NEHEMIAH SHUMWAY
Nehemiah Shumway (b. Oxford, Mass., 26 Aug. 1761; d. Freehold, New Jersey, July 1843) was a composer, teacher, and farmer. He graduated from Rhode Island College in 1790, became principal of Freehold (New Jersey) Academy, later lived in Schenectady and Albany, New York, then (from 1820) in Jefferson County, New York, before returning to Freehold.
Bio-bib. Also Brown Catalogue 1905, p. 77; Shumway 1909, p. 429.
See No. 448.
THE AMERICAN HARMONY, 1793-1801
The American Harmony, [1st ed.], 1793
ASMi 468
The American Harmony: containing, in a concise manner, the rules of singing; together with a collection of psalm tunes, hymns, and anthems. From the most approved authors, ancient and modern. By Nehemiah Shumway, A.B. Philadelphia, printed and sold by John M'Culloch, at No. 1, North Third-Street. 1793.
212 p. 13 x 22.5 cm. p. 177-80 omitted from pagination.
P. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. [3]-4, 'Index'; p. [5], 'Preface'; p. [6]-13, 'The Rules of Psalmody'; p. [14]-16, 'Observations on the Foregoing Rules'; p. [17]-18, 'General Observations on Singing'; p. 19-212, music. 'The editor of this Collection, had, at first, no design but for private amusement; but at length, having increased it to what it now appears, it is presented to the public. [New par.] Only such pieces of music as have been most approved, and those adapted to the different metres sung in churches, are inserted; and the whole is designed to accommodate the several musical and religious societies in the United States.' (Extract from Preface.)
169 compositions, incl. 4 anthems, 5 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arne, Badcock, Benham (2), Billings (23), Brownson (6), Bull (3), Canfield, Carpenter (2), Chandler, Deolph (3), Edson (3), Fisher, French (12), Goff (2), Hall (2), Howes, King, Knop, Lee, Mann, Madan, Merrick, Milgrove, Morgan (2), Reed (15), Shumway (13), Stephenson (3), Stone (10), Strong (2), Swan (7), Tansur (3), Washburn, Weal, West (8), Williams (5), Wood (7).38 1st pr. claimed; 29 identified, also 6 poss. Ist pr. (ALL SAINTS, DARTMOUTH, HATFIELD wrongly claimed as ist pr.; CIVIL AMUSEMENT, HARMONY, ORANGE, SUTTON, VENUS, WILTON are poss. Ist prs.), 1 1st Am. pr. (MELODIA). 145 American compositions, 23 non-American, 1 unidentified [MELODIA] (131 attrib. Amer-icans, 13 traced; 16 attrib. non-Americans, 7 traced [ANGELS HYMN, DANVILLE, HABAKKUK, MEAR, OLD 100, TRUMPET, WANTAGE]).
47 Core Repertory (poss. Ist pr. SUTTON by Goff).
E26162 (MWA). DLC, MWA, MiU-C*, NHi, NN, NNUT, NcWsM (2; 1 w. music inc.), NjNbR, NjPT, PPNhHi, PPiPT, RPB, TxWaB.
NOTE: E25096, listed as unlocated, is a mistaken reference to Shumway's The American Harmony.
The American Harmony, 2d ed., 1801
ASMI 469
The American Harmony . . . . together with a collection of psalm tunes, hymns, & anthems. . . . By Nehemiah Shumway, A.B. Second edition. Philadelphia, printed and sold by John M'Culloch, No. 1, North Third Street. - 1801.
1 p.l., 220 p.
P.l. recto, t-p.; verso blank; p. [1]-[2], 'Index'; p. [3], 'Preface'; p. [4]-11, 'Rules Of Psalm-ody'; p. [12]-14, 'Observations On The Foregoing Rules'; p. [15]-16, 'General Observations On Singing'; p. 17-220, music. Preface same as ist ed.
179 compositions, incl. 5 anthems & 5 set-pieces, for 4 voices, a few for 2 & 3; most w. full text, a few textless. Attribs. to Dr. Arne, Badcock, Benham (2), Billings (23), Brownson (5), Bull (3), Canfield, Carpenter (2), Chandler, Deolph (3), Edson (3), Fisher, French (12), Goff (2), Hall (2), Howes, King, Knap, Lee, Dr. Madan, Mann, Merrick, Milgrove, Morgan (2), Reed (15), Shumway (13), Stephenson (3), Stone (10), Strong (2), Swan (7), Tansur (3), Washburn, Weal, West (7), Williams (5), Wood (7). 15 1st Am. pr. identified (ADESTE FIDELIS, Anthem: Comfort ye; BATH, CAMBRIDGE, CASTLE STREET). 144 American compositions, 33 non-American, 2 unidentified [MELODIA, PITTSFIELD] (129 attrib. Americans, 15 traced [APPEARANCE, ASHFIELD, BUNKER HILL, HATFIELD, KITTERY, MORPHEUS, NEW 100, NORFOLK, NORTHBOROUGH, NORWICH, SIMSBURY, STERLING, WALES, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILTON]; 16 attrib. non-Americans, 17 traced).
52 Core Repertory (1st Am. pr. ADESTE FIDELES).
S1321 (CtHT-W). CSmH, CtHC (inc. front matter & music), CtHT-W*, ICN, MWA, NNUT, NjNbR (lacks t-p.), NjPT (front matter & music inc.).
ASMI pp 555-557.