The rural harmony, being an original composition, in three and four parts. For the use of singing schools and musical societies by Kimball, Jacob, 1761-1826 - 1793

Boston: Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. 1793. First Edition. Hardcover. pp xvi, (17) -(112). Errata at bottom of p (112). 14 x 23 cm. Original greenish grey paper over wooden boards, leather spine. Spine rubbed; paper on boards stained, partially peeled, 1 x 5 cm piece of board at lower outer corner of front cover chipped away; front free endpaper softly creased and not attached to inside cover; lacking most of rear free endpaper; text printed on thick paper, with small creases to lower outer corners, some tanning, corner torn from pp 63-64 with loss of last and first bar, small holes in outer margin; but otherwise quite clean and unworn. In all, a VG copy. >>> The Introduction gives a sketch explanation of music and musical notation in general. Text is music and lyrics, each assigned to a town, mostly Massachusetts. Jacob Kimball, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, a Harvard graduate, was one of the earliest American composers. He played the fife and drum in the Revolution and was present at Lexington and Bunker Hill. This was his first book. It includes psalm and hymn tunes as well as anthems. Evans 25695, American Antiquarian Society. Wellsprings of a nation, 252, ESTC W22054.; Oblong quarto .