OLIVER SHAW
Oliver Shaw (b. Middleboro, Mass., 13 March 1779; d. Providence, R.I., 31 Dec. 1848) was a composer, singing master, organist, singer, and music publisher. The loss of most of his sight around 1800 turned Shaw toward musical studies. He settled in Providence in 1807. In 1809 he began to serve as organist of the First Church (Congregational) and joined with others to form the Psallonian Society to improve the city's musical life. Shaw sang in concerts of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society in 1817 and later. He also opened a 'musical repository' in that year, from which he published many works, including sacred and secular works of his own. With songs like 'Mary's Tears' (1817) and 'There's Nothing True but Heaven' (1817), Shaw became the only American-born composer of his generation to write widely popular ballads in the English style of the time. The Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence owns some of Shaw's letters.
Amerigrove, Baker's, Bio-bib, DAB, Grove, Metcalf, Wolfe. Also Degen 1971; Handel & Haydn 1893, p. 53f.; Shaw Memorial 1884; Williams 1851; Wolfe 1980, p. 66-67.
THANSKGIVING ANTHEM, 1809
ASMI 466
Thanksgiving Anthem. Composed and arranged for a choir of singers. With symphonies and interludes for instruments, ad libertum: and for the piano forte or organ, with the harmony inserted; it being more convenient for the young practitioner than a figured bass. By Oliver Shaw. Price twenty-five cents. Dedham: printed and sold by H. Mann, for the author . . . . . November, 1809.
7 p.11 32 x 24.5 cm.
P. [1], caption title; p. [1]-7, music.
I anthem for 4 voices, piano or organ, & an instrumental ensemble labeled: 'Clarionetto,' 'Violino,' 'Tenore,' & 'Basso.' Attrib. to Shaw. Identified as Ist pr.
American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). Wolfe 7989. NN*.
THE COLUMBIAN SACRED HARMONIST, 1808
ASMI 467
The Columbian Sacred Harmonist: or, Collection of Grammatical Music. By O. Shaw, A. Albee, and H. Mann. Dedham: printed, typographically, at the music press of H. Mann; and for sale at his book-store, at the book-stores in Boston; by O. Shaw, Providence; and A. Albee, Medfield. October 1808.
126, [2] p. 13 x 21.5 cm.
Preface dated 12 Sept. 1808; copyright notice granted 27 Sept. 1808, District of Massachusetts to Shaw, Albee & Mann. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], copyright notice; p. [3], 'Preface'; p. [4], 'Advertisement'; p. [5]-11, 'Introduction'; p. [12], 'Dictionary Of Musical Terms'; p. [13]-126, music; p. [127], 'Errata'; p. [128], 'Index.' 'Music has so often been explained and treated of in books of this kind, that the compilers think it superfluous for them to attempt an elaborate discussion of it, either as an art, or science; but content themselves by prefixing to their Collection, a short Introduction, intended to be used under the direction of a master, and not as a professed treatise on the art. [New par.] They beg leave to observe, that. . . . they have endeavored to furnish congregations, societies, and schools with a valuable repository of sacred music, combining elegance and variety; adapted to most metres in modern use. They have selected from European and Columbian authors. The merits of the former need no encomium; of the latter, it may be said, that the harmony of their compositions, when it required, has been carefully corrected, where leave could be obtained, while the melody has been preserved inviolate.' (Extract from Preface.)
85 compositions, incl. 10 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Albee (2), Dr. Arne, Dr. Arnold (3), Bridgewater Coll., Dr. Burney (3), J. W. Callcott, 'adapted fr. J. W. Callcott, Chetham, Costellow, Costellow's Coll., 'adapted fr. Dalmer, Dixon (2), Dixon's Coll. (3), H.E., I. Fish, Dr. Green, T.H. - Lock Hospital, Handel (3), R. Harrison, Har[monia] Sacra, 'ascr. to Harwood,' John Hatton, Dr. Heighington, Holyoke, J. Husband, Jennings, Leach (4), 'adapted fr. Leach,' E. Lees, C. Lockhart, Levesque, Dr. Madan (8, incl. 1 arr. by O. Shaw), Magdalen Hymns, Oswald, Pleyel (3), H. Purcell, A. Reed, O. Shaw (13), Smith's Selection, I. Smith, Wainwright-Mass. Comp., A. Williams's Col. (2), T. Williams's Coll. 13 1st pr. claimed; 13 identified, also 15 1st Am. pr. (DELIVER-ANCE, DEPENDENCE, DEVOTION, DUKE ST., FAIRHAVEN, GROSVENOR ST., JORDAN, MAJESTY, MEDWAY, MIDNIGHT, PLEYEL'S HYMN, POWLETT, REDEMPTION, SALTASH, WORSHIP), 2 poss. 1st Am. pr. (SYRIA, TOWNHEAD). 16 American compo-sitions, 61 non-American, 8 unidentified [DELIVERANCE, FAIRHAVEN, GANGES, GROS-VENOR STREET, MEDWAY, POWLETT, SALTASH, WORSHIP] (17 attrib. Americans, but source of GANGES undetermined; 60 attrib. non-Americans, I traced [CASTLE STREET]).
8 Core Repertory.
S16181 (MWA). CtY, DLC, ICN, MBNEC, MHI, MWA, MiU-C*, NN, NNUT, NcWsM, PPIPT, RPB.
ASMI pp. 553-555.