FOREST tune in "David's Harp"

[Antonio James Higgins]

Dear all,

Hello! Stumbled across this tune on YouTube, supposedly from A. Chapin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps-m6XW8b_E). I can't find any validity to that claim. According to HTI, it appears in an 1813 Methodist hymnal called David Harp's and the second edition in 1818. Found a complete facsimile in this paper: https://aura.american.edu/articles/thesis/DAVID_S_HARP_1813_A_METHODIST_TUNEBOOK_FROM_BALTIMORE_AN_ANALYSIS_AND_FACSIMILE/23886501/1?file=41884149

There are some interesting tunes. There's a GOSPEL TRUMPET which uses the same text as King's, yet in a very different way, IRISH, which seems to come from Dublin according to HTI, and FOREST, which is original to this book (the Black dot at the composer might be an indicator of that, I haven't read the paper to confirm). 3-part tunes seem to have melody in the treble.

So, why would modern hymnals claim this as a Chapin brother special?

Sincerely,

A. J. Higgins

[Matthew MacLellan]

Antonio,

That is interesting! There are folks on this listserv more wise than me on composers/attributions but it surely sounds similar to 28t in the Shenandoah, Peaceful Shore (I believe also in Cooper Book but don't have the # handy). This tune I mention isn't credited to Chapin.

Was there a page in the thesis the facsimile is on? I'm not sure my interest level is ready for 233 pages of perusal.

Matthew

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[David Warren Steel]

This tune (no. 68 in David's Harp) has the melody of ROCKBRIDGE which is commonly attributed to Chapin. Currently in Michigan, I don't have more details at hand.
--Warren Steel

[Wade Kotter]

ROCKBRIDGE first appeared in the ca. 1800 manuscript collection compiled by Amzi Chapin. Nikos Papas believes that Chapin's version is an arrangement of a folk tune and not a new tune composed by Amzi (see number 1T in The Shenandoah Harmony), This arrangement was mistakenly attributed to L. Chapin in the 8 page pamphlet containing 16 tunes printed in 1812 by Andrew Law for John Logan. Subsequent printings up through 1820 attribute it either to Chapin or A. Chapin.

Wade 

Dr. Wade Kotter

Retired Librarian

Independent Hymnologist and Unrestrained Loud Treble

South Ogden, UT

"Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord" 

On Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 07:41:49 AM MDT, David Warren Steel <mu...@olemiss.edu> wrote:

    This tune (no. 68 in David's Harp) has the melody of ROCKBRIDGE which is commonly attributed to Chapin.  Currently in Michigan, I don't have more details at hand.
        --Warren Steel

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[Barry Johnston]

See a summary of early publication history of this tune here.

Barry Johnston

Gunnison, Colorado

[Karen Willard]

What a great resource, Barry!

Karen

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[Gabriel Kastelle]

Barry -- 

Thanks!!  

Seconding Karen's appreciation. 

Am a fan of Chapin tunes ++/-ish. 

Fasola All -- 

I believe "Thirtieth" within the ChoralWiki link given by Barry has a larger and longer life also under the tune names GOLDEN HILL, ABBEVILLE, etc. 

...e.g. in M.L. Swan's New Harp of Columbia modern editions (Tennesseana Edns., cloth 1978, paper 1989), 81b, as "GOLDEN HILL"-- delicious!!; 

...e.g. medium recent modern Cooper books (like 1992) 68b "Come, Holy Spirit" 

and 1991 Denson Sacred Harp 33b (ABBEVILLE); 

...and many other places once one starts looking for these many names and slight variants... 

:-) 

Enjoy! 

Great tune! 

So much going on in in that tiny S.M. format...   :-) 

LA! 

-- A. Gabriel K. -- 

"Eugene, OR" -- Syzygia, etc. 

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