The American Musical Primer; Containing a Correct Introduction to the Ground of Music, Rudimental, Practical, and Techinical. Together with Collection of Tunes, of the Various Metres Now in Use in Religious Societies . . .
Exeter [N. H.]: Printed by Norris & Swayer, and Sold at their Book-Store, April, 1808. First edition. Oblong 8vo (5.25 x 9 inches), original sheep spine, blue sugar paper over scalesboard, 77, [3] pages. Boards soiled, with some loss to the sugar paper coverings; joints cracked but sound, exposing the tacket sewing supports; in good condition. Item #22430
“Endeavour to accomodate your stile of singing to the general subject of your words—How disgusting would it be to hear a person roar out ! Thy words are sweeter to my mouth than honey ! Or with all the tenderness of assettuoso stile ; ‘Let the sea roar, and the floods clap their hands.’ “ An uncommon American tune book, Blanchard here evidently collects primarily English tunes; there is evidently no overlap between the song selection here and that of his previous Newburyport Collection of Sacred European Music (Exeter: Ranlet & Norris, 1807). Blanchard appears to have offered singing lessons in Salem as late as 1821. See Metcalf, American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music. American Imprints 14538; Britton, American Sacred Music Imprints, 117. Various examples in the endpaper of ink inscriptions from Benjamin Bartlett of Nottigham (presumably New Hampshire) dated variously from 1817 to 1825, with numerous variations of the ownership tag, “Steal not this book, for fear of shame,” etc. Other stray ink marks to the endpapers and boards.
Price: $1,250.00