THOMAS H. ATWILL

(ASMI pp. 99 - 103)

Thomas H. Atwill (b. ca. 1763; d. Castleton, Vt., 20 Jan. 1814) was a singing master and printer. Probably a New Englander by birth, since he was married in 1788 in Lynn, Mas-sachusetts, Atwill attended a singing school taught by Andrew Law in Baltimore in 1790-91, and by 1792 he was teaching his own. He can be traced to Boston (1793), Lansingburg, New York (1793-95), Rutland, Vermont (1810), Albany, New York (1802), New York City (sometime between 1807 and 1810), Germantown, Pennsylvania (1801), and elsewhere.

Bio-bib. Also Castleton 1882, p. 96; Crawford 1968, p. 200-10.

THE NEW-YORK COLLECTION OF SACRED HARMONY, 1795-1802

The printing history of Atwill's The New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony and his The New York& Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony are intertwined. The New-York Collection was first published in 1795, then reissued in 1802 without change in content, and without new edition number. In 1804 Atwill brought out The New York Vermont Collection, second edition, explaining in a prefatory note: "The rapid and extensive sales of the New-York and Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony [fn.: "Hitherto known by the title of the 'New York Collection of Sacred Harmony.]. have induced [me] to present to the public this second Edition. The 'second edition' was issued at least three times in 1804-6, and Atwill later brought out a 'third edition, undated and with a New York imprint.

The New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony, (1st ed.], 1795

(ASMI 27)

The New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony, containing the necessary rules of music with a variety of psalm & hymn tunes set pieces & anthems, many of which are original[.] Compiled for the use of worshiping assemblies & singing societies from the most approved ancient & modern authors: by Thomas H. Atwill. Published according to act of Congress. Engraved for the editor by Abner Reed, Lansingburg 1795.

viii, 104 p. 13 x 21 cm. Engraved throughout by Abner Reed.

P. [i], t-p.; p. ii, 'Scales of Transposition'; p. iii-vii, 'Grounds of Music'; p. viii, 'Index'; p. 1-104, music.

        88 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 9 set-pieces, for 4 voices, a few for 3; full text. Attribs. to Dr. Arnold, Billings (6), Brownson (3), Chandler (7), Deaolph, Edson (7), L. Edson Jr., Giardini (2), Gillet (11), Goff, Hibbard, Holden (3), Holdrad, Kimball, A. King (2), O. King, N. Kingsley, M. Luther, Dr. Madan, Morgan, Parmeter, Reed (6), I. Smith, Stephenson (2), J. P. Storm, Swan (4), Tansur (2), Tuckey, Williams (2), Wood (2).22 1st pr. claimed; 23 identified (WARREN 1st pr.) 64 American compositions, 24 non-Amer-ican (62 attrib. Americans, 2 traced [JERUSALEM, OCEAN]; 13 attrib. non-Americans, 11 traced). 141 Core Repertory.

E28216 (PPIPT). ICN (lacks t-p.; front matter & music inc.), NjPT (music inc.), PPIPT.

The New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony, [2d ed.], 1802

(ASMI 28)

The New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony... Engraved for the editor by Abner Reed, Lansingburg 1802. Printed by [Hooker?].

viii, 104 p. Engraved throughout. Signed also on p. viii.

Albany Gazette, 23 Dec. 1802 advertises work as 'just published' in a notice dated 3 Dec.1802. Contents same as 1st ed. (No. 27). Printed from same plates as 1st ed.

Music same as ist ed.

S1786 (CtY). CtY, ICN (lacks t-p.; front matter inc., b. w. Atwill, The New York& Vermont Collection, 3d ed.).


NOTE: The printer's name on the title-page is illegible. In the prefatory note to Atwill's The New York & Vermont Collection, 2d ed. (1804), he refers to earlier issues as having been 'printed by the Author's own hands."

THE NEW YORK & VERMONT COLLECTION OF SACRED HARMONY, 2D ED., 1804-14?

The New York& Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony, 2d ed., [1804-6]

(ASMI 29)

The New York & Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony, containing the necessary rules of music with a variety of psalm & hymn tunes, set-pieces & anthems; many of which are original: compiled for the use of worshiping assemblies & singing societies; from the most approved antient & modern authors, by Thomas H. Atwill. Albany printed by the proprietor Secd. Edtn. B. Buckley.

viii, [9]-15, [1], 112 p. p. [i]-viii, 1-112 engraved. Unsigned, but many plates used are from Atwill's The New-York Collection, signed on the t.-p. by Abner Reed. 

A prefatory note is dated Albany, 1804. The Albany Centinel, 5 April 1805, carries a notice dated Albany, 24 July 1804, that Henry Spencer was offering two dozen copies of the work for sale. p. [i], t-p.; p. ii, 'Scales of Transposition'; p. iii-vii, 'Grounds of Music'; p. viii, NEW JERUSALEM; P. [9], note 'To the Reverend Clergy'; p. 10-11, 'Observations On The Principles Of Music'; p. 12-15, 'General Observations'; p. [16], 'Index'; p. 1-112, music. To the Reverend Clergy. The rapid and extensive sales of the New-York and Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony [fn. "Hitherto known by the title of the 'New-York Collection of Sacred Harmony."], since it has been printed by the Author's own hands, have induced him to present to the public this second Edition enlarged and corrected. In making this selection, and in the execution of the work, neither pains nor expence have been spared. In its present improved form it is humbly dedicated to the Reverend Clergy and Worshipping Assemblies of Christians, by their's and the public's Most obedient, and Most humble Servant, Thomas H. Atwill. Albany, 1804. (Note to clergy in full.) p. ii-vii, 9-17, 20-21, 32-64, 73-104 printed from same plates as Atwill's The New-York Collection (No. 27). Other pages are printed from plates also used for The New-York Collection (NYC) but with the page numbers changed: p. 18-19 (NYC 2-3), 22-23 (NYC 6-7), 65 (NYC 1), 72 (NYC 8).

        94 compositions, incl. 3 anthems & 6 set-pieces, for 4 voices, a few for 3; full text. Attribs, to W. Billings (6), Brownson (2), Castle, Chandler (7), Cone, Edson (6), L. Edson Jr., Giardini (2), Mr. Gillet (9), Goff, Harwood, Hibbard, Uri K. Hill, Holden (5), Holdrad, Kimball, A. King (2), O. King, N. Kingsley, Mr. C. Lee, M. Luther, Morgan (2), Munson,Parmeter, Reed (7), I. Smith, Stone, J. P. Storm, Swan (4), Tansur (2), Temple, Tuckey, Weeks, Williams (3), Wood (2). 2 1st pr. identified (HUDSON, SARDINIA). 174 American compositions, 20 non-American (69 attrib. Americans, 5 traced [EXHORTATION, NEW JERUSALEM, NORFOLK, OCEAN, SHARON]; 11 attrib. non-Americans, 9 traced). 39 Core Repertory. 

S5741 (MWA). CIY, ICN, MWA (lacks t-p.; could be 2d ed., [1806?]), NeWsM.

229A The New York & Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony... Albany printed by the proprietor Secd. Edtn. B. Buckley

viii, [9]-15, [1], 112 p. p. [i]-viii, 1-112 engraved.

Prefatory note is dated Albany 1805. Albany Centinel, 7 Feb. 1806, carries note dated Albany, 13 Nov. 1805, in which B. Buckley advertises the collection for sale. Contents same as main entry. Engraved portions printed from same plates as main entry.

Music same as main entry.

S7894 (no copy on Readex). CtHC (inc.), DLC, InGo, MWA, N (2; 1 inc.), NRU-Mus..

29B The New York & Vermont Collection of Sacred Harmony Albany printed by the proprietors Secd. Edtn. Backus & Whiting, No. 45 State Street.

viii, [9]-15. [1], 112 p. p. [i]-viii, 1-112 engraved.

[1806?] Prefatory note is dated Albany 1804. However, the firm of Backus & Whiting was not formed until 1806. (The Albany Centinel, 28 Feb. 1806, announces the formation of the partnership.) Perhaps the printers used the 1804 issue as a model and neglected to change the date when they reset the typographical portion. Contents same as main entry.

Engraved portions printed from same plates as main entry.

Music same as main entry.

Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). DLC, MH (paging irregular but complete), MH-AH, NHI, RPB.

The New York & Vermont Collection of Select Music, 3d ed., (1806-142)

30 [The New York & Vermont Collection] of Select Music by Thomas H. Atwill. New York Published & sold by the author. The third edition.

7. [33] p. Engraved throughout.

The publication date is unknown. It surely did not appear before 1806, the date of the last known issue of the second edition, nor after 1814, the year of Atwill's death. A guess is that it was issued between 1807 and 1810. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. 3-7, 'Grounds of Music'; p. [8] blank; p. [9]-[40], music.

        42 compositions for 4 voices, a few for 3; full text. No attribs.1 1st Am. pr. identified (PROTECTION). 26 compositions traced to Americans, 14 to non-Americans (ALEXAN-DRIA, BANGOR, DOXOLOGY, EDMUND STREET, EFFINGHAM, FOUNTAIN, HENLEY,MORNING FLOWER, OLD 100, PORTUGAL, ST. JOHN'S, WATCHMAN, WELLS, WINDSOR), 2 unidentified (LAVINGTON, PROTECTION). ↑ 12 Core Repertory.

        Not in Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex). ICN (lacks t-p.; b.w. inc. & unidentified ed. of Atwill, The New York & Vermont Coll.), MWA* (t-p. mutilated).