MUSC 2311 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: William Billings
4 Apr 2017
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1st american tunebook to address the needs of both congregation and choir was published in. Philadelphia where no similar history has been discovered. Psalm-tunes, anthems, and hymns by james lyon in 1761. Philadelphia was very diverse with religions, not boston. Walter"s grounds and rules (4 decades prior,) well know ministers supported this book publically. Lyon"s book had no endorsement but he didn"t need it, he got supporters on his own. Lyon, with his singing school, made his own compilation of tunes since he couldn"t find adequate ones. By june 1762, his book was out for the public. Bold entrepreneurship and imagination to get his book published is an american music history landmark. Urania offered something for every kind of sacred singer. 1st american tunebook to bring psalmody straight into the commercial arena/market. By 1760s, singing schools and regular singing were finally helping to spread musical literacy and feed interest in more elaborate sacred music throughout the region.
