25 Songs Printed in Dublin by HIME and Owned by the Family of Francis Hopkinson

Dublin, Ireland: Hime at his Musical Circulating Library No. 34 College Green, No 40 College Green, 1810. Folio. ff. 25. Sheets: (12 3/4 x 9 inches). Plates: (10 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches). 25 copper-plated engraved pieces of sheet music printed in black. Most sheets hand-foliated in ink. With the ownership signature in ink on the back of songs 9 and 10 written "Susan Buchanan's." 9 of the pieces of sheet music are loose, 16 are loosely bound together.

Provenance: Family of Founding Father Francis Hopkinson

25 pieces of sheet music printed in Ireland by Hime at the end of the 18th century, from the family collection of Francis Hopkinson, America's first composer.

"American society from about 1805 on was especially enamored of Irish and Scotch tunes, particularly the Irish Melodies of Thomas Moore, and other national music." - Richard J. Wolfe, Early American Music Engraving and Printing Founding Father Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791) was a signatory for New Jersey to the Declaration of Independence and the first American to compose a song, which he attested to himself: "I cannot, I believe, be refused the Credit of being the first Native of the United States who has produced a Musical Composition." Hopkinson published three of the earliest American song collections: Collection of Plain Tunes with a Few from Anthems and Hymns, printed by Carr in 1763; America Independent, or Temple of Minerva (the first American opera), printed by Carr in 1781; and Seven Songs for the Harpsichord or Forte Piano, printed by T. Dobson in 1788. All sheets were printed by Hime. Hime was an English and Irish music publishing firm run by two brothers, Humphrey and Morris. Hime began in Liverpool, but moved to Dublin in 1790. The firm continued printing until the 1870s as Hime & Son. The Himes did the largest provincial trade in Britain at the end of the 18th century because English copyright law did not apply to Irish publishers, so Hime could flood the English market with bootleg copies of popular songs. The song titles are: 1. "TEARS THAT EXHALE: An admired SONG in the PRISONER Composed by Mr. Attwood." 2. "I'D THINK on THEE MY LOVE. A Favorite NEW SEA SONG Composed by Mr. HOOK." 3. "HENRY's COTTAGEMAID." 4. "AS WRAPT IN SLEEP I LAY: A favorite Song sung by Mrs CROUCH in the Opera of The PIRATES Composed by STEPN STORACE." 5. "WINDS SOFTLY TELL MY LOVE: As Sung by Mrs MOUNTAIN in the Opera of the FARMER with uncommon Applause." 6. "THE MANSION OF PEACE: A Much Admired SONG Composed by Mr. WEBBE." 7. "THE NEW MANSION OF PEACE: A Favorite NEW SONG Composed by Mr. MOULDS." 8. "DEAR MARY TO THEE: A much Admired NEW Song Composed by Mr. HOOK." 9. "DEAR IMAGE OF THE MAID I LOVE: Composed by SIGr. GIORDANI." 10. "WHILST WITH VILLAGE MAIDS: A favorite Song in the Opera of ROSINA Sung by Mrs BILLINGTON." 11. "COME BLUSHING ROSE: Composed by Pleyel." 12. "EVENING: A Favorite BALLAD Composed by HAYDN: The WORDS by DOCr. JOHNSON." 13. "EDWIN AND ELLA: Composed by MR. HOOK." 14. "GO HAPPYGALES: A favorite SONNETT translated from PETRACH by Mr HOOK." 15. "ENCOMPASSED IN AN ANGELS FRAME: A much Admired Song." 16. "THE SHIPWRECK'D BOY. A Favorite NEW Song Written by Geo. Saville Carey." 17. "THERE THE SILVER'D WATERS ROAM: An admired Song in the PIRATES. Sung by Mr Sedgwick. composed by Sigr. STORACE." 18. "Charming Delia: A Favorite BALLAD Composed by Mr. PLEYEL." 19. "DIRE IS HIS GRIEF: An Admired Song in the new Historical Romance of the CRUSADE sung by Mr Incldeon." 20. "NOW THE WOODLAND CHORISTS SING: A Favorite PASTORAL BALLAD composed by J PLEYEL." 21. "O!EVER IN MY BOSOM LIVE: A favorite Duett in OSCAR and MALVINA sung by Mrs Mountain and Miss Keys." 22. "DEAR IS MY LITTLE NATIVE VALE: A favorite NEW Ballad." 23. "YOUNG JOCKEY TRIPT IT O'ER THE MEAD: An Admired BALLAD Composed by SIGr PLEYEL." 24. "BLOW HIGH BLOW LOW: A favorite SONG." 25. "WHEN FAIR SUSAN I LEFT: A much Admired SEA SONG." These scores were part of a Sammelband acquired at the Francis Hopkinson Family Americana Collection sale in June 2020.

Wolfe, Early American Music Engraving and Printing, 1980.