Hymn Tunes, used by the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New-York, agreeable to their psalm book, published in English. In four parts, viz. tenor, bass, treble, and counter.
The Lord shall comfort Zion: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah.
New-York: printed by Hodge and Shober. M.DCC.LXXIV.
[7]. 54 double, [3] p. (After 7 unnumbered pages, each facing pair has the same number: 1, 1, 2, 2. 3. 3, etc. through 54.) 15.5 x 9 cm.
Prefatory Approbation dated New York, 11 Jan. 1774. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii] blank; p. [ii], Approbation'; p. [iv]-[vii], 'Advertisement, instructions; p. 1-54 double, music; p. [55] blank; p. [56-57], 'A Table of such Psalms as are sung to the same Tunes. Whereas, a Collection of the Bass, Treble and Counter has been made to the Tunes used in the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the city of New-York, by a number of the members of the said Church, in order that the singing of Psalms, in all four parts of music, agreeable to the practice of many Churches in Europe, particularly those of Holland and Germany, may be rendered more easy and familiar, and the same has been laid before the Consistory, for their approbation: The said Consistory, desirous of promoting harmony and good order in every part of public worship, and of praising God with the voice, as a part of the believer's reasonable service, have, after an examination of the following Collection, approved of the same, and recommended the use thereof in their Church, By Order of the Consistory, Lambertus De Ronde, P. T. Praeses. (Approbation in full.) 'A Collection of Bass, Treble and Counter, was formerly made in France by Claude de Gaudemel, in 1572, and reprinted at Leyden in 1620, and afterwards reprinted with all the Psalms at Harlem, 1753. To this book the Editors are greatly indebted for the following collection.' (Extract from Advertisement.)
51 compositions for 4 voices printed separately (54 printed; 3 twice: PSALM 115/SONG OF THE VIRGIN MARY, PSALM 128/THE CREED, & PSALM 61/THE LORD'S PRAYER); full text. No attribs. No 1st pr. identified. All are non-American.
3 Core Repertory (PSALMS 7 [OLD 100], 108 [ANGELS HYMN], TEN COMMANDMENTS [BED-FORD]).
E42655 (CSmH). CSmH (music inc.), MoKC, NN".
NOTE: The texts and tunes are those found in No. 398, below. The verses are Francis Hopkinson's adaptation of Brady & Tate's New Version to the tunes of the Reformed Church's Geneva Psalter. The settings, based on Claude Goudimel's versions, first published in Paris (1565), were taken from Davids psalmen en alle de Lof-Zangen uyt den Francoischen in Nederduytschen dichtmaat (Haarlem: Izaak en Job. Enschede, 1753). For more details see Smith 1948.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID, 1767
The following documents, printed in Sonneck 1905, p. 93-95, show that this work was executed by Francis Hopkinson. A report in the records of the New York Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 22 May 1764:
Resolved-That Mr. Evert Byvank be discharged from his engagement to versify the Psalms in English in the same manner as they are versified in the Low Dutch, and that the Committee with Mr. Hopkinson inquire into the best method of doing this according to the genius of the English tongue, and the versifying be done accordingly.
From the records of 29 June 1764:
A letter was read from Mr. Francis Hopkinson dated June 11, 1764, concerning the versifying of the Psalms of David in English in the manner proposed; and the Consistory agreed to pay him for altering what has been done forty pistoles, and for completing the whole one hundred pistoles, fifty of which shall be paid when the work on the new plan shall be half done if Hopkinson asks it.
On 13 Dec. 1765 Hopkinson commented in a letter to Benjamin Franklin:
I have finished the translation of the Psalms of David to the great satisfaction of the Dutch Congregation of New York and they have paid me £145 their currency which I intend to keep as a body reserve in case I should go to England.
ASMI 398
The Psalms of David, with The Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre. Also, the catechism, confession of faith, liturgy, &c. Translated from the Dutch. For the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the city of New-York. New-York: printed by James Parker, at the new printing office in Beaver-Street. MDCCLXVII.
2 p.l., 479, [9] p. 118 x 11 cm. Copies are b. w. Heidelbergh Catechism, 143, [1] p., which contains no music, and is thus not described.
Note To the Reader dated 9 Nov. 1767. 1st p.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; 2d 1. recto, "To the Reader'; verso, instructions for singing; p. [1]-479, music; p. [480]-[84], 'An Alphabetical Table of the Psalms'; p. [485], 'A Table of such Psalms, as are sung to the same Tunes'; p. [486]-[88], 'A Table of References.' 'The Consistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New-York, having, by Reason of the Declension of the Dutch Language, found it necessary to have Divine Service performed in their Church in English; Have adopted the following Version of the Psalms of David, which is greatly indebted to that of Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate; Some of the Psalms being transcribed verbatim from their Version, and others altered, so as to fit them to the Music used in the Dutch Churches.' (Extract from note To the Reader.)
50 monophonic tunes (156 printed; many duplications); full text (all stanzas of text underlaid for each tune). No attribs. 23 1st Am. pr. identified (Psalms 5, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 22, 27, 37, 39, 46, 47, 50, 59, 61, 110, 112, 115, 116, 128, 147, SONG OF ZACHARIAS). All are non-American.
13 Core Repertory (PSALMS 20 [OLD 100], 108 [ANGELS HYMN], TEN COMMANDMENTS [BEDFORD]).
E10561 (MWA). CSmH, CtY (2), DLC, ICN, MB, MH, MWA, MiU-C, NHi, NN, NNUT, NRU-Mus (lacks t-p.), NjR, PHi, PPL, RPB (lacks Heidelbergh Catechism), RPJCB, TxWaB (lacks t-p.).
NOTE: This work is discussed in Redway 1938.
ASMI pp. 474-476.