William Billings

Interesting introduction by editor where he quote Gilbert Chase and talks about the firs America Composer. He notes that the Continental Harmony was published when the interest in this type of music was waning. There was only one edition. Subsequent singing school books would contain fewer and fewer of the " wild fugues" and "rapid confused movement which so long discarded psalmody" which are found reprinted in the facsimile.. Instruction occupies page 111- xxxiv. A scholarly dialogue between pupil and master occupies several pages. Music is written in round notes on 4 staffs. Treble, c clef, treble and base.… (altro)