Elements of Vocal Science; Being a Philosophical Enquiry into some of the Principles of Singing
London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy ... Clementi and Co. ... Chappell and Co., [1824].
Octavo. Half dark brown calf with textured teal blue cloth boards, spine in gilt-ruled compartments, black leather title label gilt. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 1f. (recto dedication to Sir George Smart dated May 1, 1824, verso blank), [iii] ("to the Reader"), [i] (blank), 1f. (recto contents, verso blank), 282, [iii] (engraved music), [i] (blank) pp.
Signed and dated 1844 by the noted English composer and teacher John Hullah (1812-1884) at upper outer corner of title.
Ex libris St. Martin's Hall Library, with small circular handstamp to upper outer edge of title. Small bookseller's and numerical labels to front pastedown.
Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped; minor loss to title label. Uniform light browning, slightly heavier to final leaves; occasional foxing.
Scarce First Edition, with distinctive provenance.
["Bacon] studied singing in London under Samuel Arnold. In Norwich he was a member of the anacreontic society, an organization of vocal amateurs and instrumental professors. it was Bacon's idea to establish a triennial musical festival in Norwich, and it was largely through his efforts that such an event came into being." Kassler: The Science of Music in Britain, 1714-1830, p. 39.
He wrote essays for a number of publications including the Quarterly Musical Magazine and Review, the London Magazine, and the New Monthly Magazine; he also authored three books on singing: The Grace Book, or Guide to the Science and Practice of Vocal Ornament (London, c1821), The Elements of Vocal Science, being a Philosophical Enquiry into some of the Principles of Singing (London, 1824) and The Art of Improving the Voice and Ear (London, c1825). His ambitious plan for a two-volume encyclopaedia of music (c1819–22) was never realized." Leanne Langley in Grove Music Online.
Hullah's "first ambition was to be an opera composer, and The Village Coquettes (to a libretto by his friend Charles Dickens) enjoyed extended runs in London and Edinburgh in 1836 ... [He] published many music textbooks, essays and papers, edited several pioneer collections of early choral and vocal music, and wrote numerous songs, two of which, O that we two were Maying and The Three Fishers, were to enjoy popularity for a century." Bernarr Rainbow in Grove Music Online.
Item #35581
Price: $300.00 other currencies