Posted on 09/23/2017 4:35:08 AM PDT by mairdie
I'm trying to find an old source for the music of hymns and psalms from about 1775 to 1815. Since I want to transcribe from it, I'd be looking for something written down before 1923. Would anyone be able to point me to something of that kind?
Some of these hymns appear in their full textual form in his brother's version of Psalms and Hymns from 1814.
I've put both of those books online, as well as a larger collection of original publications by Rev. Dr. John Henry Livingston that I own.
The problem, for me, is that the hymns don't make much sense musically. I'm not familiar with any of them. I was once told that he might be writing down only his part of the score. But none of the early Psalms books that I've collected include scores. I'm searching for early music of these pieces. Online would be fine. Reasonably priced that I could search for offline would be fine. I tend to skip the $200 antique books unless absolutely desperate.
So if I played Henry's "White Haven," 45th Psalm written by Dr Watts (The king of saints how fair his face), for example,
Music Manuscript
Henry's music manuscript midi version
Rev. Livingston's text
I could then follow it with a fuller playing of the full hymn.
I've been in touch with an expert in Rev Livingston's book, but he couldn't point me to anything. His research focused on words. Since I'm always awed by the expertise in Free Republic, I'm hoping someone out there might have some knowledge of the old music. They must be written down somewhere or how would they have been passed down so long.
Any help would be gratefully accepted.
Mary
I might search through a Vatican site somehow.
Look into the works of “Ralph Vaughan Williams”...
Can you help with some suggestions of key words. Church music usually brings up modern books. Is “hymnal” a word that implies music? What is the common term used to describe “old music” as that’s wide open. I’m trying to pin down to the American 1775-1815 era and I don’t know the words to use to describe that period.
William Billings was a Revolutionary War composer. EX “CHESTER”
He often wrote music for the small churches he visited spreading the news of revolt
Downloaded! Wonderful! Thank you.
Yes, I’m showing him on Boston, Dr. Watts, and Chester, Dr. Watts. Good idea!
It's dated 1775 on the cover.
A most magnificent source for info in regards to searches....FREEREPUBLIC.COM
*smiles*
Smile should be a mile wide! This is the greatest group of experts in EVERYTHING! And they’re kind and loving and just the best people I’ve ever come across. I talk the group up everywhere. I’m fascinated by such a wide spectrum of things my head spins, and everywhere I turn, there’s someone else interested and knowledgeable about that and I keep learning and learning here.
As Christmas approaches, use me for Night Before Christmas questions. That’s one of my deepest areas.
I never knew about his book. I’ll get a copy. But the name - I haven’t thought of him in DECADES! And the warmth that filled me with the name... What a wonderful composer! Thanks for the memories and the reference.
Eyep....for sure
They were appropriately impressed, which yet again is a measure of their sophistication et al.
Thank-you, he’s old,distant family...
I’m currently out of pocket (courtesy my post-hurricane Irma assignment), but will dig around a bit when I get back. In the meantime:
“A most magnificent source for info in regards to searches....FREEREPUBLIC.COM”
Unless you are actually trying to find something on the site! I find that using google or other search engine with “freerepublic” in the search is the best way to find old FR articles that I recall.
Genealogy makes the most wonderful reason for researching. Henry is my 5th great grandfather.
pfl
The first link is fascinating. I assumed that the reason I know nothing about hymns and psalms is that I was raised Catholic, so we were big into Gregorian chant and little religious pieces the nun wrote during her sojourn in Rome. But this seems to say that there is a connection between Protestant hymns and Catholic ones, of which I know nothing. Does anyone know anything on that topic? I’m of the just after Pope Pius XII period.
“Assignment” sounds interesting. Stay safe and be successful.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.