Jacob French, a student of William Billings, was one of the most talented postrevolutionary composers of Protestant sacred music in New England. He compiled most of his music in three printed tunebooks, comprising choral pieces of great rhythmic and contrapuntal variety. He felt many excellently crafted, expressive compositions that should find interest among today's choral directors and singers.

This series presents the music of early American composers of sacred music・psalmody, as it was called・in collected critical editions. Each volume has been prepared by a scholar who has studied the musical history of the period and the stylistic qualities of the composer. The purpose of the series is to present the music of important early American composers in accurate editions for both performance and study. This volume presents representative compositions by two American psalmodists, Samuel Holyoke and Jacob Kimball, who were actively engaged in the reform of American psalmody during the 1790s and early 1800s. American compositions were often criticized for two features: their failure to conform to the harmonic norms of European art music and their often vigorous, animated musical style, which was sometimes considered lacking in a reverent spirit appropriate for use in public worship

First Published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.