1813 Häffliger, Swiss folk songs in Lucerne dialect, music, rare, book

Häffliger, Jost Bernhard Barnabas, 1759-1837

Schweizerische volkslieder nach der luzernerischen mundart

Luzern, Meyer, 1813.

Small 8vo. Engraved title, [2], (xii), pp. 223. Songs with music (melodies unaccompanied): xviii p. at end. "Anmerkungen und worterklärungen": p. [211]-233 . Fine calf backed marbled boards with gilt label to spine. - Minimal foxing, engraved title a little stained, binding rubbed.

The last 10 sheets of songs with sheet music. Swiss dialect and German.

Barth 28625; HBLS IV/43, Nr. 8; Goed. VI/489, 12.

First edition. In addition to J.R. Wyss’ work, this is the first collection of Swiss folk songs published. Häffliger, pastor and dean in Hochdorf, was a member and secretary of the Helvetic Society from 1810-1819, as well as the founder and first president of the Swiss Music Society in 1808, the new founder and revitalizer of folk singing, and the poet of folk songs.

Later editions carried a portrait of Haeffliger (online example held by the ETH Zurich does not and matches our collation).