John Aitken (music publisher)
Encyclopedia
John Aitken was a Scottish
-American
music publisher
.
, Scotland
around 1745. In October 1771, he arrived in Philadelphia via Rotterdam
and became an indentured servant
to goldsmith
William Taylor for one-and-a-half years. By 1780, he had become a taxpaying property owner of Philadelphia, and had begun selling his services as a silversmith
. The Philadelphia Museum of Art
houses two of his creations, a teaspoon and a creamer.
In the mid-1780s, he married his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he had several children. The Aitkens were good friends with innkeeper James Oeller and his wife; the Oellers served as godparent
s to the Aitken children. Although Aitken was buried in an Episcopal cemetery, he took an active part in Philadelphia's Catholic
community as a member of Old St. Mary's in the 1780s and 1790s—he served as godparents to several of the parish's children, regularly donated to the church, and rented a pew
there.
by William Brown was announced in the pages of the Pennsylvania Packet on January 23, 1787. Aitken's second project may have been Alexander Reinagle's A Selection of the Most Favorite Scots Tunes. Reinagle was a fellow Scottish immigrant, arriving in Philadelphia in 1786. He may have been influential in Aitken's decision to use the "punch" engraving process for sheet music
; Aitken was the first to do so in the United States.
His final work in 1787 was his own A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as They Are Sung in the Catholic Church, the first American collection of Catholic music. Although there is scholarly debate as to whether the work, which spans 136 pages, is representative of actual Catholic musical practice in post-revolutionary America, Reverend John Carroll
approved its publication—his signature, along with those of three Philadelphian priest
s, appears in an approbation
preceding the title page, which endorsed "an undertaking so conducive to the Decency and Solemnity of Religious Worship."
From 1787 to 1793, Aitken was the only publisher of sheet music in the United States, publishing at least 20 works, many of which were by Reinagle. Between 1793 and 1806, he only published two works: a collection entitled Scots Musical Museum (1797) and "The Goldsmith’s Rant" (1802). The latter, a song that he composed, consisted of a single page of sheet music. An advertisement touting Aitken's services as a goldsmith and jeweler appeared on the back of the page.
In 1807, Aitken returned to regularly publishing music, opening a shop on North Second Street. He expanded his publications to secular works, and he may have been the earliest American publisher of secular music. He printed some 125 works from 1807 to 1811. Although he ceased publishing music in 1811, he continued working in the printing trade until 1825. After his death in 1831, he was buried in the cemetery of Christ Church
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music publisher
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
.
Early life
Born in DalkeithDalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
around 1745. In October 1771, he arrived in Philadelphia via Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and became an indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
to goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
William Taylor for one-and-a-half years. By 1780, he had become a taxpaying property owner of Philadelphia, and had begun selling his services as a silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
. The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
houses two of his creations, a teaspoon and a creamer.
In the mid-1780s, he married his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he had several children. The Aitkens were good friends with innkeeper James Oeller and his wife; the Oellers served as godparent
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
s to the Aitken children. Although Aitken was buried in an Episcopal cemetery, he took an active part in Philadelphia's Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
community as a member of Old St. Mary's in the 1780s and 1790s—he served as godparents to several of the parish's children, regularly donated to the church, and rented a pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
there.
Music publishing
Aitken appears to have started his music publishing career in 1787, producing three works. Three Rondos for pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
by William Brown was announced in the pages of the Pennsylvania Packet on January 23, 1787. Aitken's second project may have been Alexander Reinagle's A Selection of the Most Favorite Scots Tunes. Reinagle was a fellow Scottish immigrant, arriving in Philadelphia in 1786. He may have been influential in Aitken's decision to use the "punch" engraving process for sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
; Aitken was the first to do so in the United States.
His final work in 1787 was his own A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as They Are Sung in the Catholic Church, the first American collection of Catholic music. Although there is scholarly debate as to whether the work, which spans 136 pages, is representative of actual Catholic musical practice in post-revolutionary America, Reverend John Carroll
John Carroll (bishop)
John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
approved its publication—his signature, along with those of three Philadelphian priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, appears in an approbation
Approbation
Approbation is, in Roman Catholic canon law, an act by which a bishop or other legitimate superior grants to an ecclesiastic the actual exercise of his ministry....
preceding the title page, which endorsed "an undertaking so conducive to the Decency and Solemnity of Religious Worship."
From 1787 to 1793, Aitken was the only publisher of sheet music in the United States, publishing at least 20 works, many of which were by Reinagle. Between 1793 and 1806, he only published two works: a collection entitled Scots Musical Museum (1797) and "The Goldsmith’s Rant" (1802). The latter, a song that he composed, consisted of a single page of sheet music. An advertisement touting Aitken's services as a goldsmith and jeweler appeared on the back of the page.
In 1807, Aitken returned to regularly publishing music, opening a shop on North Second Street. He expanded his publications to secular works, and he may have been the earliest American publisher of secular music. He printed some 125 works from 1807 to 1811. Although he ceased publishing music in 1811, he continued working in the printing trade until 1825. After his death in 1831, he was buried in the cemetery of Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
.