Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Amphion anglicus

Amphion anglicus. A work of many Compositions, for one, two, three and four Voices: with several Accompagnements of Instrumental Musick ; and a Thorow-Bass to each Song : figur'd for an Organ, Harpsichord, or Theorboe-Lute. By Dr. JOHN BLOW.

"To Her Royal Highness, the Princess Ann of Denmark :

" MADAME : The excellent Art of Musick was thought by many of the Wisest Ancients, to have derived its Original immediately from Heaven ; as one of the First, most beneficial Gifts of the Divine Goodness to Mankind : thereby to draw and allure, the old, rude, and untaught World, into Civil Societies ; and so to soften and prepare their Minds for the easier reception of all other Accomplishments of Wisdom and Vertue.

"The most Learned of the Ancient Heathens, the Greeks, were so much of' this Opinion, that they carried their Veneration for this Admirable Faculty too far. They believed they could not do it right, but by assigning to it, for its Protection and Improvement, some peculiar tutelary Gods of its own. Nay, when to all the other Ornaments and Perfections of human Life, they seldom appointed more than one single Deity to preside over each of them, to Musick alone they allotted a greater number of Guardian Divinities than to any of the rest; some of the Male, but most of the Female and Fairer Sex.

They were indeed mistaken, when they be-stowed on it these Fabulous Honours ; and they made but ill Gods and Goddesses of those Men and Women, who would have done excellently well if they had only passed for Patrons of it, or Inventors in it, as they really were.

But in all times of the truer Antiquity, even amongst God's own peculiar People, we find this most instructive and delightful Skill did always meet with its due and deserved Honours, short of Idolatry, and within the bounds of Sobriety and Decency.

Thus we read in the Holy Scriptures, net long after the History of the Creation, the Name of the Man is Solemnly recorded with Renown, among the Founders of Nations, who was the first Inventor of the Harp and the Organ.

And undoubtedly, there was never any Age of the true Church afterwards, whether Jewish, or Christian, wherein the Sacred delights of Musick were not admitted, to bear an eminent Part in the Worship of the True God.

"In the Jewish Church, it is certain, that even before the Temple it self was built, while it was yet only in Design, God Inspir'd David, the Man after his own Heart, to Compose before-hand, the Hymns and Divine Anthems that were to be Sung in it.

"And the choice of the Person for that Work as Infinitely for the dignity of the Art : Since no less a Man, than the chief of their Monarchs, and the greatest of their Conquerors, was ordained by God, to be their Poet and Musician on that occasion.

"And it were easy to prove, that the same Celestial Spirit of Musical Concord and Harmony, was all along cherished and entertained in the Christian Church, during the very best Times of its purest Doctrines and Devotions.

"It will be enough, only to mention one undeniable Instance, That, in the Primitive Age, during the cruellest Persecutions, in their most Private and Nightly Assemblies, the Christians of that early Time, as Pliny informed Trajan, remarkably distinguish'd themselves, by their alternate Singing of Psalms and Spiritual Songs.

"Such, Madame, have been always the Employments of the Sublime Art of Musick, to teach and cultivate Humanity ; to Civilize Nations ; to Adorn Courts ; to Inspirit Armies ; to Inspire Temples and Churches ; to sweeten and reform the fierce and barbarous Passions ; to excite the Brave and Magnanimous ; and, above all, to in-flame the Pious and the Devout.

For these Reasons, it has all along receiv'd the Encouragement and Favour of the Greatest, the Wisest, the most Religious, the most Heroick Persons of all Ages. And it seems but reason-able, that it should be so, that they should principally take upon them the care of this High-born Science of Tuneful Sounds and Numbers, whose Souls are more elevated than others, and seem most to partake of that Natural, and Divine Harmony, it professes to Teach.

"You see, Madame, what undoubted Title Your Royal Highness has to the Patronage of this Art. It is Your own by many rightful claims, not only for Your High Birth and Royal Dignity, but for something, that is even yet more Your own ; for that admirable temper of Spirit, that harmonious sweetness of Disposition, that silent Melody, and charming Musick of Your whole Life.

"After I have said this, it cannot be denied, but that, by inscribing these Papers to Your Royal Highness, I have chosen the worthiest and most excellent Patroness for these my Studies, that this Nation, or Age has produc'd. Yet I must still confess, while I applaud my self for the happiness of my Choice, the ambition of it puts me into Confusion; I am ashamed to think, that to such a Patroness I can present so very little, either worthy of the Art I admire, or of the Glorious Princess to whom I dedicate all my Muses.

"But for that part, which concerns Your self, Madame, Your own Goodness and Benignity, has set my Mind at ease, by Your generous Invitation and favourable Promise, of accepting the low Present I now offer, and your Gracious Assurance of a perpetual Protection to its Author.

"And that also, if any thing can, may possibly enable me to supply the other Part better for the future, and lift up my Genius to something more becoming the Majesty of Art it self.

"The two most Noble ends of Musick Vocal and instrumental, being either to raise and nourish the tender, and the Generous Passions of Love, Friendship, and Honour, among Men ; or to animate our Affections, and to kindle the ardourand zeal of our Devotions towards God : I must own, that what I now lay at your Royal Highness's Feet, consists only in some weak Performances of the first kind.

"I will make no Apology for the Subjects of any of them, the they are generally conversant about Love-Affairs ; since the divertisements and delights of those softer Affections, when conceiv'd in pure Thoughts, and cloathed with innocent Expressions, have been always allowed in all Wise and Good-natur'd Polite Nations ; and never any where Condemn'd by the truly Good and Honourable part of Mankind.

"I dare affirm, that nothing but the unsociable sullenness of a Cynick, would ever exclude secular Musick, so qualified, out of Civil Societies; as nothing but the perverse sowerness of a Fanatick, would ever drive Divine Musick out of the Church.

But yet, lest a Work of this Nature, th� perhaps not blameable in it self, either for the Matter, or the manner of it, should however seem to fall below what is due to Your Royal Highness's Greatness of Mind, and consummate Vertue: Give me leave, Madame, to tell You, I am pre-paring, as fast as I can, to make some amends for this, by a Second Musical Present, upon Arguments incomparably better : I mean my Church-Services, and Divine Compositions.

To those, in truth, I have ever more especially consecrated the Thoughts of my whole Life. All the rest I consider but as the Blossoms, or rather the Leaves ; those I only esteem as the Fruits of all my Labours in this kind. With them I began my first Youthful Raptures in this Art : With them, I hope calmly and comfortably to finish my days. Nor will my mind be ever at rest, till I have offer'd them up to God, for the Publick use of the best Church in the Christian World, under the Propitious Authority of Your Royal Highness's Name.

"May it please Your Royal Highness,

"I am Your most Humble, most Dutiful, " And most Devoted Servant,

"JOHN BLOW." London, A. D. 1700."