The Harp of Zion (John Fawcett)
General information
Publication
John Fawcett's The Harp of Zion was published in London by J. Hart, at 2, Hatton Garden. The publication itself is not dated, but can be dated to 1833 by a review published that year (see below). The title page includes an engraved portrait of the composer, who is described as 'late of Kendal': by this time, he had moved from Kendal to Bolton.
Publication date and place: 1833 by J. Hart, at 2 Hatton Garden, London.
Review
A review of the book was published on p126 of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, vol. 12 of the third series or vol. 56 from the commencement, in the February 1833 number, in the 'SELECT LIST OF BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED, CHIEFLY RELIGIOUS':
The Harp of Zion: Consisting of Original Tunes and Pieces, adapted to the Hymns in the Wesleyan Supplement, and other Popular Selections. By John Fawcett. Price 7s. - The tunes in this publication embrace a variety of metres, especially suited to the hymns in the Wesleyan Supplement; and it would be difficult to select from the numerous publications of this description one better adapted for public or private devotion. The melodies are chaste, easy, and mellifluous; and the harmonies decidedly superior to most works of this kind.
Description of contents
The collection consists of 47 strophic hymn tunes (some of which include refrains or concluding choruses), followed by 4 set-pieces (through-composed settings of metrical texts). Many of the texts are referenced 'Wesley's Suppt': referred to on the title page of the book as 'the Wesleyan Supplement', this is the hymnbook A Supplement to the Collection of Hymns for the use of the People called Methodists (of which the preface is dated 'London, Nov. 9, 1830', and which has a publication date of 1831 on the title page).
The music is laid out in full score, with the parts labelled Alto - Tenor - Air - Bass in the first piece in the book, with the Air and Bass parts bracketed together and marked Organ. Additional small notes printed on these staves fill out the harmony of the keyboard accompaniment: the title page refers to this as 'an Accompaniment for the Organ, &c.'. The bass part is not figured.
The treble clef is used for soprano, alto, and tenor parts, with both the alto and tenor parts being notated an octave above sounding pitch.
A separately numbered group of 10 pages at the back of the book (after the index page) provides independent orchestral accompaniments for three of the set-pieces: Spirit, leave thine house of clay, And will the great eternal God, and From all that dwell below the skies. The first two of these pieces are scored for 2 violins, 2 clarinets, 2 flutes, 2 trumpets and 2 horns, while From all that dwell below the skies has 2 violins, 2 flutes, 2 trumpets and 2 horns (omitting the clarinets).
List of works
| Pages | Description | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TARPORLEY. L.M. Hy: 56, Wesley's Seln | He comes, he comes, the Judge severe |
| 2-3 | SOVEREIGN BALM. C.M. Hy: 702, Wesley's Suppt | Salvation, O the joyful sound |
| 3 | WIGAN. L.M. Hy: 586, Wesley's Suppt | Eternal depth of love divine |
| 4 | RETFORD. L.M. Hy: 852, Leeds Coln | Hark the new song before the throne |
| 5 | PROSTRATION. L.M. Hy: 316 Wesley's Seln | Eternal power whose high abode |
| 6 | BRECON. L.M. Hy: 623 Wesley's Suppt | When I survey the wondrous cross |
| 6 | THETFORD. C.M. Hy: 595 Wesley's Suppt | Plunged in a gulf of dark despair |
| 7 | SHELFORD. C.M. Hy: 743 Wesley's Suppt | See Israel's gentle shepherd stands |
| 7 | GLOUCESTER. 4 lines 7s Hy: 745 Wesley's Suppt | Father live, by all things feared |
| 8 | BRADFORD. L.M. Hy: 678, Wesley's Suppt | God is the refuge of his saints |
| 9 | HOLLINGWORTH. 4. 6s and 2. 8s Hy: 645 Wesley's Seln | Blow ye the trumpet, blow |
| 10 | NEWPORT. 4 lines 8s and 7s Hy: 725 Wesley's Suppt | Happy soul, thy days are ended |
| 10 | RUTHIN. L.M. Hy: 636 Wesley's Suppt | Great God, whose universal sway |
| 11 | BURY. 4 lines 8s and 7s Hy: 176 Leeds Seln | Mighty God, while angels bless thee |
| 11 | ANXIETY. 4 lines 7s Hy: 119 Olney Colln | 'Tis a point I long to know |
| 12 | ASCENSION HYMN. 4, 6s and 2, 8s Hy: 247 the Revd E Smiths Seln | Your king ascends to reign |
| 13 | DIDSBURY. 6 lines 8s Hy: 696 Wesley's Suppt | Arm of the Lord, awake, awake |
| 14 | CHURCH STREET. 8 lines 7s and 6s Hy: 633 Wesley's Suppt | Hail thou once-despised Jesus |
| 15 | DISSOLUTION. P.M. Hy: 153 Manchester Seln | Hark, ye mortals, hear the trumpet |
| 16 | LINCOLN. P.M. Hy: 691, Wesley's Suppt | Come thou conqueror of the nations |
| 17 | WEDNESBURY. P.M. Hy: 616 Wesley's Suppt | All ye that pass by, to Jesus draw nigh |
| 18 | BARTON. S.M. Hy: 579 Wesley's Suppt | Great is the Lord our God |
| 18 | WAKEFIELD. 4 lines 7s Hy: 763 Wesley's Suppt | Lord, whom winds and seas obey |
| 19 | HARLESTON. P.M. Hy: 276 Wesley's Seln | Worship and thanks and blessing |
| 19 | COLNE. 4 lines 8s Hy: 166 Leeds Seln | O had I the wings of a dove |
| 20 | ASHBURTON. 8 lines 7s and 6s Hy: 650 Wesley's Suppt | Branch of Jesse's stem, arise |
| 21 | TODMORDEN. 8 lines 8s Hy: 588 Wesley's Suppt | This, this is the God we adore |
| 22 | HEAVENLY REST. 8 lines 8s Hy: 727 Wesley's Suppt | O when shall we sweetly remove |
| 23 | TAUNTON. 2, 6s and 4, 7s Hy: 657 Wesley's Suppt | Eternal Spirit come |
| 24 | LEICESTER. P.M. Hy: 669 Wesley's Suppt | The God of Abraham praise |
| 25 | WITNEY. 6 lines 7s Hy: 624 Wesley's Suppt | Rock of ages cleft for me |
| 26 | INNOCENCE. C.M. Hy: 195, Manchester Seln | Thy throne, O God, in righteousness |
| 27 | ILLINGWORTH. C.M. Hy: 664, Wesley's Suppt | O for a closer walk with God |
| 28 | SACRED LIGHT. S.M. Hy: 478 Leeds Coln | All hail, redeeming Lord |
| 29 | CEYLON. Proper to be sung at Missionary and other Religious Meetings. | Come, brethren, and sing our Saviour and king |
| 30 | CHEERFUL ZEAL. 4, 6s and 2, 8s | How pleased and blest was I |
| 31 | MALTON. 4, 8s and 2, 6s Hy: 333 Wesley's Seln | Come on, my partners in distress |
| 32 | EASTER HYMN. P.M. Words by Bishop Heber. | God is gone up with a merry noise |
| 33 | WEYMOUTH. C.M. Hy: 673, Leeds Colln or 587, Wesley's Suppt | Shout, for the battlements have sunk |
| 34 | BRIDGE STREET. 6 lines 8s Hy: 639 Wesley's Suppt | My heart is full of Christ, and longs |
| 35 | LOUGHBOROUGH. 6 lines 8s Hy: 580 Wesley's Suppt | Great God, this hallowed day of thine |
| 36-37 | ADVENT. L.M. Words by Bishop Heber. | Hosanna to the living Lord |
| 38 | SACRED HERALD. P.M. Hy: 256 Leeds Seln Montgomery. | On the mountain top appearing |
| 39 | BINGHAM. 8 lines 7s and 6s Hymn by Cowper. | Ere God had built the mountains |
| 40 | RIPLEY. S.M. Hy: 573, Wesley's Suppt | Come sound his praise abroad |
| 41 | GREENLAND. P.M. Missionary Hymn by Bishop Heber. | From Greenland's icy mountains |
| 42-43 | DUNSTAN. 4 lines 8s and 7s Words by the Revd Wm Jones. | Jesus, thou art meek and lowly |
| 44-47 | "SPIRIT, LEAVE THINE HOUSE OF CLAY!" A Funeral Piece, The Words by J. Montgomery, EsqE | Spirit, leave thine house of clay |
| 48-49 | "PEACE TO THE MAN OF PEACE." AN ODE, Written on the death of Mr R. Dickinson, of Workington, by J. Montgomery EsqR | Peace to the man of peace |
| 50-54 | DEDICATION | And will the great eternal God |
| 55-59 | CELEBRATION. Hy: 699, Wesley's Suppt | From all that dwell below the skies |