[PRE REVOLUTIONARY AMERICAN MUSIC]. TANS'UR, William (1706-1783) and WILLIAMS, A[aron] (1731-1776). The American Harmony; or, Royal Melody Complete [bound with, as issued] The American Harmony, or Universal Psalmodist. Newburyport: Daniel Bayley, 1769. Oblong 8vo. [vi], 96; [iv], 96 pp. Some leaves bound out of sequence. With four additional leaves of manuscript music (possibly in Amos Higby's hand) inserted at front. Contemporary full calf, boards ruled in gilt, rebacked to style in modern brown calf, gilt by the Green Dragon Bindery. THE FIFTH AMERICAN EDITION, THE FIRST WITH THESE ADDITIONS. Sabin's first issue with "Uppingham Tune" on p. 27 (this copy seems to have been altered a bit, as it appears to have two different pages numbered "27.") 

Tans'ur and Williams were English composers, who were influential to the earliest American composers: "For the most part the Yankee composer's source of information about harmonic practices derived from the music and writings on music of such comparatively unskilled English composers as William Tans'ur (1706-1783) and Aaron Williams (1731-1776), who were themselves somewhat outside the mainstream of European sacred music. Many of the traits that may be thought unique to American psalmodists in fact characterize the compositions of their British cousins too" (S. E. Murray, Timothy Swan and Yankee Psalmody, in The Musical Quarterly 61, pp. 433-463). 

Boards worn, scuffed, hinges repaired, inserted leaves with apparent repairs at inner margins, text toned, soiled, foxed. Very good.