Social Harmony: containing, First, The Rudiments of Psalmody made easy. Second, A Collection of Modern Music, calculated for the use of Singing Schools and Worshipping Assemblies By Asahel Benham, Author of Federal Harmony

Benham, Asahel

Published by Published according to Act of Congress [1801], 1801

About this Item

Leather spine, plain paper over card, oblong 12 cm (4 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches), lacks about a third of the front board. First three leaves tattered at fore-edge with some loss of text. (1)-4, 9-60. Defective: lacking "Rudiments," pp. 5-8. All engraved music pages present. Preface ends, "Wallingford, September 6, 1798." 95A (p. 166) in Britton, Lowens & Crawford. The 60 pp. identifies this as the second issue of the first edition, with the four additional p. "printed from plates originally used for Woodruff, Devotional Harmony [1801]. Therefore this issue was first published in 1801 or later.Not in Evans or Shaw-Shoemaker (no copy on Readex)."Benham's Social Harmony was printed several times, but with only one change in date and one change in musical content, and with no indication of edition number. Copies take three forms: a 56-page issue with a preface date 6 Sept. 1798, a 60-page issue with the same preface date, and a 56-page issue with a preface date 6 Sept. 1799. The music on pages 17-56 of all versions is printed from the same engraved plates, the 60-page issue merely adding four new pages of music at end." - ibid.P. 17 identifies the engraver as C. Beecher.With a signed provenance card from the collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.

Seller Inventory # 8984

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Social Harmony: containing, First, The Rudiments of Psalmody made easy. Second, A Collection of Modern Music, calculated for the use of Singing Schools and Worshipping Assemblies By Asahel Benham, Author of Federal Harmony
• Publisher: Published according to Act of Congress [1801]
• Publication Date: 1801
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition, Second Issue.
• Condition: Fair