A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Holyoke, Samuel

HOLYOKE, Samuel. A.M. An American teacher and composer of both vocal and instrumental music, born at Boxford, Mass., 1771. He published 'Harmonia Americana' (printed in type at Boston, 1791)—a collection of hymn-tunes and other pieces, in which the absurd practice of imitations and 'fugues' was done away with, and homophony and common sense introduced. Also 'The Instrumental Assistant' (vol. i. 1806, vol. ii. 1807, Exeter, N.H.) Also 'The Columbian Repository of Sacred Harmony' (Exeter, N. H., 1809), a very voluminous work. Also, with Oliver Holden, 'The Massachusetts Compiler.' He died at Concord, N. H., in the spring of 1816, much regretted and esteemed. No piece of his music is known on this side of the Atlantic.

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