Embellishments 4: The Core Repertory of American Psalmody and other Major Collections

The Core Repertory of American Psalmody and other Major Collections

One of the cornerstones of American music is the repertoire of American psalmody that emerged from Colonial times through the nineteenth century. With roots in the Anglican tradition, this tradition developed further in the British colonies and spread through the new United States of America. Composers associated with this style extend from Orlando Gibbons to William Billings, Daniel Read, Timothy Swan, and others.

Among A-R Editions publications in this area is the award-winning collection edited by Richard Crawford, The Core Repertory of American Psalmody, which was released over a decade ago. In subsequent years, A-R has contributed further to the literature with publications of the collected psalmody of other major figures, include Stephen Jenks, Daniel Read, and Timothy Swan, all of whose works appear in Recent Researches in American Music and in Music of the United States of America (MUSA).

All of these editions are newly edited and contain extensive discussions of the music. The critical apparatus that is part of each volume contains useful information about the nature of the sources and the choices made in rendering these modern publications. More importantly, these editions are thorough and exhaustive in scope, and represent in notation the essential compositions of this style.

The Core Repertory of Early American Psalmody
Edited by Richard Crawford
A 11-12

Stephen Jenks
Complete Works
Edited by David Warren Steel
A 18

Daniel Read
Collected Works
Edited by Karl Kroeger
MUSA 4/A 24

Timothy Swan
Psalmody and Secular Songs
Edited by Nym Cooke
MUSA 6/A 26


Timothy Swan, "Judgment," beginning of the final verson in manuscript and the same as edited and typeset in Timothy Swan: Psalmody and Secular Songs, A 26/MUSA 6.