THE COLUMBIAN HARMONY, 1805

ASMI 440 

The Columbian Harmony; or Maine Collection of Church Music, in three divisions, con-II. A large variety tainig, I. The rules of vocal music, laid down in a very plain manner of psalm and hymn tunes of various metres, suitable for divine worship, arranged in alphabet-ical order . . . . . .  III. Anthems, dirges, odes, and chorusses, suited to many occasions; many of which were never before published. The whole compiled for the use of schools, singing societies, and worshipping assemblies. By Charles Robbins.

'Music's the cordial of a troubled breast, / "The softest remedy that grief can find; /"The gentle spell that charms our cares to rest, /'And swells with heavenly hope the pensive mind.´

Published agreeably to act of Congress. Exeter, Newhampshire: printed at the music-press of Henry Ranlet, for the author.. . .  1805 Price 10 dollars per dozen, 1 dollar single.

207, [1] p. 112.5 x 21.5 cm.

Copyright granted 1 Jan. 1805, District of Maine, to Robbins as author (Maine 1:6-11); Preface dated Winthrop [Maine], July 1805. p. [1], t-p.; p. [ii], 'Advertisement'; p. [iii]-iv, 'Preface'; p. [5]-21, 'Rudiments of Music'; p. [22], 'A Dictionary of Musical Terms'; p. 23-28, 'Lessons'; p. [29]-207, music; p. [208], 'Index. 'Several tunes of different Metre are inserted for the Methodist Hymn Book, and a Collection by Messrs. Smith & Jones." (Extract from Advertisement.) "[The author] takes liberty to mention the inducements he met with to present this work to the public, which are the following, viz: the recommendations and solicitations which were given him by gentlemen who are Authors and Teachers of Music: together with his own sentiment that such a book as he has compiled would be of some utility to schools and the citizens of Maine in general, who at present have but a small opportunity of attaining musical knowledge by schools, the settlement being so new. He has therefore laid down the Rules of Music in a very plain manner, and if possible kept them above the contempt of the connoisseur. In the selections of Music, great pains have been taken to render them as correct as the original. [New par.] The Author is very far from flattering himself that he is about to present the public with something new on Music; but to the contrary he readily confesses, that many gentlemen have far exceeded him in musical knowledge; he has only to say that he has made some illusidations on particular Rules, which were painful to the beginner. He transmits the usefulness of them to the candor of the public. [New par.] Should any one on examination of this work, conclude that his musical knowledge might with propriety be computed as low as one talent, he thinks he is willing to submit to it, sincerely wishing (whether he has fire, tee or one) that he may not be so negligent as to bury them in oblivion: but so improve as to be useful to himself and the whole community. [New par.] The Author tenders his grateful thanks to those who have favored this work by subscription, and likewise those who have generously supplied him with such of their tunes as appear in this book, wishing he might display sentiments of gratitude for their benevolence.-He sincerely wishes that our worshipping assemblies of different denominations may be better supplied hereafter than they have been heretofore, by introducing some new pieces of music (if any can be found of merit) instead of wearying the audience by performing continually a set number of ancient pieces. (Extract from Preface.)

          147 compositions, incl. 5 anthems & 4 set-pieces, for 4 voices, a few for 3; full text. Attribs. to Belcher (7), Belknap (4), Billings (19), Blanchard, Brownson (2), Chandler (2), Edson (3), French (2), Gillet, Handel (3), Hitchcock, Holden (3), Holdrayd, Holyoke (3), Ingalls (3), King, Lane, Lock Hospital, M. Luther, Madan, Maxim (3), Merrill, Milgrove, Morgan, Munson, Parmeter, Pool (2), Read (8), Robbins (47), N. Robbins, Smith [Amer-ican], Stephenson (2), Stone (4), Sumner (2), Swan (3), Williams (3), Wood. 56 1st pr. claimed; 54 identified, also 2 poss. 1st pr. (PSALM 50 & SUMNER, both claimed as 1st pr., are poss. 1st pr.) 132 American compositions, 14 non-American, 1 unidentified [LIVONIA (129 attrib. Americans, 3 traced; 13 attrib. non-Americans, traced [MEAR]). 

30 Core Repertory.

          Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). DLC, NHi, RPB.

ASMI pp. 525-526.