[Bird Music] Van Wickede, F. (?–?)
[Canary breeding] Kanari-Uitspanningen / Of nieuwe verhandeling van de / Kanari-Teelt,... Nieuwe verbeeterde en vermeerende Druck... Vierde Druck
Amsterdam: Steven van Esveldt. 1773. Fourth Edition. A book in Dutch on canary breeding as a hobby. Upright 16mo in contemporary marbled boards. Letterpress. Front endpaper, frontispiece with engraving by N. van Frankendaal (1720–1791) of a canary breeder at work (verso blank), title with copying prohibition and publisher's signature to verso, preface [3 fol.], new preface to 4th edition [1 fol.], [1]–131 [132] pp. Woodcut vignette on title, woodcut headers. Two signatures in ink to front endpaper, the first illegible; the second is "Charles Schicksal." Notes and scribblings in English, in pencil, to insides of boards. Label with withered number to upper board. 6.5 x 4 inches (16.2 x 9.8 cm). Lower edge uncut. Slightly dampstained; boards worn and somewhat soiled; else in fine condition. In an elaborate modern, custom-made case covered in brown morocco with raised bands and gilt lettering. The volume is quite rare, with only two copies in any 18th century edition recorded by Worldcat outside of the Netherlands (France and Germany).The first edition of the book appeared in 1750 (see first page of the new preface). Its many editions (at least seven) testify to its popularity, but next to nothing is known about the author. Chapter 18 (Achttiende hoofdstuk), whose title translates as "How to teach canary birds to whistle a tune, and which you must select for this," contains two pages of musical notation (pp. 78–79)—a "Praelud", two "Airs" and a "Menuet".
In the 18th century, it was fashionable to teach captive birds to sing and indeed, small versions of the flageolet woodwind instrument instrument, called "bird flageolets" were made and used for this purpose. Entire method books were marketed to wealthy song-bird owners (as well as breeders), and were not so much collections of pieces imitating birdsong, but rather books of tunes for birds to sing in imitation of a flageolet or recorder. (22242)