Essays on Song-Writing: with a Collection of Such English Songs as are most eminent for Poetical Merit. To which are added Some Original Pieces.

London: Printed for Joseph Johnson, [1772].

Price: $350.00


About the item

First edition. xvi, 280 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Contemporary sheep, spine and joints worn, front hinge started, some rubbing, usual marginal browning of endpapers otherwise a very clean and pleasant copy from the Lonsdale Library with the bookplate.

Item #211750

The compiler of these songs said that the idea for this work came about when a group of friends were bemoaning the lack of good music at that time. They discussed it and Aiken decided to gather "good" songs, these came mostly from the past and from the time of Charles II to the end of Anne's reign. These were then examined and judged from a poetical merit point of view. These selections are included, with their authors identified when possible. Aiken has included an essay on songwriting and some of his original works.