Music and Some Highly Musical People Part 32

=Part Second.=

1. THEMA WITH VARIATIONS.--Violin and Piano _Rode_ DAVID T. OSWELL.

2. DUET.--"Take now this Ring" _La Sonnambula_ MRS. WILSON AND JAMES M. SCOTTRON.

3. QUARTET.--"Soldier's Farewell" _Kinkel_ MESSRS. SMITH, HILL, RUFFIN, AND HENRY.

4. SONG.--"Waiting," with Violin Obligato _Millard_ MISS P.E. ALLEN, MRS. D. WILSON, AND DAVID T. OSWELL.

5. MARCH.--Vocal _Becker_ MESSRS. SMITH, PINKNEY, RUFFIN, AND HENRY.

6. QUARTET.--"Man the Life-Boat" (by request).

7. CHORUS.--"Angel of Peace" _Keller_ WITH ORGAN AND PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT.]

This concert gave delight to a large audience, and was very much praised by the public journals.

I close the list of Boston musical people by presenting the following programme of a hastily-arranged concert given by a number of artists on the evening of April 15, 1874. It is given simply as a specimen of the numbers often performed at concerts by those whose names appear, and by others mentioned heretofore, with but little rehearsal.

Although the music is of a fine order, it is by no means as difficult as that frequently rendered by these persons at other concerts, the programmes of which I have not now at hand.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

PROGRAMME.

=Part First.=

1. QUARTET.--"Alpine Echoes."

MISS BROWN, MISS F. WAs.h.i.+NGTON, MR. JANEY, MR. FISHER.

2. PIANO SOLO.--"Fantasia Impromptu" _Chopin_ MR. S. JAMIESON.

3. SOLO.--"La Primavera" _Torry_ MISS BROWN.

4. DUET.--"Vien Mio Edgardo" _Millard_ MISS F. WAs.h.i.+NGTON, MR. JANEY.

5. ARIA.--"Infelice" _"Ernani"_ MR. FISHER.

6. DUET.--"While thus around" _"La Favorita"_ MISS BROWN, MR. JANEY.

7. SOLO with Cello Obligato.--"Peacefully Slumber" _Randegger_ MISS F. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

8. SONG.--"Didst Thou but know" _Balfe_ MR. JANEY.

=Part Second.=

1. QUARTET.--"Sweet and Low" _Barnby_ MISS BROWN, MISS WAs.h.i.+NGTON, MR. JANEY, MR. FISHER.

2. PIANO SOLO.--"Le Courrier" _Ritter_ MR. S. JAMIESON.

3. SONG.--"Queen of the Night" _Thomas_ MISS BROWN.

4. SONG.--"To the Storm Wind" _Evers_ MR. FISHER.

5. DUET.--"Land of the Swallows" _Ma.s.sini_ MISS BROWN, MISS WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

6. SOLO.--For Violin.

MR. F.E. LEWIS.

7. SONG.

MISS F. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

8. SONG.--"Love's Delight" _Abt_ MR. B.J. JANEY.

9. DUET.--"I Pescatori" _Gabusi_ MISS BROWN, MR. FISHER.

10. QUARTET.--"What Phrase Sad and Soft" _Bishop_ MISS BROWN, MISS WAs.h.i.+NGTON, MR. JANEY, MR. FISHER.]

_Mr. David T. Oswald_, residing at Worcester, Ma.s.s., is an artistic violinist, performing in a finished style the most cla.s.sical and difficult music for the violin. He has, besides, become deservedly popular as an organizer of musical entertainments, and as a promoter of a regard for good music by the people. He is quite well known in St. John, N.B., Portland, Me., and in Boston, in which places he has frequently appeared at public concerts; and has been often complimented by the press.

_James Caseras_, who was for a long time the organist of a Catholic church in Springfield, Ma.s.s., deserves, on account of his great skill as a performer on the organ and piano-forte, particular mention here.

He came to this country some years ago from England, where he had attracted much notice for his fine musical qualities. In Scotland he had frequently played before the n.o.bility. A few years ago, shortly after his arrival in this country, he was tendered a reception by some of the first musicians of Boston. This occurred at Mercantile Hall.

Here he rendered with most remarkable skill, on the piano-forte, some of the more difficult music of the great masters, receiving the warmest praises of the best judges of art.

_Mr. T.M. Fisher_ of Portland, Me., is noticeable as a fairly good baritone-singer. He has appeared occasionally at concerts in his own city and in Boston, and has been favorably mentioned by the press.

In another place the violin has been recommended as a proper instrument for study and practice by ladies. Among the latter who have given attention to it, I am pleased to mention _Madam Adaline Talbot_ of Portland, Me. She has not yet become a great player, but now shows sufficient proficiency to warrant the belief, that, if she continues her studies of this delightful instrument, she may in time become an excellent performer.

The city of New York has some very excellent musicians.

_John T. Dougla.s.s_ is very justly ranked with the best musicians of this country. His fame is by no means confined to New-York City or State, as he has travelled quite extensively, and has been engaged in many musical enterprises. He is a skilful, artistic performer on several instruments, chief of which are the violin and guitar. As a performer on the last-mentioned instrument he has few equals, while for it he has arranged and composed a great deal of music. He has also composed many fine pieces for orchestras and for the piano. When only about twenty years of age, he composed a grand overture called "The Pilgrim." He enjoys an enviable reputation in New York as a teacher of music, and is very remarkable for the enthusiastic, devoted attention he gives to the study of the art. As Mr. Dougla.s.s is but thirty years old,--having been born in New York in 1847,--it will be seen that he has made most wonderful progress, and that he has before him a very brilliant future.

_Mr. David S. Scudder_ has fine natural talents, and has made very commendable progress in music. He is a fair performer on the flute, piano, and double-ba.s.s; playing quite well Mendelssohn's music, of which he is very fond. He deserves special mention for his successful endeavors to promote a love of good music among his acquaintances.

_Mr. Walter F. Craig_, although quite young, has already attracted much attention, and received the praises of the critics, as a performer on the violin. He is a close student, very ambitious and enthusiastic, and without doubt will ere long be ranked with the first violinists of the day. He has lately composed a march.

_William Appo_ is a veteran musician, having had a long and varied experience, beginning his career when there were but very few persons of his race in this country that could compare with him in scientific acquaintance with music. He was for a long time one of the princ.i.p.al performers in the once famous "Frank Johnson's Band" of Philadelphia.

He taught music for several years in New York. Quite advanced in years that have been filled with incidents well worth recording for the instruction of those who follow him, he now leads a retired life on his farm in New-York State.

These pioneer musicians of ours should ever be gratefully remembered.

But few, if any, of the large number of musical students of these better times, can realize the vast difficulties that on every hand met the colored musician at the time when Mr. Appo and some others elsewhere mentioned began their ambitious, toilsome careers.

First in loving art with all their might, They steadily strove in the unequal fight, Till Prejudice, convinced at last, Retired, ashamed of the cruel past.

Now _all_ who prize fair Music's ways Pursue their journey with far brighter days.

The laurel crown, then, give the _pioneer_, Whom ever in our memories hold we dear.