Autograph letter signed in full
1 page. Octavo. Dated "Orange, N.J., Dec. 4, 1868." To "Professor Hitchcock," soliciting his opinion on proofs of his "Harmony Lessons."
"I send you by this mail a few proof sheets of Harmony Lessons. ... I beg you not to consider yourself under any obligation or courtesy to read or examine them, but if you think best use them for kindling material."
Slightly creased at horizontal folds and overall; remnants of former mount to verso of upper margin.
An important figure in 19th century American music, Mason was an educator, church musician, composer, and anthologist. "An advocate of congregational participation in church music, he is best known for establishing curricular music in American public schools. In addition to compiling tune books with instructional materials for schools and churches, he composed and arranged hundreds of hymn tunes, some of which are still used. Through the success of his books, Mason's preference for European styles spread across the USA. ... [He] attained an extraordinary influence over American tastes." Harry Eskew, William E. Boswell, Boris Schwarz and Nicholas E. Tawa, revised by Carol A. Pemberton
Mason reported on his travels to England, German, Switzerland, and France in his widely-read Musical Letters from Abroad (1854). After returning from this trip, he made his home in Orange, New Jersey, from where this letter was written.
Mason published The Pestalozzian Music Teacher in 1871 together with T.F. Seward; the proofs of his "Harmony Lessons" to which he refers in the present letter may be related to this work.
Item #39042
Price: $400.00 other currencies