Читать книгу Annals of Music in America: A Chronological Record of Significant Musical Events - Henry Charles Lahee - Страница 9

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The first item of especial interest in this period is the performance of the "Beggar's Opera" at the "Theatre in Nassau Street," New York. This theatre was a rather tumbledown affair and was not built for the purpose. It had a platform and rough benches. The chandelier was a barrel hoop through which several nails were driven, and on these nails were impaled candles, which provided all the light, and from which the tallow was likely to drip on the heads of such of the audience as had the best seats.

But three years later (in 1753) Lewis Hallam, who had been giving performances with his company in the more southern States, got permission to build a theatre on the site of this old place, and the house was opened in September with a play, "The Conscious Lovers," followed by a ballad farce, "Damon and Phillida."

In 1759 we find the first avowedly musical organization in America, "The Orpheus Club," was in existence in Philadelphia, and concerts were becoming more frequent. We also find a St. Cecilia Society founded in Charleston, S. C., an organization which lasted for a hundred and fifty years.

Other societies followed at short intervals and in widely scattered localities; the "Handel Society" of Dartmouth College, about 1780, the "Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society," 1786, and "The Musical Society" of New York City, all tend to show that social centres were developing, and the people were finding expression in music.

An indication of what had been growing by degrees is found in the reports of concerts. Mention of instruments such as violins, French horns, oboes, trombones, etc., was made here and there, and especially in connection with the Moravian settlements in Bethlehem, Pa., where was established the first music school.

We find the first mention of an orchestra made in connection with a performance of "The Beggar's Opera" at Upper Marlboro, Md., in 1752, and a few years later (1788) a great concert was given in Philadelphia with an orchestra of fifty and a chorus of two hundred performers.

There is also a record of a concert given in Charleston, S. C., in 1796, when an orchestra of thirty instruments was employed in a performance of Gluck's overture to "Iphegénie en Aulide," and Haydn's "Stabat Mater."

It is quite possible that orchestras were used more or less in other concerts. Mr. Sonneck shows, in his "Early Concert-Life in America," many programs in which orchestral works are mentioned. And it is well to state here that it is almost impossible to locate the first performance in America of many of the works of the older composers, including Haydn and Mozart, because no opus number is mentioned, nor anything to indicate the identity of the work. Pleyel, Gluck and Clementi were much in vogue.

The American composer was beginning to be heard from during this period. Francis Hopkinson, who is generally regarded as the first American composer, wrote, in 1759, a song with the title "My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free." Some time later, in 1788, a small volume of songs was published under the title "Seven Songs," by the same composer.

Francis Hopkinson was a well-educated man, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the Convention of 1787 which formulated the Constitution of the United States, first Judge of the Admiralty Court in Pennsylvania, and author of many pamphlets and poems.

A man of entirely different calibre was William Billings, who was considered the first composer in New England. His compositions were chiefly "fuguing tunes," and he published several psalm books.

Billings was a tanner by trade, but a great musical enthusiast and organizer. The Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society, which is the oldest musical society still in existence, was organized by Billings. Lack of education was no bar to his activities, and he accomplished much with very limited means.

It is said that Billings introduced the bass viol into the services of the Church, and thus began to break down the ancient Puritanical prejudices against musical instruments. He was also the first to use the pitch-pipe in order to ensure some degree of certainty in "striking up the tune" in church.

Again, we find the first American ballad operas during this period. Benjamin Carr, an Englishman who had been in America a couple of years, produced in 1796 a ballad opera, "The Archers of Switzerland," and, shortly afterwards, in the same year, with Pellesier (a Frenchman of recent arrival) as librettist, another ballad opera, "Edwin and Angelina," was staged in New York City. Though these works could hardly be called distinctively American, they were the first composed and produced in this country.

During the last decade of the 18th century some French actors and singers invaded the country and made New Orleans their headquarters. From that time on, for many years, New Orleans was prominent in the production of French operas and plays.

Theatres were built in several of the larger cities, and noted singers began to appear from abroad. The first of these appears to have been Miss Broadhurst, who appeared in Philadelphia in 1793, at the Chestnut Street Theatre. She was closely followed by Mrs. Oldmixon.

1750. April 30. "The Mock Doctor," and Dec. 3, "The Beggar's Opera," given at the "Theatre in Nassau St.," New York City. The first performances of ballad opera on record in that city.

1750. A Collegium Musicum was established about this time at Bethlehem, Pa.

1752. Sept. 14. First record of an orchestra being employed, at a performance of "The Beggar's Opera" at Upper Marlborough, Md.

1753. Sept. 13. The first theatre (built for the purpose) in New York City, erected in August and opened in September with "The Conscious Lovers" followed by the ballad farce, "Damon and Phillida," given by Lewis Hallam's company.

1754. First concert hall in Boston opened by Gilbert Deblois, at the corner of Hanover and Courts Sts.

1756. Mar. 16. New organ built by Gilbert Ash, dedicated at the City Hall, New York City, when an organ-concerto by G. A. Hasse was played.

In the same year a new organ was placed in King's Chapel, Boston, replacing the Brattle organ.

1756. The first mention of French horns in America made by Benjamin Franklin, writing of the fine music in the church at Bethlehem, Pa., where flutes, oboes, French horns, and trumpets were accompanied by the organ.

1757. Dr. Arne's "Masque of Alfred" given in Philadelphia by the students of the College of Philadelphia.

1759. The first known American song, "My Days Have Been so Wondrous Free," composed by Francis Hopkinson.

1759. The first avowedly musical organization in America, "The Orpheus Club," existed in Philadelphia, and was probably founded about this time.

1761. Feb. 3. Concert given by Mr. Dipper, organist of King's Chapel, Boston, in which two French horns were used. First mention of this instrument in New England.

1761. "Urania, or a Choice Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, and Hymns, from the most approved Authors," published in Philadelphia, by James Lyon, A.B.

1762. A St. Cecilia Society (which lasted for one hundred and fifty years) formed in Charleston, S. C.

1765. A concert of "Musical Glasses" given in Philadelphia.

1765. June 3. The New York Mercury announced a series of summer concerts (open air) to be given at Ranelagh Gardens. These concerts were continued for four years.

1769. First American spinet made by John Harris, in Boston.

1770. Jan. 9. Handel's "Messiah" performed in part (sixteen numbers) at Trinity Church, New York City.

1770. Milton's "Masque of Comus" given by the Hallam Company, in Philadelphia.

1770. "The New England Psalm Singer" published in Boston, by William Billings.

1770, The pipe organ said to have been used for the first time in a Congregational church in America (Philadelphia).

1774. John Behrent, of Philadelphia, said to have made the first American piano.

1780. (c) The Handel Society of Dartmouth College organized at Hanover, N. H.

1784. A "Harmonic Society" formed about this time at Fredericksburg, Va.

1786. Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society formed by William Billings, with Squire Elijah Dunbar of Canton as President; probably oldest singing society now in existence in America.

1786. Nov. 9. A society formed in New York City, at Mr. Hulett's rooms, for promoting vocal music.

1787. "Uranian Society" formed in Philadelphia for the improvement of church music. Continued till 1800.

1787. First pipe organ west of the Alleghanies set up in Cookstown (now Fayette City), Pa. Built by Joseph Downer, who was born in Brookline, Mass., 1767 (Jan. 28) and trekked to Pennsylvania with his family. The organ is preserved at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh.

1788. May 4. A great concert given with an orchestra of fifty and a chorus of two hundred, in the Reformed German Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

1788. "The Musical Society" of New York City established.

1788. Publication of a book entitled "Seven Songs" by F. Hopkinson (1737–1791), the first publication in America of songs by a native composer.

1789. May. 15. Concert given at Salem, Mass., by Gottlieb Graupner in which first mention is made of the use of the oboe (hautbois) in New England.

1790. June 4. A company of French comedians gave a performance, in French, of the opera "The Mistress and Maid" at Baltimore, Md.

1790. Oct. 7. First performance in America of Audinet-Gossec's "Le Tonnelier" given at the City Tavern, New York City.

1790–1800. During this period the following musical works were known and performed in New Orleans, Charleston, S. C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City: Rousseau's "Pygmalion" and "Devin du Village"; Dalayrac's "Nina" and "L'Amant Statue"; Monsigny's "Déserteur"; Grétry's "Zémire et Azor," "La Fausse Magic" and "Richard Coeur de Lion," by a company of French comedians.

1791. A "Cecilia Society" formed in New York City. Lasted but a short time. An "Apollo Society" was also in existence.

1792. Oliver Holden, composer of "Coronation" and other well known hymn tunes, published his "American Harmony," and in 1793, "The Union Harmony."

1792–1872. Lowell Mason. Composer, educator in music. First teacher of singing in the public schools. President of the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston.

1793. "Uranian Society" of New York City, organized for sacred vocal music.

1793. Miss Broadhurst, a noted singer, made her American début in Philadelphia.

1793. Jacob Kimball (1761–1826, born Topsfield, Mass.,) published his "Rural Harmony."

1793. A company of French players reached America from San Domingo, remaining three years. They played in Norfolk, Va., in 1793, Charleston, S. C., 1794, Richmond, Va., 1795, Boston, Jan. 1796, and Philadelphia, Dec. 1796.

1793. A "Cecilia Society" was in existence at this time in Newport, R. I.

1794. Paisiello's opera "The Barber of Seville" (English version) was played in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and elsewhere.

1794. Mrs. Oldmixon, a noted singer, made her first appearance in America at the Chestnut St. Theatre, Philadelphia, in "Robin Hood."

1796. April 18. "The Archers of Switzerland," an opera by B. Carr, produced in New York City. It is claimed by some authorities that this was the first American opera.

1796. July. Gluck's overture to "Iphegénie en Aulide," and Haydn's "Stabat Mater," given in Charleston, S. C., with an orchestra of about thirty instruments. Mrs. Pownall, J. H. Harris and Mr. Bergman, soloists.

1796. Dec. 19. Production in New York City of "Edwin and Angelina," music by Pellesier. Also said to be the first opera of American composition. (Carr was English, Pellesier French.)

1797. Anniversary meeting of the Concord (N. H.) Musical Society.

1797. Jan. 25. First recorded performance in America of Grétry's opera, "Richard Coeur de Lion," given at the Federal St. Theatre, Boston.

1798. Columbia Garden Summer Concerts established in New York. Lasted till 1800.

1798. Concerts are on record as having been given at Albany, N. Y., April 18; New Brunswick, N. J., Dec. 11; Trenton, N. J., Dec. 18; also an interesting group in Salem, Mass., by Gottlieb Graupner.

1798. Jan. 29. Park Theatre opened in New York City with a performance of a musical piece entitled "The Purse—or American Tar." This theatre was, for twenty years, important in local musical history.

1798. April 25. First public performance of "Hail Columbia" by Gilbert Fox in Philadelphia. The words were written by Joseph Hopkinson Smith (1770–1842) and sung to the tune of "The President's March." First sung under the title of "Federal Song" but changed a few days later to "Hail Columbia."

1799. A "Musical Society" existed in Baltimore.

1799. "Euterpean Society" formed in New York City.

1799. "The Vintage," an American opera by Pellesier and Dunlap, produced in New York City.