Title page
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Bridstow (Air-Lively)
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Dyer, a New Yorker who worked as a musician in Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as in cities farther south, published a first edition of this music collection in 1817 while at Baltimore. Following his explanation of the rudiments of music (including singing lessons according to the English and Italian methods), Dyer printed "standard and popular tunes used in the principal cities and congregations throughout the Union." Later in the preface the editor comments that these tunes are adapted more particularly for use in the Middle and Southern states. In addition to plain and grave melodies suitable for congregational singing in worship, Dyer included some on a more animated and brilliant style (i.e., fuguing tunes and anthems) for the "exercise of practitioners , and the use of Singing Schools and Societies." In a final note the editor writes that he has not attempted to include "the great variety of peculiar metre hymns in use in the Methodist, and some other denominations … for these, indeed, would alone fill a moderate sized volume." (Dyer's italics)