Rippon, John. A Selection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, from the best Authors, in three and four parts; adapted principally to Dr. Watts's Hymns and Psalms, and to Dr. Rippon's Selection of Hymns; containing (in a greater variety than any other volume extant) the most approved Compositions which are used in London, and in the different Congregations throughout England: Also, many Original Tunes never before Printed; the whole forming a publication of Above Three Hundred Tunes. London: Sold by Mr. Rippon, and may be had at the Vestry of his Meeting-house, in Carter-Lane, Tooley-Street, [1795]. Fifth Edition, Enlarged. [8988]
Full calf, front detached, rear cover loosening, oblong 11 x 25 cm (4 5/8 x 9 3/4 inches). xx., [288], (4) pp., last leaf of Index detached. The engraved music is in round notes. The index has old brown ink X marks, as well as some places in the music. The pages are not numbered; after the introductory matter (xx.) there are 24 groups of 6 leaves, or 288 pp., plus 4 pp. Index. Good. Hardcover.
No date, with ESTC suggesting 1795, see their citation no. N49947. The explanations of musical terms and metres are in letterpress; the scores are engraved.
"Five years after publishing his text anthology, Rippon issued a companion tunebook...As in the collection of texts, it was his objective to provide better materials for worship and to unite Baptists in a common repertory...In compiling the tunebook, he had the help of Robert Keene (dates not known), precentor of the Carter Lane congregation, and Thomas Walker (1764-1827), a prominent professional musician." - Music & Richardson, "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story", p. 59.
John Rippon (1751-1836), English Baptist minister & hymn-writer, "one of the most popular and influential Dissenting ministers of his time." Educated for the ministry at the Baptist College, Bristol, "in 1773 he became Pastor of the Baptist church in Carter Lane, Tooley Street (afterwards removed to New Park Street), London, and over this church he continued to preside until his death, on Dec. 17, 1836...His most famous work is his Selection of hymns for public worship, which appeared in 1787...In 1791 he published a Selection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes...Dr. Rippon performed an important service to Baptist Hymnody, and also, it is said, gained for himself 'an estate' through its immense sale." - Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology.
With a signed provenance card from the collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.