ABRAHAM WOOD
Abraham Wood (b. Northboro, Mass., 30 July 1752; d. there, 6 Aug. 1804) was a composer, leader of Northboro singers, and a fuller of cloth by trade. He was a drummer in the Continental army and continued after the war to be active as a captain in the militia of Northboro, where he spent his whole life. A chorister of his church, he, as 'Capt. Abrm. Wood,' was named by Solomon Howe, together with William Billings, as the 'first Authors of Note in America, Anno. 1770. A manuscript tunebook in his hand is owned by the Northboro, Massachusetts, public library.
Amerigrove, Bio-bib, Metcalf, Sonneck-Upton. Also Crawford 1985, p. 623-25; Holmes 1901, p. 27-28; Howe 1804, p. [2].
See No. 477.
DIVINE SONGS, 1789
ASMI 526
Divine Songs, extracted from Mr. J. Hart's Hymns, and set to musick in three and four parts. By Abraham Wood. Suitable to be sung in churches immediately before or after divine worship.
Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm CXLIX.
Printed, typographically, at Boston, by Isaiah Thomas and company, and sold at their bookstore, no. 45, Newbury Street. Sold also at said Thomas's bookstore in Worcester. MDCCLXXXIX.
32 p. 13.5 x 23 cm.
Introductory note dated Northborough, March 1789. Worcester Massachusetts Spy, 26 March 1789, advertises work as just published. p. [1], t-p.; p. [2] blank; p. [3]-4, introductory note "To All Lovers of Sacred Harmony'; p. 5-31, music; p. 32, 'Index.' 'Gentlemen and Ladies, I here present you with a few pieces of Musick, published on a new plan; having printed the Hymns at full length, and endeavoured to suit the Airs to the Words, flattering myself that this method would be more entertaining to you than if I had set them to one verse only. [New par.] You will find the Metres mostly of the particular kind, and some of them very singular; therefore you must expect to find something in the tunes very odd, to suit the words. [New par.] Those tunes which are set in the quick moods of time, are not to be performed faster than the words can be pronounced with propriety; and then I presume you will see the beauty of accents.' (Extract from introductory note.)
11 compositions for 3 & 4 voices; full text, w. extra stanzas supplied for each tune. T-p. & introductory note attrib. all to Wood. 10 1st pr. identified (all except ASCENSION). All are American.
No Core Repertory.
RPB. E21877 (MWA). CSmH, CtY, DLC, MB, MBAt, MWA*, MiU-C, NN, NRU-Mus,
NOTE: Britton 1949, p. 683, reports a later issue of this work (Boston: Wood & Co., 1792), 32 pages, at MH, but it cannot now be located, and the library has no record that it ever owned such an item.
A FUNERAL ELEGY, 1800
ASMI 527
A Funeral Elegy on the Death of General George Washington. Adapted to the 22d of February. By Abraham Wood. Printed at Boston, by Thomas & Andrews. Jan. 1800.
[The t-p. has a black border. On outside of paper cover:] Funeral Elegy for 22d February. Published according to act of Congress. (Price-20 cts. single-1 doll. 25 cts. per dozen.)
1 p.l., 8 p., 11. 14 x 22.5 cm. Copy described here has front & back cover of green paper; since front cover has printing on it, it is counted here as a p.l.
Boston Columbian Centinel, 1 Feb. 1800, advertises work as just published. p.l. recto, foretitle; verso blank; p. [1], t-p.; p. [2], cut showing urn w. Washington's birth & death dates; p. [3]-8, music; 1. recto & verso blank.
I set-piece for 4 voices; full text. Attrib. to Wood. Identified as 1st pr. American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
E39131 (MWA). CSmH, DLC, MB, MH, MWA, NHi, NN, RPJCB (2; 1 b.w. [Holden], Dirge, n.d.). Only MH copy has covers.
NOTE: MHi owns a copy of this composition, catalogued as Abraham Wood, A Funeral Elegy, originally composed and used on the death of Gen. G. Washington, in 1799 . . . adapted to the funeral solemnities of W. H. Harrison, 1844 (Boston: A. B. Kidder, 1859).
A HYMN ON PEACE, 1784
ASMI 528
A Hymn on Peace. [At foot of page:] Am. Wood Author.
8 numbered 1., pr. on rectos only. 1 19 x 27 cm. Engraved throughout [by John Norman]. See note above, under John Norman.
1784.] Boston Independent Chronicle, 6 May 1784, advertises work as 'just published . . . [ [and] sold by [Wood] at his House in Northboro' and by William Billings, near Liberty Pole, Boston.' Worcester Massachusetts Spy, 23 Sept. 1784, advertises work as 'just published,' and for sale at Wood's 'House in Northborough, and at the Printing Office [of Isaiah Thomas] in Worcester. L. 1, caption title; 1. 1-8, music.
I set-piece for 4 voices; full text. Attrib. to Wood. Identified as 1st pr. American composition.
Not in Core Repertory.
E18890 (MB). MB
ASMI pp. 612-614.