Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Tunebook, Manuscript |
Object ID # |
2006.4.2780 |
Other Name |
Notenbuchlein |
Title |
Jacob Godshall manuscript tunebook, 1790s |
Creator |
Godshall, Jacob, 1769-1845 |
Place of Origin |
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania |
Year Range from |
1790 |
Year Range to |
1800 |
Material |
Leather, laid paper, ink, watercolor |
Dimensions |
H-6.75 W-8.375 inches |
Description |
Manuscript tunebook, leather-bound, signed in two places--"Jacob Gottshall" in fraktur lettering on a musical staff part way through, and "Jacob Gottschall" in German script inside the back cover. The full inscription inside the back cover reads: "Jacob Gottschall Sein Noten Buch, Geschrieben im Jahr [date is unreadable due to insect damage]". Below this inscription is a small drawing in pencil of a bird. The first half of the book includes 235 tunes arranged alphabetically in typical Notenbüchlein style, with the first line of the hymn above (usually in German script, though a few are in fraktur lettering). Some of the tunes have a three-part version added on the page next to them. Some are labeled "Schweitzer Lied [Swiss song]". The second half of the book contains 30 tunes with full-text hymns below them, not alphabetically arranged. Some of these tunes are multi-part, including at least one four-part tune: "Jesu meiner seelen leben...". A couple verses of one hymn are written in red. |
Notes |
DVD transcription: 8.56:25 Jacob Godshall's manuscript singing school book --belonged to Bishop Jacob Godshall; John notes that Jacob Godshall was "an important man in many ways." He went to school under Johann Adam Eyer at Deep Run, later taught school himself at Skippack, married a Franconia girl, farmed in Franconia Township, and became a bishop and then moderator of the Franconia Conference. John recalls that Godshall was ordained bishop around 1813, and died in 1843. --This manuscript is from the late 18th century. There is a partial date "17??". The rest of the date was eaten away by some insect. --John notes that this book expresses Godshall as a schoolteacher and frakturist. A few color marks are pointed out, as well as the fine lettering, and Clarence mentions that on one page, Godshall inscribed his name in fine fraktur lettering on a music staff. --It is noted that this book contains "Preceptor" and "Wie lachet der himmel…." Clarence adds that this is the earliest copy of "Wie lachet der himmel" that "we were able to find anywhere." --Clarence notes that this book came to Jacob's son Henry [more likely the book passed to Jacob's daughter Barbara, who married Henry Bergey. FLM], and later on to Abraham Bergey of Harleysville. When Abraham Bergey died, his daughter Grace gave this manuscript to Clarence. |
Provenance |
Made and signed by Mennonite schoolteacher and fraktur artist Jacob Godshall (1769-1845). Probably made in the 1790s, while Godshall was teaching at Skippack or Franconia. He was later a minister and bishop in the Franconia Mennonite congregation. Passed down to Jacob's great-grandson Abraham H. Bergey, from whose heir the donor received it as a gift. |
Source |
Gift of Isaac Clarence Kulp |
People |
Godshall, Jacob, 1769-1845 |