Two melodies from the Singers' Assistant from the NHS collections.
In an effort to simplify worship and distinguish themselves from the lavishness of the Catholic Church and Church of England, many early American religions followed texts derived directly from the Bible, such as the Book of Common Prayer and later, the Bay Psalm Book. The psalms and hymns of these texts were meant to fit to unadorned, vernacular melodies known within the congregation. Not surprisingly, when American musicians and composers sought a unique national sound after the Revolutionary War, many turned to these religious roots, reshaping vernacular tunes into larger, multipart pieces. This Singers’ Assistant, dated to 1792 and belonging to Misses E. and M. Morris, was likely a personal collection of these pieces. It contains short handwritten melodies, some of which are actually single parts of songs intended for a full choir, as in the case of the two pieces pictured, Greenfield and Greenwich. The small book provides a truly personal glimpse at the music of the developing nation.
Cover of the personal hymn book, or Singers' Assistant, belonging to Misses E. and M. Morris from the NHS collections