A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, Hymns and Chants (John Wainwright)

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General information

John Wainwright's only known musical publication is A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, Hymns, and Chants: while the book itself is not dated, newspaper advertisements relating to its publication indicate that this took place in 1766.

Publication history

An advertisement on p7 of the Leeds Intelligencer of 15 July 1766 sought subscriptions for the forthcoming work:

'NEW MUSIC.

Speedily will be published, by Subscription, Price 6s.

A COLLECTION of PSALM TUNES, ANTHEMS, HYMNS and CHANTS, for One, Two, Three and Four Voices; composed by Mr. JOHN WAINWRIGHT, Organist of the Collegiate Church, at Manchester; and carefully corrected by Mr. Alcock, Batchelor of Music, and Organist at Litchfield.

The above Work will contain 70 Pages, in large Quarto, neatly engraved and printed on a good Paper. No Money required till the Delivery of the Book, which will be the latter End of this Month. Subscriptions are taken in by Mr. Crompton, at his Music-Shop, opposite the Cross in Leeds; at which Place may be had, all Sorts of Instruments, and Music-Strings, particularly a new Kind of Roman 1st, at Six-pence per Ring.'

The completed book was advertised on p4 of the Derby Mercury of 3 October 1766:

'This Day is published,

Price Six Shillings sew'd,

A COLLECTION OF Psalm-Tunes, Anthems, Hymns, and Chants; for One, Two, Three, and Four Voices. Composed by Mr. JOHN WAINWRIGHT, Organist of the Collegiate Church at Manchester.

London, printed for the Author, and sold by FRANCIS ROOME, Bookseller in Derby; of whom may be had the greatest Choice of Music and Musical Instruments.

The Original British Herb Tobacco and Snuff, to be had of F. Roome, as above, and no where else in Derby.'

The following advertisement for the book subsequently appeared in four successive issues of the Manchester Mercury, namely on p4 of 21 October 1766, p2 of 28 October 1766, p2 of 4 November 1766 and p2 of 11 November 1766:

'This Day is published, Price Six Shillings,
A Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, Hymns, and Chants, for one, two, three, and four Voices; composed by Mr. John Wainwright, Organist of of the Collegiate Church, at Manchester: The above Work doth contain 70 Pages, in large Quarto, neatly engraved and printed on a good Paper. Printed for the Author, and Sold by him, and by Messrs. Newton, Clarke, and Harrop, Booksellers, in Manchester; Mr. J. Clarkson, and Mr. James Lucas, in Stockport; Mr. Robert Hutchinson, in Bury; Mr. Gore, Bookseller, in Liverpool; and at all the Music Shops, and Booksellers in the Country.'

The 'Mr. Alcock, Batchelor of Music, and Organist at Litchfield' mentioned in the 15 July 1766 advert from the Leeds Intelligencer appears to be John Alcock Sr., Mus. Bac. as of 1755, and organist at Lichfield Cathedral. A reference on p3 of the Oxford Journal of Saturday 19 July 1766 indicates that on 'Friday' (apparently either 11 July or 18 July), John Alcock Sr. had been admitted Mus. Doc., and that his son, John Alcock Jr., described as 'Organist and Master of the Choristers of Newark upon Trent', received the degree of Mus. Bac. at the same time. Given the closeness of this event to the time of the Leeds advertisement, and the reference to Lichfield, it seems more probable that the advertisement was referring to the father than the son. Subsequent advertisements do not make mention of Alcock's editorial role, although the advertisement of the book by Francis Roome in Derby may reflect his association with the Alcocks: Roome published works by both the father and the son.

Publication date and place: 1766 in London, for the author.

Description of contents

The collection includes 21 metrical psalm tunes, 4 anthems, 2 settings of Christmas hymns by John Byrom, and 6 chants: the only item which is now in widespread use is one of the Christmas hymns, Christians, awake, salute the happy morn.

The music is largely scored for SATB, with the melody in the soprano part. The anthems have verse sections, and the Christmas hymns are written in two parts for all but the last line, which is in four parts. The alto and tenor parts are printed in the alto and tenor clefs respectively, and the vocal bass part is figured (with some of the solo verses in the anthems having a figured instrumental bass).

List of works

Pages Description Text
012-3 PSALM the 40th Verses the 1st, 2d, 5th & 6th I waited long and sought the Lord
024-5 PSALM the 130th Verses the 1st, 2d, 3d & 4th Lord, unto thee I make my moan
036-7 PSALM the 36th Verses the 7th, 8th, 9th & 12th Thy mercy is above all things
048-9 PSALM the 89th Verses the 1st, 2d, 3d & 4th To sing the mercies of the Lord
0510-11 PSALM 98th the 4 first Verses O sing ye now unto the Lord
0612-13 PSALM the 43d Verses the 1st, 3d, 4th & 6th Judge and defend my cause, O Lord
0714-15 PSALM the 24th Verses the 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th Ye gates and everlasting doors
0816-17 PSALM the 95th Verses the 1st, 2d, 3rd & 6th O come let us lift up our voice
0918-19 PSALM the 8th the 4 first Verses O God our Lord, how wonderful
1020-21 PSALM the 149 the 4 first Verses Sing ye unto the Lord our God
1122-23 PSALM the 25th the 4 first Verses I lift my heart to thee
1224-25 PSALM the 47th Verses the 1st, 2d, 5th & 6th Ye people all with one accord
1326-27 PSALM the 96th Verses the 1st, 2d, 9th & 10th Sing ye with praise unto the Lord
1428-29 PSALM the 68th the 4 first Verses Let God arise and then his foes
1530 PSALM the 19th Verses the 7th, 8th & 9th How perfect is the law of God
1631 PSALM the 101st the 4 first Verses I mercy will and judgment sing
1732 PSALM the 18th Verses the 9th, 10th, 29th & 30th The Lord descended from above
1833 PSALM the 67th the 4 first Verses Have mercy on us, Lord
1934 PSALM the 62nd the 4 first Verses My soul to God shall give good heed
2035 PSALM the 15th Within thy tabernacle, Lord
2136 PSALM the 46th the 4 first Verses The Lord is our defence and aid
2237-43 PSALM 68th ANTHEM Bow down thine ear, O Lord
2344-49 PSALM 65th ANTHEM Thou, O God, art praised in Sion
2449-56 PSALM 61st ANTHEM O Lord, grant the king a long life
2557-65 PSALM 33d ANTHEM Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous
2666-67 A HYMN for Christmas Day the words by Dr Byrom of Manchester Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
2768-69 A HYMN for Christmas Day the words by Dr Birom of Manchester God, who at sundry times in divers ways
2870 Single Chants [Four single chants, without texts]
2971 Double Chants [Two double chants, without texts]

Works at CPDL

Title Year Composer Page Genre Subgenre Vo. Voices
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn 1766 John Wainwright 66 Sacred Carols 4 SATB
O come let us lift up our voice 1766 John Wainwright 16 Sacred Hymns 4 SATB
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous 1766 John Wainwright 57 Sacred Anthems 4 SATB


External links

  • Hymn Tune Index details for source WainJCPT