psalm tunes presentation

Introduction to the Singing of Psalm

Tunesby John Tufts

The First American Music Textbook

What?

Introduction to the

Singing of Psalm Tunes

Who?

John Tufts1689-1750

Harvard Grad

Minister

Author and editor of Introduction to the Singing

Of Psalm Tunes

Where?

Boston, MANewbury, MA

Amesbury, MA

When?

1720-1721

Why?

~To improve the quality of congregational song

~To enlarge its repertoire

Justification

Psalm tunes in print had no music

Bay Psalm Book New Version of the Psalms of

David

Significance

Led to the start of Singing Schools

Influenced American music and music education for over 100 years Trained churchgoers to sing Used Tufts’ book as a manual Became a prominent social event Used for music theory, sight reading,

song leading, composition, and ear training

Future Significance

Prototype for numerous other tune books written during the 18th century

Tufts – first American to devise an innovation in musical notation to simplify music reading

Content

Psalm Tunes on staff using Tonic sol fa

9 editions from 1721-1744

Editions ranged from 20-37 psalm tunes

Editions ranged from treble only to 3 parts

Contents, cont.

Directions on how to sing psalm tunes

Theory

Clefs, time signatures, sharps, flats, repeat signs

The diatonic scale using Tonic sol fa Intervals

Tunes

Selected from other sources

“Grounds and Rules of Musick Explained of 1721 and 1723” by Thomas Walter

“Whole Book of Psalms” by John Playford

(London 1677)

“Hymns and Spiritual Songs” by Simon Browne (London 1720)

Longevity

18 of 37 selections have remained:

S. David’s Commandment Bella

York 81 Psalm Tune Norwich

Hackny or S. Mary’s

Windsor 100 Psalm Tune Exeter

S. James 113 Psalm Tune Martyrs

London New 149 Psalm TuneSouthwel

18 Psalm Tune 100 Psalm Tune

100 Psalm Tune

Was probably written by Tufts. If so, it could be the first published composition by an American-born composer.

The End