THE SALEM COLLECTION, 1805-6

The Salem Collection, [1st ed.], 1805

ASMI 450 

The Salem Collection of Classical Sacred Musick; in three and four parts: consisting of psalm tunes and occasional pieces, selected from the works of the most eminent composers: suited to all the metres in general use. To which is prefixed, a short introduction to psalmody. Salem: printed by Joshua Cushing, and sold by Cushing & Appleton, at their Bookstore in Salem, & by J. Sparhawk Appleton, No. 1, Cornhill, Boston. 1805.

xii, 9-122, [2] p. 19.5 x 27 cm. p. 25 wrongly numbered 35.

Copyright granted, 23 November 1805, District of Massachusetts, to Cushing & Appleton as proprietors. Advertised in Salem Gazette, 3 December 1805. p. [i], t-p.; p. [ii], copyright notice; p. [iii]-vi, 'Preface'; p. [vii]-x, 'A Short Introduction To Psalmody'; p. [xi]-xii, 'Subscribers' Names'; p. 9-121, music; p. 122, texts for hymns to MUNICH & CLARK'S; p. [123], 'Alphabetical Index'; p. [124], 'Metrical Index.' 'It is a fact no less singular than undeniable, that while our country has produced very few authors of that kind of musick which, for distinction's sake, may be called profane (by which we mean every species except psalmody) it has swarmed with men who have announced themselves as composers of Sacred Musick; and while the whole Union has scarcely afforded so much as a song of distinguished merit, almost every village has been able to boast of its original anthems and oratorios. Whether this has arisen from the peculiar genius of our musical composers-or from the fear of more certain detection and exposure in the one case than the other-or from a reliance on that well-meaning spirit of charity which has disposed Christian societies to admit into their service the productions of any author, who presents himself to them in a pious garb and with honest motives-it is not now material to inquire: the consequence is the same from any of these causes, in a country where the best models of composition are yet scarcely known; and it has been, what we blush to confess, a general and most deplorable corruption of taste in our church musick. [New par.] The present publication owes its existence to a long and serious reflection upon this humiliating fact; a fact which cannot fail of being the subject of deep regret with every lover of harmony, as well as with the serious professor of Christianity; for it cannot be denied, that most of our modern psalmody is not less offensive to a correct musical taste, than it is disgusting to the sincere friends of publick devotion. [New par.] The greater part of the tunes here published were originally selected by a Committee (whose names, were we at liberty to mention them, would add authority to the work) for the use of the congregation in this town under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Prince; and it was the intention of the publishers to have confined the work to the tunes used in that society. But on issuing proposals for printing it, they received such flattering encouragement from the several congregations in this town and its vicinity, as induced them to extend it, in order to accommodate as many societies as possible with a convenient and accurate selection of tunes adapted to the various metres now in use among them. [New par.] The nature and design of the work were thus briefly stated in the proposals; "With the view, therefore, of promoting a just taste in psalmody, as well as to further the purposes of publick devotion, it has been thought advisable to publish a collection of such psalm tunes as are believed to be most conducive to these two objects. This collection will be formed from the compositions of those eminent masters of the science, who, like the writers of the first rank in polite literature, may be justly styled Classical Authors. It will consist entirely of tunes which have for many years obtained the sanction of correct taste; and to effect more certainly the objects above mentioned, the publishers beg leave to state, that the harmony throughout the work has been revised with great care; a measure which the corrupt copies now in circulation rendered peculiarly necessary." [New par.] These were the motives of the publishers, and they trust, that whatever judgment shall be formed of the execution of the work, these reasons are a sufficient apology for making an addition to the numerous collections of psalm tunes already published in this country. But one more remark may be made on this head. Though the tunes here given to the publick may perhaps be found in the different compilations already made, yet they are so much dispersed, and so deeply buried under the crudities of half-learned harmonists, that a collection of them into one volume became in some measure requisite, as the first step to the speedy attainment of the desirable objects above mentioned: for, in order to correct our taste in musick, as in the sister arts, we must, in the first place, have within our reach, and constantly before us, the best models; and not till after long contemplation of these, and unwearied study and labour, can we expect to see much progress made towards a reformation. [fn. We take pleasure in mentioning, as an honourable exception to these general remarks on the bad taste in our sacred music, the Massachusetts Compiler, printed at Boston in 1795; and perhaps a few other Collections of some merit might be found.] [New par.] Here the inquiry naturally presents itself-Why has the antient psalmody fallen into such disrepute among us? On this subject we think the remarks of Dr. Miller [fn. Edward Miller, Mus. Doct.] so pertinent, that we cannot forbear introducing them. As late as the year 1790 that author makes the same complaint of the neglect shown to the antient melodies in England. "We must not (says he, in the preface to his Psalms of David) judge of the full effect of musick from frequenting the opera or the theatre. The lyric strains of Metastasio and Sacchini may charm the ear and soothe the mind, but can never produce that rapturous sensation, that fervour and spring of the soul, which animates us when we listen to the divine strains of David, harmonized by Purcell, Handel, Marcello or Crofts. That any one may be convinced of the superiority of sacred musick in raising the affections, let him attend to the anthem of Purcell's, 'Be merciful unto me, O God,' or indeed to almost any other of his church musick." He then subjoins the following remarks, which are what we principally wished to introduce to the reader. "The common psalm tunes used in our parish churches may not, by many, be thought capable of producing these grand effects; for, as all the congregation join, or ought to join in them, simple and easy melodies can only be used in such places: but their construction, though simple, is elegant and dignified, and when properly performed by a large congregation, and judiciously accompanied on the organ, their effect is perhaps as great in exciting sublime emotions, as we experience from anthems, chorusses, and more elaborate musick. The truth of this may be evinced by the grand effect of five or six thousand children singing in unison, at the annual meeting in St. Paul's church, of the different charity schools . .   It seems, indeed, to be the general opinion of eminent men, that the common melodies used in parish churches are well calculated to answer every purpose for which they were intended. It is only to the wretched Manner in which they are too frequently sung, that we must attribute their want of effect." [New par.] The justness of these remarks, we think, cannot be contested; and we look forward with some earnestness to the period when their truth will be recognised throughout our country. [New par.] We make one more extract from this judicious author, which will serve at once as a lesson to our singers and composers. After observing that singing-masters may do a great deal towards a reformation, he says: "Fondly attached to compositions in many parts, and those chiefly composed by unskilful men, abounding in ill-constructed fugues and false harmony, they are apt to treat with contempt the simple but elegant melodies used in parish churches; but would they study the various beauties of expression-the true portamento, or conduct of the voice, free from all Nasal sounds or Screaming exertions-a proper pronunciation, and the energetic expression of emphatical words-they would soon find that these despised melodies, when properly performed, with true pronunciation, just intonation and feeling expression, are as capable of fixing the attention and affecting the hearts of the congregation, as more elaborate musick." [New par.] The correctness of these observations, and the utility, nay the necessity of simple musick, for our psalm tunes, will be more apparent, if we consider, for a moment, the duties of the Singers in a congregation. It never could have been intended (as might be erroneously inferred from the general practice in our own country) that the choir of singers alone should perform this part of divine service. Their province originally was, without a question, to lead the congregation, who were not to be debarred from joining in this, any more than in the other parts of publick worship. And yet how few societies do we find, where any but a professed singer is able to follow the choir through the rambling tunes that are now in common use! And further; if the tunes should be simple, for the reasons above mentioned, they should also be less numerous than is usually the case, in order that the congregation may easily learn them. This principle has governed the publishers in the present work. Their only anxiety has been, lest the book should be too large; and it is by no means their intention, that all the tunes in it should be adopted by any one society. Many, as has been already observed, were added for the sake of furnishing musick for the various metres used in different societies. [fn.: The number of tunes originally selected for the use of the Rev. Dr. Prince's society by the Committee we have mentioned, was about seventy; they are distinguished in the metrical index by an asterisk (*); and that number, if we might be permitted to express our opinion, we should think amply sufficient for any congregation.] "It is not here intended (to use the words of Dr. Miller again) to discourage singers in their practice of anthems, but to entreat them to be the instructors and leaders of the congregation in parochial psalmody: the minister would then, at their request, sometimes indulge them with singing an anthem in the part of the service appointed for it, or after the sermon," &c. [New par.] Before we quit the subject of the performance of church musick, we beg the reader's indulgence while we say one word upon the distribution of the parts of the tunes. It has been the usual practice to give the leading part, or air, under the denomination of tenor, to the men's voices. We think we are warranted by the authority of the most eminent composers (certainly by the authority of common sense, and of analogy in instrumental musick) in strongly urging that the air should be performed by treble voices. In the following work, this part will be found placed next to the bass, and connected with it by a bracket. This arrangement was adopted, as being comform-able to antient usage, and as a great convenience in all cases where the book may be used by organists. [New par.] To return to the contents of the work: A few tunes will be found in this publication, which were only intended for occasional use; they are principally at the end of the volume. The harmony, in every case where there was a doubt, has been revised by an eminent professor, of Boston; much care has been bestowed on the correction of the proof sheets; and the work is printed on paper superior to that of any similar collection in this country. The short Introduction to Psalmody was only intended to be used under the direction of a master, and not as a professed treatise on the art. The publishers, therefore, dismiss the work with all the confidence which great exertions on their part warrant them in entertaining, but at the same time, with that just diffidence, which is inspired by the reflection-that Perfection (to adopt the idea of a fine scholar) seems only to shun us in proportion to our endeavours to approach her.' (The Preface is so comprehensive and examplary a statement of the various issues in the movement to reform American psalmody that it is here quoted in full.)

          84 compositions, incl. 2 set-pieces, for 3 & 4 voices; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arne (2), 'altered from Dr. Arnold, E. Blancks, J. Chetham, Courteville, Dr. Croft, Dalmer, H. E., German, 'altered from the German, F. Giardini, Dr. Green, Geo. Green, Handel (5), Har[monia] Sacra, R. Harrison, Hart (3), Dr. Hayes, Holdrayd, Jennings, Kirby (2), Linley, M. Luther (3), Dr. Madan (7), B. Milgrove, Dr. Miller (2), J. Milton, Pleyel, Portuguese Hymn, Purcell (2), Dr. Randall, I. Smith, J. Smith, Tansur (8), T. Thorly, J. Wainwright, A. Williams, A. Williams Coll. (9), T. Williams Coll. 18 1st Am. pr. identified (BRUNSWICK, MECKLENBURG, PENTONVILLE, PSALM 148 NEW, ROCKINGHAM, ST. CLEMENT ST. CYPRIAN'S, UXBRIDGE), also 2 poss. 1st Am. pr. (ASYLUM, EASTER HYMN). 184 non-American compositions (72 attrib. non-Americans, 12 traced). 

39 Core Repertory.

          S9302 (MWA). CtY (8 p. of blank 1. at end), MB (inc.), MH, MH-AH, MSaE (3 copies), MWA* (front matter and music inc.), MiU-C* (front matter inc.), MOKU, RPB.

NOTE: Bentley 1905 (7 Dec. 1805) notes the following: 'In regard to Church Music many complaints have been made against the many compilations all of which pretend to have some new compositions. To prevent this errour we are informed the First Church in this town applied to some gentlemen of musical taste to select some approved tunes in counter point for their Organ. The work was hardly done before it was suggested that by so adding a few more tunes, a work from the press might be issued & forsooth out comes a new book to give a little help to the Printers. The Subscription embraces other than views of religion & taste, & this new book is to be a standard probably as long as many others have been.' (III, p. 203). On 5 Jan. 1806 Bentley wrote: 'A New Singing Book of select Tunes has been published in Salem & the preface reprinted in the Repertory of Boston. [The Boston Repertory, 31 Dec. 1805, reprinted the preface as the first in a series of articles on church music; others were printed on 10 Jan. and 14 Jan. 1806. The Repertory referred to The Salem Collection as 'the best selection of Psalmody that has ever appeared in this country' in the 31 Dec. issue.] Seventy tunes were selected for the Organ of the first Church in Salem. The rest have been added.'