[Rarebooks] fa 1789_1798_James LEACH_HYMNS_PSALMS_Rochdale PSALMODY

[r.azzi at comcast.net]

I have listed on ebay a scarce volume (actually two volumes bound as one) of early psalmody. 

1789_1798_James LEACH_HYMN_PSALMS_Rochdale PSALMODY 2vo 

Two volumes bound in one. 

“A new sett of hymns and psalm tunes [for four voices] ... with accompaniments, and a thoro bass, the whole figured for the organ, harpsichord or pianoforte.1789.” Pages 1-120 complete. There are no Preliminary pages or title page. Page 1/2 is loose. Page 23/24 is loose. Page 17/18 and page 5/6 each have a rectangular cut-out piece missing, includes loss of text. 

Together with: 

“A second sett of hymns and psalm tunes adapted for the use of churches, chapels & Sunday schools, with accompaniments, & a thoro' bass the whole figured for the organ, harpsichord or piano-forte, Composed by J Leach, Rochdale. London, Printed for the author, & sold by Preston & Son,” [1798]. Complete, from title page to page 69. No loose pages or cutouts. 

They are bound together. In one old cracked, suede leather binding. Oblong format. 9.5” x 6.5”. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360235558412&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 

James Leach (1762-1798): "One composer, James Leach of Rochdale, may be regarded as the father of northern, nonconformist psalmody. Leach was a hand-loom weaver who taught himself music in his spare time and eventually became a full-time choral director, before meeting an untimely end in a stagecoach accident at the age of thirty-six, in 1798. He published two sets of psalm and hymn tunes,(1) 'for the use of churches, chapels and Sunday schools', and a large volume of set3pieces,(2) anthems and hymns (3) appeared posthumously. Leach's musical worth is questionable, as many of his pieces are harmonically uninteresting and he had problems sustaining ideas, but he was one of the first composers to write extended set pieces with instrumental accompaniment, which became part of the standard repertoire of anniversary services celebrating the foundation of chapels and Sunday schools. His general style of florid, simply harmonised tunes was imitated more successfully by later composers, especially John Fawcett." 

Thanks for looking 

Robert Azzi 
Exeter NH 
eBay ID: bbunh