| Quite a restrained presentation compared to the full-page ads Lowell Mason's title pages are. Assertive, yet not bragging--like their other collections, they really provide a big pay-off. There really are lots of new and interesting tunes, some of them crying out for revival. Hastings contributed heavily to NYC, and Bradbury followed close behind, although my sense is that he really only came to the fore when the two worked for the third time together compiling The Shawm. There may have been a tension between them I have yet to learn the details of--NYC contains two sets of Rudiments: the first, Elements of Vocal Music, as presented by Mr. Bradbury; the second, Rudiments of Vocal Music, as presented by Mr. Hastings. And yet, they produced several very fine books together: The Psalmodist, The New York Choralist and The Shawm. As much as I have enjoyed the two latter, I look forward to the day I unwrap a copy of the former. |