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Summary:

Abstract: This dissertation asserts the value of James Lyon's Urania to the field of American music history as a vital contribution to the development of music in the British colonies prior to the War for Independence. While previous scholarship acknowledges Urania's importance as the first publication in America to contain music by a native-born composer, this study argues that its subscription list and selection of anthems (both of which were new to the field of American music publishing) contribute to the status this compilation is due. The confluence of the English chapel tradition and American singing school tradition contributes to the theological universality and accessibility of its twelve anthems. An introductory chapter discusses the secondary literature upon which this study is based - notably that of Oscar Sonneck and Richard Crawford - and posits applications for the idea presented herein beyond the field of musicology. Chapter 2 provides biographical information on James Lyon and contextualizes Urania within the broader framework of the English chapel tradition and the American singing-school tradition. Chapter 3 discusses the marketability of music in colonial America and explores the biographies of the subscribers to Urania using modern databases. Chapter 4 concerns the confluence of music and sacred text by placing Urania as a spiritual and cultural descendant of the theological universality preached during the Great Awakening. It concludes with an analysis of the anthems, taking into account both text and music. Chapter 5 concludes the study by showing how Urania affected music in the generations after its publication. My dissertation concludes with four appendices. Appendix A is an annotated list of Lyon's subscribers. Appendix B parses out basic information on the anthems, notably the texts. Appendices C and D provide critical notes and editions of the anthems, respectively.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction. Literature review ; Methodology ; Important terminology ; Practical applications ; Outline of study
• Setting a framework for Urania. Clergyman, composer, cartographer, caretaker ; The name "Urania" ; The English chapel tradition ; The American singing-school tradition ; The tradition of the title page
• Commercial aspects of Urania. Marketing music ; The subscription list ; Conclusion
• Theological and musical aspects of Urania. The great awakening ; Music's place in the eighteenth-century Presbyterian worship ; The texts of the anthems in Urania ; From muse to music ; Anthem analysis
• Epilogue. Urania's legacy in Philadelphia ; From Philadelphia to Boston ; Inspiration for the future
• Appendix A : The subscribers to Urania
• Appendix B : Texts of the anthems in Urania
• Appendix C : Critical notes to the anthems in Urania
• Appendix D : Critical editions of the anthems in Urania.

Author/Creator:

La Spata, Adam , author

Contributors:

McKnight, Mark, 1951- , major professor

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

Psalms, Hymns, and Commercial Songs: Tradition and Innovation in James Lyon's "Urania" [by La Spata, A.]

Related Series:

NT dissertation, Music (Complete); [volume] 2020

Subjects:

Lyon, James, 1735-1794

Music — United States — 18th century — History and criticism

Church music

1700-1799

Music

United States

Genres:

Academic theses

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Dissertation Notes:

Ph. D. ― University of North Texas, 2020.

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 224-232).
Description based on: Online resource; title from PDF title page (UNT Digital Library, viewed December 20, 2021).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 232 pages) : illustrations, music.

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

Electronic Dissertation

OCLC Numbers:

1300231865