[English Music] Blow, John 1649-1708. Amphion Anglicus. A Work of Many Compositions, For One, Two, Three and Four Voices: With several Accompagnements of Instrumental Musick; And A Thorow-Bass to each Song: Figur'd for an Organ, Harpsichord, or Theorboe-Lute... [Score].. London: William Pearson for the Author. 1700. First edition. Folio. Approximately 12.25 x 7.5 inches. [8], [x], 216 pages. Bound without the portrait frontispiece. Bound by Gray of Cambridge in modern full red levant morocco, covers and spine stamped in black, spine lettered in gilt, gilt board edges and turn-ins. Spine slightly dull, with some minor soiling, spine and corners rubbed, text toned, slightly soiled and foxed, boards a bit bulged. Still, near fine. From the library of British musicologist Thurston Dart, with his signature on the front free endpaper, and from the library of J. Champines, with his contemporary ink inscription affixed to front pastedown.



First Edition. Day & Murrie 183. BUC p. 114. RISM B2985. Inspired by Henry Purcell's Orpheus Britannicus, the English Baroque composer and organist Blow published this "imposing collection of his songs and vocal chamber music" by subscription. In it he "shows a marked disposition towards ostinato-like basses. But the range of his vocal music -- dull, florid, powerful, suave, lyrical -- is too varied to permit a neat summary." (TNG Vol. 2 pp. 806-808)