Second edition of the Te Deum and Jubilate "perform'd before the Queen, Lords, and Commons, at the Cathedral-church of St. Paul, on the Thanksgiving-day, for the Glorious Successes of Her Majesty's Army the last Campaign," a reissue of the 1697 first edition. Skinny folio. Typeset music. Title (vb); Printed dedication (vb); 1 - 48 pp. Pale blue wrappers bound into early limp checkered paper binding. Browning and wear to binding, generally fine throughout. Smith (Walsh) 248; BUC, p.859.

With remarkable provenance, inscribed in the right margin of the title by Vincent Novello: "This copy of Purcell's Te Deum formerly belonged to my beloved friend Signor Dragonetti who bequeathed it to me a few days before he died in April 1846. Vincent Novello." A later owner has noted in the left margin, "This highly prized book purchased by me Jan. 1854 [...]." Earlier 18th century ownership signature of Jonathan Conduit at the head of the title with (seemingly) his annotations throughout.

The great double bass virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti (1763–1846) and the organist, editor, publisher and founder of the historic music publishing house Novello & Co. Vincent Novello (1781–1861) were close friends and leading figures in London musical life; Novello was a pioneering champion of early English music, including Purcell's.

Domenico Dragonetti was Europe's first - and possibly the world's finest - virtuoso double bassist. Born in Venice, the son of a poor barber, he received violin instruction from a local shoemaker, who later persuaded him to take up the double bass. The young Dragonetti demonstrated prodigious talent on his new instrument and at the age of just 13 was appointed to the orchestra of the Opera Buffa in Venice before joining the orchestra of St Mark's five years later. During these years, he discovered the famous Gasparo da Salò bass, an instrument that he would play for the rest of his life. In 1794, Dragonetti moved to London where he was to play operas and concerts at the King's Theatre. Here he met the Italian violinist Giovanni Battista Viotti with whom he would form a close musical relationship as a duo partner. Over the course of his career the Venetian would go onto play before the Emperor Napoleon at the palace of Prince Staremberg, perform with Paganini and meet Haydn, Beethoven and many other great composers. He continued to give major concerts throughout the final years of his life, including as the principal bassist at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn in 1845, only a year before he passed away. His obituary of April 1846 read: 'Dragonetti was the greatest performer of his age on the double bass - possessing the finest instinct of true excellence in all that concerns his art.'

Dragonetti is very rare in autograph material. We trace only one signed letter and one musical manuscript having appeared at auction in over 75 years. While the present items is not signed by him, the incredible attestation from Novello about the score's provenance, makes this a particularly rare and desirable relic of the great musician.

The Te Deum and Jubilate, Written for St. Cecilia's Day, November 22, 1694, was the first English service setting to be accompanied by a full orchestra instead of just the traditional organ, and it remained performed annually at the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy at St. Paul’s Cathedral for many years.