Arnold, Samuel

Folio (13 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.; 336 x 241 mm). Lithographed music consisting of 76 duos, trios and one solo, printed on one side only, with index leaf bound in front (bearing the imprint given above), several bifolia have Dr. Arnold's "Duke Street Westminster" advertisement on the last pages; some light marginal spotting. Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, gilt-stamped title label on upper cover; joints cracked, spine and corners torn, scuffed.

Opie, Three Centuries of Nursery Rhymes, no. 23a (citing an incomplete copy)

some light marginal spotting. Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, gilt-stamped title label on upper cover; joints cracked, spine and corners torn, scuffed.
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First complete edition  of this collection of nursery-rhyme sheet music with the index leaf. "It is known that the first seventy numbers ... were in print by 1797. It is not known whether the remaining six numbers appeared in 1797 or 1798" (Opie).

Arnold (1740-1802) wa a prolific composer of operas, other stage music, oratorios and secular vocal music. In 1793 he became organist at Westminster Abbey. According to the New Grove (1:617) "The most interesting feature of Arnold's operas is his frequent use of folktunes, in particular of English folktunes" and his own compositions include catches, canons and glees published in various anthologies. George Smart (d. 1803), publisher of many minor publications such as country dances and sheet music, was located at 331 Oxford Street from 1774 until his death.

Worldcat records one incomplete copy in London (BL).