John Massey's only known collection is Sacred Music. The book is not dated: the catalogue of the British Library dates it to [1810?], and the Hymn Tune Index follows this dating. The title page of the book describes the composer as 'teacher of psalmody', and the imprint reads: 'MANCHESTER. Publish'd & Sold by the AUTHOR Mayes St, by T. BEALE St Mary's Gate & all other Music Sellers in Town or Country'.
Description of contents
The title page describes the collection as 'TWENTY SIX PSALM TUNES IN VARIOUS METRES & THREE ANTHEMS', but the music consists of 27 strophic hymn or metrical psalm tunes followed by 3 anthems, amounting to 51 pages of music. An index, which lists all 30 items, is printed on p52.
The music is laid out in full score with the soprano air next to the bass. The treble clef is used for soprano, alto, and tenor parts, with both the alto and tenor parts being notated an octave above sounding pitch. The vocal bass part is figured (the title page refers to 'a Figured Bass for the Organ or Piano Forte'), and in the anthems independent keyboard accompaniment parts is given during some of the verse sections: these are marked 'Organ', or in one case 'Inst'.