AIKIN (John):

Essays on Song-Writing: With a Collection of such English Songs as a most Eminent for Poetical Merit. The Second Edition, with Additions and Corrections.

Warrington: Printed by William Eyres, for Joseph Johnson..., 1774. 8vo, 184 x 198 mms., pp. xix [xx blank], 286, contemporary calf, small gilt border on covers, spine ornately gilt to a floral motif, red leather label; binding darkened and a bit rubbed, top and base of spine chipped, slight cracking of upper and lower joints, corners a bit worn. This work is usually attributed to John Aikin (1747 - 1822), a physician and author of various political and biographical works. The genesis of this book came, Aikin says in his Preface, when he and various friends lamented the absence of a good collection of the excellent songs in which song-writing was taken seriously as an art form: "The chief sources of good songs, are the miscellany poems and plays from the time of Charles the second to the conclusion of Queen Ann's reign." He was working in London in 1769-70 and moved to Warrington in 1771, and he might have made the acquaintance of the radical publisher, Johnson, during his brief sojourn in London. His political leanings were liberal, and Johnson published his An Address to the Dissidents of England on their Late Defeat (1790). The 1772 first edition was reviewed in at least four journals in the same year, and the author of the notice in The Critical Review was enthusiastic: "The whole discovers the author to be possessed of a large share of critical knowledge and good taste.... The songs in this collection cannot fail of affording pleasure to those readers who have a taste for the beauties of poetical composition; and the ingenious observations in the Essays add greatly to the value of the work.l"

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Book number: 9741

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music song literature

ASIOLI (Bonifazio):

Grammaire Musicale, ou Théorie des Principes de Musique, par demandes et par reponses; Adoptée par le Conservatoire Royal de Milan, pour l'instruction de ses Eléves, Et rédigée par B. Asioli, Directeur de cette Ecole; ouvrage traduit de l'Italien.

A Lyon, Chez Cartoux..., 1819. FIRST EDITION of this translation. 8vo, 192 x 116 mms. 200 x 130 mms., pp. [iv], 64, 12 folding engraved plates of musical illustration, followed by 17 blank leaves and 2 leaves with notes in a contemporary hand in French, contemporary sheepskin, black morocco label; some musical illustrations in pencil on the plates, title-page a little creased and foxed. Asioli (1769 - 1832) was largely self-taught, but he also studied in Parma, Bologna, and Venice. He was appointed to the post of director of the new music school in Milan in 1808, and it is from this period that the work derives. He had to leave the post in 1814. This work was first published in Italian as Principi Elementarai di Musica in 1809. The popular question-and-answer form seems to have worked very well as a pedagogy for learning music theory. OCLC locates copies in Newbery, California Berkeley, San Francisco State; and Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. There is also an issue with title-page dated 1820: Princeton, Eastman; Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Copac locates only a third editon of 1840 in NLS.

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Book number: 10303

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music education prose French

ASIOLI (Bonifazio):

Grammaire Musicale, ou Théorie des Principes de Musique, par demandes et par reponses; Adoptée par le Conservatoire Royal de Milan, pour l'instruction de ses Eléves, Et rédigée par B. Asioli, Directeur de cette Ecole; ouvrage traduit de l'Italien.

A Lyon, Chez Cartoux..., 1819. FIRST EDITION of this translation. 8vo, 192 x 116 mms. 200 x 130 mms., pp. [iv], 64, 12 folding engraved plates of musical illustration, followed by 17 blank leaves and 2 leaves with notes in a contemporary hand in French, contemporary sheepskin, black morocco label; some musical illustrations in pencil on the plates, title-page a little creased and foxed. Asioli (1769 - 1832) was largely self-taught, but he also studied in Parma, Bologna, and Venice. He was appointed to the post of director of the new music school in Milan in 1808, and it is from this period that the work derives. He had to leave the post in 1814. This work was first published in Italian as Principi Elementarai di Musica in 1809. The popular question-and-answer form seems to have worked very well as a pedagogy for learning music theory. OCLC locates copies in Newbery, California Berkeley, San Francisco State; and Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. There is also an issue with title-page dated 1820: Princeton, Eastman; Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Copac locates only a third editon of 1840 in NLS.

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Book number: 4585

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music education prose French

AVISON (Charles):

An Essay on Musical Expression. With Alterations and Large Additions. To which is added, A Letter to the Author, concerning the Music of the Ancients, and some Passages in Classic Writers, relating to that Subject. Likewise, Mr. Avison's Reply to the Author of Remarks on Musical Expression. In a Letter from Mr. Avison, to his Friend in London. The Third Edition.

London, Printed for Lockyer Davies..., 1775. Small 8vo, pp. viii, 221 [222 blank], 4 folding engraved plates of music (one neatly strengthened at fold), recently rebound in quarter calf, gilt spine, morocco label, marbled boards; lacks the final adverts leaf. A very good copy. With two autographs on the recto of the front free end-paper: "Robert Nunn/ Bury" (in ink, and probably late 18th century); and "E. A. Wall/ 10/2/[18]93" in pencil. Avison's Essay was first published in 1752 with a second edition in 1753. It is not clear what authority this text has, as Avison died in 1770. The work to which Avison alludes on the title-page is that of the Heather Professor of Music at Oxford, William Hayes, whose Remarks on Mr. Avison's Essay was an extensive criticism of this work.

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Book number: 4516

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music aesthetics prose

BADCOCK (John), editor:

The New Lyre: A Collection of the Best Songs Now in Vogue, and no other; In which are interspersed, A few Duets, Catches, Glees, and Recitations; Some Originals; Including the Whole of the Modern Songs that are received with Approbation at the Theatres, Public and Private Concert, and Convivial Meetings. Accompanied by Notes of curious Readings, &c. A Preface concerning the Vocal Art; and a Glossary of Hard or Doubtful Words by J. Badcock.

London: Printed for J. Share; and sold by Badcock and Co..., [1820]. 12mo (in 6s), pp. [iii] - x, [13] - 212 [213 - 218 Index, 219 - 220 glossary; complete despite erratic pagination], engraved frontispiece; pp 119-120 neatly repaired. Bound with: The English Minstrel; A Selection of Favourite Songs, with Music, Adapted to the Voice, Violin, or German Flute. Edinburgh: Printed by and for Oliver and Boyd...[c. 1815]. 12mo (in 6s), pp. viii, 216, engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette on title-page, some woodcuts in text, and music printed from movable type; "Vol. II." printed at the foot of p. [1]. 2 volumes in 1, early 9th century half calf, marbled boards (rubbed), spine blocked in gilt; frontispiece and title-page of first item severely foxed, other mild foxing in text. The second item is a sequel to The English Minstrel: A Valuable Selection of Popular Songs, published by Oliver and Boyd c. 1814. The Preface to the first volume also alludes to an earlier edition, and this appears not to be a second volume but a revised and expanded one.

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Book number: 5653

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music songs literature prose

BEALE (Willert) [Walter Maynard]:

The Light of Other Days Seen through the wrong end of an opera glass.

London, Richard Bentley and Son..., 1890 FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 8vo, 220 x 135 MMus., pp. [vi], 368; [vi], 364, portrait frontispiece in volume 1, original cloth; portrait and title-page volume 1 a little foxed, title-page volume 1 partially detached at inner margin, paper ownership (J. Hugged) labels on each front cover, bindings a little shaken in casing. Thomas Willert Beale (1828 - 1894), composer and music impresario, often wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Maynard, and supported himself by organising performances of opera in the provinces. This autobiography is full of anecdotes and valuable historical information about English musical life from 1840 to 1890, particularly the performances and personalities of various Italian opera singers

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Book number: 6894

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music autobiography prose

BIANCHINI [or BLANCHINI] (Francesco):

Franciscisci Blanchini Veronensis Utriusque Signaturæ Referendarii, & Prælati Domestici, de Tribus Generius Instrumentorum Musicæ Veterum Organicæ Dissertatio.

Romæ, Impensis Fausti Amidei Bibliopolæ in via Cursus. Ex Typgraphia Bernabò, & Lazzarini, 1742. FIRST EDITION. Large 4to, xi [xii blank], 58, 8 full-page engraved plates of musical instruments, 5 engraved vignettes, contemporary vellum, with the armorial book plate of E. de Blavette on the front paste-down end-paper; fore-margins of first few leaves slightly frayed, slight wear to binding, but generally a very good copy. Francesco Bianchini [1662-1729] was librarian to Cardinal Ottoboni, later Pope Alexander VIII, in Rome. He seems to have been a much respected antiquary who enjoyed considerable Papal patronage. Bianchini's name is often spelled Blanchini, but it seems to be one and the same person. Graesse in his 'Supplement' of 1869 lists the work under Bianchini gives these as alternative spellings for the same person. [With thanks to John Wilbraham for this information.] This seems to be a work that Bianchini compiled as librarian, and it was not published in its lifetime. At the Wolffheim sale in 1928 - 1929, a copy sold for £100. Eitner II, 32. Wolffheim, I, 1126. Legacy of Sebastian Virdung (Grolier Club, 2005), no. 38.

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Book number: 3348

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music aesthetics prose Latin

BLAINVILLE (Charles Henri de):

Histoire Générale, Critique et Philologique de La Musique, Dédiée à La Duchesse de Villeroy.

A Paris, Chez Pissot..., 1757. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. xi [xii "Avertissement"], 189 [190 "Approbation," 191 - 192 "Privilege du Roi"], 68 engraved plates, including frontispiece which is supplied in facsimile, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments, morocco label; lower corner of first four leaves water-stained, and slightly frayed, joints and corners neatly restored. Blainville (1710 - 1777) maintained that he had discovered a third mode of music between major and minor, which he called "mode mixte"; his symphony in this mode was first performed on 30 May 1751, and Rousseau commented favourably upon it. The final section in this work is on harmonic theory.

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Book number: 4328

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music theory prose French

BRADBURY (William ) and SANDERS (C. W.).

The School Singer, or Young Choir's Companion: a choice collection of music, original and selected, for juvenile singing schools, Sabbath schools, public schools, academies, select classes, etc., including some of the most popular German melodies, with English words adapted, or poetry translated from the German expressly for this work : also, a complete course of instruction in the elements of vocal music, founded on the Germany system of Kübler. Fifth Edition.

New York: Published by Mark H. Newman & Co., n. d. [c. 1846]. Oblong 8vo, pp. 204, printed boards (very soiled); text browned and somewhat soiled; spine worn.

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Book number: 5227

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music education prose

BROWN (John):

Letters upon the Poetry and Music of the Italian Opera. Addressed to a Friend.

Edinburgh: Printed for Bell & Bradfute..., 1789. FIRST EDITION. Small 8vo (in 4s), pp. xx, 141 [142 blank, 143 Errata, 144 blank], later boards (20th century), paper label; title-page a little browned, but a good copy. The Scottish artist John Brown (1752 - 1787) spent ten years in Italy studying painting and wrote a series of letters about Italian opera to his friend and quasi-patron, James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, who arranged for the publication of some of the letters as this book. The work was published for the benefit of Brown's widow, and Monboddo supplied a life of Brown in Latin for the work; in the second edition, the life was translated into English. Brown was appealing to Monboddo's interest in language by finding analogies between spoken language and vocal music in these letters.

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Book number: 4311

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music poetry prose Scottish Enlightenment

BURGH (Allatson):

Anecdotes of Music, Historical and Biographical; In a Series of Letters from a Gentleman to His Daughter.

Lodon: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Reese, Orme, and Brown..., 1814. FIRST EDITION. 3 volumes. Large 12mo, 178 x 104 mms., pp. vii [viii blank], 446; [iv], 510 [511 - 512 adverts]; [iv], 456, including half-title in each volume, bound in later half calf, marbled boards; lacks labels, binding a bit worn, but a good set.

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Book number: 10059

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music letters prose

BURNEY (Charles):

An Account of the Musical Performances in Westminster-Abbey, And the Pantheon, May 26th, 27th, 29th; and June the 3d, and 5th, 1784. In Commemoration of Handel.

London, Printed for the Benefit of the Musical Fund; and Sold by T. Payne and Son..., 1785. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [viii], xvi, 8, *1 - *8, 9 - 20, *19 - *24, 21 - 56, [1] - 41 [42 blank], [2], [43] - 139 [140 adverts, 141 Errata and Directions to the Binder, 142 blank], engraved frontispiece and eight full-page engraved plates, later 19th century half calf, marbled boards (soiled), gilt spine; ms. annotations in pencil on page 90, 3 leaves sprung, frontispiece a little foxed, corners worn, joints rubbed and very slightly cracked, but a fair to middling copy with the binder's ticket of R Wilkinson, 1 Prujean Sqaure, Old Bailey on top margin of front paste-down end-paper, as well as rubber stamp of Wallace Masland and faded bookplate of [?Mr.] Sharpe; two of the instrumental performers are surnamed Sharp, so this is perhaps a copy from one of them. Burney's enthusiasm for these musical performances led to an invitation to prepare this account, though he was rather surprised not to be paid for it. Two thousand copies of the work were printed, and it was widely praised in the journals. Samuel Johnson wrote the dedication. The Monthly Review in 1785 commented, "The sounds of these most extraordinary musical performances will, no doubt, ever live in the memory of the audiences then present; but they probably would have proved almost as evanascent as if they had died on the ear, had they now been renewed, and kept alive, by so learned and lively a chronicle." Fleeman 85.2BH/1a. Rothschild 544. Tinker 1377. Hazen 30 - 33. A short account of the life of Handel and a narrative of the preparations for this celebration can be found in The European Magazine: and London Review for March, 1784. For the binder, R. H. Wilkinson, see Charles Ramsden: London Binders, 1780 - 1840 (1956), page 150.

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Book number: 8295

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music biography prose

BURNEY (Charles):

A General History of Music, From the Earliest Ages to the Present Period. The Second Edition [volume 1].

London, Printed for the Author: And sold by Payne and Son..., 1789, 1782, 1789, 1789. FIRST EDITION of volumes 2, 3, and 4. 4 volumes. 4to, pp. v [vi blank, vii - viii Contents], xviii, 501 [502 blank, 503 - 511 Index, 512 blank]; [iv], 597 [598 blank, 599 "Corrections and Errata," 600 blank, 601 - 610 Index]; xi [xii blank], 622 [623 - 633 Index, 634 Errata]; [iv], 1- 68, 67 - 70, 69 - 118, 117 - 128, 127 - 688 [689 - 700 Index, 701 Errata, 702 blank], engraved music throughout text, folding woodcut of "Egyptian Musical Instrument," folding plate of music in volume 1, one engraved plate in volume 2, recent quarter calf, buckram boards, new end-papers; lacks the portrait of Burney in volume 1, the frontispieces for volumes 2, 3, and 4, and 6 plates in volume 1. The first volume of Burney's History was out of print within a few weeks of publication, and Burney had decided by April of 1776 to prepare a second edition of the volume. The second edition of volume 1 takes account of a number of suggestions made by Thomas Twining. The "Dissertation" no longer features on the title-page of the second edition and becomes part of the Preface, while the "Questions and Answers" are transmuted into "Definitions." Many passages from the first edition are radically altered or omitted. When publication of the four volumes was completed in 1789, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the reviewers. Writing in the February, 1790 issue of the Analytical Review, she said "Every lover of this captivating art, must thank the author, emphatically, for his unwearied researches, whilst the unimpassioned philosopher may coldly connect a more grand and comprehensive interest with the enquiry, and drawing metaphysical inferences from the ingenuity displayed in the progressive improvement of music, advance a step further into the terra incognita of the human mind."

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Book number: 5687

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music prose

BUSBY (Thomas):

A Catechism of Music [Souter's New Series of Catechisms], in which the Elementary Principles of the Science are fully and clearly explained; with Preliminary Instructions for the Piaon-Forte. For the Use of Schools.

London: Printed for John Souter, School Library..., 1829. FIRST EDITION. 12mo, 138 x 88 mms., pp. [ii], 97 [98 adverts], frontispiece image of keyboard, autograph "Charlotte Dempsey" on top margin of first leaf of text, contemporary quarter roan, marbled boards (both worn); last leaf detached, with hinge exposed, a rather sad copy. The singer, composer, and author Thomas Busby (1754 - 1838) was active in London, where he made his living. Many of his compositiions have been lost; only Britannia (1801) was successful, and in 1801 he received a doctorate in music from the University of Cambridge; his doctoral exercise was a thanksgiving ode on the British naval victories, thus continuing the theme of Britannia. ODNB asserts "Busby published nothing after 1828," an assertion the present work belies. The only copy that I have located is in Trinity College, Dublin, though it was republished in 1834 (Yale only).

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Book number: 9072

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music education prose

BUSBY (Thomas):

A Complete Dictionary of Music. To which is prefixed, A Familiar Introduction to the First Principles of that Science.

London: Printed for R. Phillips, No. 71. St. Paul's Church-Yard; Sold by T. Hurst, Paternoster-Row, and by All Book and Music Sellers [T. Davison, White-Friars], no date. 1794. FIRST EDITION. Small 8vo, 156 x 92 mms., pp. xxxiii [xxxiv advert for Busby's forthcoming "History of Music, From the Earliest Times, to the Year 1800"], folding leaf of music (included in collation) at page xx, unpaginated [296], water mark "1794" visible on lower margin of D4, bound in early 18th century half olive morocco, gilt spine, marbled boards; binding a little rubbed, but a very good copy, with the binder's ticket of Rider & Hall, Bookbinder's [sic], Slater Court, Castle Street, Liverpool, on the upper margin of the front paste-down end-paper. Busby (1755-1838) was an organist and composer, turned man of letters. This work, written with the assistance of Samuel Arnold (1740-1802) is one of his earlier ones, ODNB suggests that it was published "about 1801," and other references give the date as 1786, the ESTC gives it as "ca. 1794" (the paper is water-marked 1794) and lists no earlier editions. New Grove suggests 1783 - 86, when the work was issued in parts in The New Musical Magazine. In his Preface, however, Busy refers to this printing as the first edition, and the advert on p. [xxxiv] offers "Speedily will be published...A History of Music, From the earliest Times to the Year 1800," which suggests a date after 1800 for this edition. Several other editions followed in both England and America. Busby also was responsible for the first musical periodical in England, The Monthly Musical Journal (1800), though only four numbers were published. His other works include The Grammar of Music (1818); A History of Music (1819), largely compiled from Burney and Hawkins; and a translation of Lucretius. As a composer, his themes were often literary. He set Pope's Messiah to music, apparently with some success, and then turned his attention to setting to music Gray's Progress of Poetry, Pope's Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, and a cantata from Ossian, but these were apparently never performed. He was considered something of a hack as a writer of music, and was more respected as a literary author.

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Book number: 8912

Catalogue: Music

Keywords: music dictionary prose