Hamilton, Edward. The Voice of Praise : A Collection of Music for the Choir, Singing School, Musical Convention, and the Social Circle. Boston: Oliver Ditson and Company, (1862). First Edition. [12208]
Brown leather spine, green printed paper over card (hardcover), paper scuffed, worn, and stained; oblong 6 1/2 x 9 3/4 inches. Bookseller's bookplate, "From J. D. Moore, dealer in Piano Fortes, Melodeons, Sheet Music...&c. Worcester, Mass." 368 clean pp., lacks the final free end paper (blank). Fair. Hardcover.
The music is in four parts with round notes. Includes "Elements of Music" and vocal instructions.
"The music of this work, generally, will be found to be new, not merely in name and form, but in idea and style. It is not made up of street melodies or reminiscences of Ethiopian minstrelsy, but is written expressly as sacred music in a style suited to religious worship after an appropriate type. It is not difficult to learn, to perform or to comprehend; nor, on the other hand, is it trivial or commonplace. Its aim and purpose is to improve the taste of both hearer and performer, and to dignify the service of sacred song." - Preface.
Edward Hamilton (1812-1870), compiler of American church music, active 1845-1862. Page 340 begins "Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and there are a few Psalms rendered into song beginning p. 356.
