The Middlesex Harmony

Boston: Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, 1795. Book. Oblong 12mo, original marbled wrappers, stitched. Pp. 55, (1). Lightly browned, discreet institutional labels on front and inside wrapper; fine. First edition. A collection of twenty-six original compositions. Babcock (d. 1813) was a singing master in Watertown, Mass. An edition of his collected works was published in 1999, edited by Laurie Sampsel, who writes: "Best known for his tunebook, Middlesex Harmony, Babcock composed extended and plain psalm tunes, set pieces, fugeing tunes, and anthems, and frequently used three-part vocal textures. He uniquely combined elements of both traditional and newer Methodist styles of psalmody." A handsome piece of printing by Thomas and Andrews, as the imprint boasts "printed typographically" (as opposed to the more typical engraving of musical works), with a title page in black-letter and Roman types, within an ornamental border. A perfect copy in original state. Evans 28221; Britton & Lowens 31..