MUSIC DEALERS, ETC.
To supply the needs of his pupils it is necessary for a music teacher
either to carry a line of musical wares himself or to satisfy his wants
from a merchant dealing in such things. For some time it is quite
likely that each teacher imported his own musical merchandise, although
it has already been noted that, at an early date, Benj. Franklin had
some music on sale.[130] As in every business there is some one ready
to grasp an opportunity, so in the music business a man stepped forward
to relieve the teachers of buying and selling. This man was Michael
Hillegas, who in 1759 opened, what may be called, the first real music
store in Philadelphia. A glance at the following advertisement will not
belie this claim.
“To be sold by Michall Hillegas, at his House in Second street,
opposite Samuel Morris, Esq., an extraordinary good and neat
Harpsichord with four stops; a good Violin-cello, an Assortment of
English and Italian Violins, as well common ones, as double lined, of
which some extraordinary; a parcel of good German Flutes, imported
here from Italy. Also imported in the last ships from London, a large
Assortment of Musick, of the best Masters, viz.: Solo’s, Overtures,
Concerto’s, Sonata’s, and Duets, for Violins, German Flutes, Hautboys,
French Horns, Violoncello’s, and Guitars, Voluntaries, Lessons for
Organs and Harpischords, ruled paper of various Sorts for Musick, and
Musick Books, Tutors or Books of Instructions to learn to play on the
Violin, German Flute, Hautboy, or Common Flute, without a Master,
Song Books, Cantatas, Songs on Sheets, and a Choice Parcel of Violin
Strings, etc.”[131]
From this advertisement may be deduced many things. In the first
place, such an inventory of stock would not be sneered at by a music
dealer of the present day; we may be sure then that the people were
musical and that there was a demand for the things advertised. We
should suppose that violins and German flutes were the most popular
instruments and were in great demand; while there was certainly more
than one player--perhaps many--of the above, common flute, French horn,
’cello, and guitar; and of course there were organists and harpsichord
players.
Thus we are certain, that, in a few years that the people must have
progressed rapidly in music, and probably now it was considered a
necessary part of every young lady’s and young gentleman’s education.
Music paper, too, is advertised by Hillegas. This may have been used in
copying compositions of other writers as we know Hopkinson did,[132]
or, perhaps, there were composers at that time of whom there is no
record. The song-books, cantatas, and songs imported would be those in
favor in London, as musical taste at this period in Philadelphia was a
reflection of English taste.
The name of Michael Hillegas will live as long as the United States
hold together, as he was an important figure in the early history of
our country.
Michael Hillegas[133] was born April 22, [O. S.]----in Philadelphia
of German parents. The tradition runs in the Hillegas family that
their ancestors were French. They had a coat of arms containing three
musical staves. However that may be Michael’s parents came from Baden
and settled in Philadelphia, where Michael Sr. was naturalized April
11, 1749. He was a merchant, and was interested in real estate and
prospered exceedingly. At his death Oct. 11, 1749, his property was
valued at £40,000 of which his son Michael had two shares.
Michael Jr. now carried on the business of his father. He was popular,
devoted to music and a skilful player on the flute and violin, and a
composer of “An Easy Method for the Flute.”[134] As early as 1753, he
advertises a church or house organ.[135]
Politically he was important, held various offices in Philadelphia,
and upon the adoption of the constitution became treasurer--the first
treasurer of the United States--an office which he held throughout the
war.[136]
Such in brief was the man who kept the first store of musical
merchandize. His influence in musical matters must have been felt,
although it cannot be proven. That he had good musical taste or that
the public did is seen from the list of standard works which he
advertised in 1764[137] including those of Tartini, Hass, Noseri,
Alberti, Vincent, Carter, Miller, Balicourt, Tessorini, Reed, Stanley,
Viaci, Cervetto, Davis, Quants, Martini, Weideman, Hellendaal, Pepush,
Triemer, Wodizka, Corelli, Depuis, Avison, Humphreys, Alcock, Festnig,
Händel, Vivaldi, Boyce, Ruge, Price, Burney, Fisher, Ferigo, Flackston,
Bates, Retzel, Benegger, Bezozsi, Albinoni, Graun, Stamitz, Fritz,
Barbella, Richter, Kleinecht, Lampugnini, Pasquali, M’Gibbon, Dottel,
Gerard, Stechwey, Battino, Campioni, Claget, Agzell, Figlio, Diragini,
Lanzetti, Kunzen, Scarlatti, Smith [Schmidt?], Barbandt, Berg. This is
a list of names of composers which, at that time were popular and some
of which hold an important place in the musical world of to-day.
Although Michael Hillegas, probably for some time, had almost a
monopoly of the selling of musical merchandize, it was not long
before another firm usurped the position which Hillegas had held in
the musical world, and apparently crowded him out of business, as
his advertisements, after a short time, are few and gradually cease
altogether. The music-house par excellence which now came to the front
was that of the English book-sellers, Rivington & Brown who carried a
remarkably large stock of musical merchandize.[138] However we are only
concerned with those storekeepers of German descent so we will have to
pass by this large and prosperous establishment.
Soon after this Theodore Memminger, a liquor dealer, advertises:
“A Fine Parcel of Violins, at a very low Price. They are all made by
the best Masters in High Germany. He has likewise the best Sort of
Fiddle Strings.”[139]
In 1768 he seems to have increased his music business, as the following
notice shows:
“A Variety of violins at different prices; the best kind of fresh
fiddle strings: guitar and spinnett brass and steel wire: a fine pair
of very good ivory German flutes. He spins all sorts of bass strings
with silver wire.”[140]
Most of this business seems to have been in the hands of the English
for with the exception of one more German Conrad Batis, who advertises
among other things “a quantity of violins and violin strings,”[141] no
other German music dealer has been discovered.
There is, however, one more event of importance to chronicle, before
leaving the music dealers. It has been already stated that harpsichords
and spinets were made in Philadelphia at an early period. It remained
for John Behrent, a German, to add to the renown of Philadelphia in the
realm of music. In 1775 he advertised:
“John Behrent, Joiner and Instrument Maker living in Third street
continued in Campington, directly opposite Coate’s Burying-ground,
Has just finished for sale, an extraordinary fine instrument, by the
name of Piano Forte, of Mahogany, in the manner of an harpischord,
with hammers, and several changes: He intends to dispose of it on very
reasonable terms: and being a master of such sort of work, and a new
beginner in this country he requests all lovers of music to favour him
with their custom, and they shall not only be honestly served, but
their favours gratefully acknowledged, by their humble servant, John
Behrent.”[142]
Evidently the War of the Revolution interrupted any further progress in
musical development, as nothing more of importance is found during this
period.
FOOTNOTES:
[130] See above, p. 29.
[131] _Pa. Gaz._, Dec. 13, 1759.
[132] See below, p. 48.
[133] Oldest reliable spelling is Hilde-gras.
[134] Advertised in _Pa. Gaz._, June 19, 1776.
[135] _Pa. Gaz._, Aug. 9, 1753.
[136] Material for this sketch taken from “_Michael Hillegas and His
Descendants_” by Emma St. Clair Whitney; also, “_A Memoir of the First
Treasurer of the U. S._,” by M. R. Minnich.
[137] _Pa. Gaz._, Jan. 5, 1764.
[138] Cf. _Pa. Gaz._, Feb. 4, 1762, also _Pa. Jour._, Dec. 15, 1763.
[139] _Pa. Gaz._, Nov. 10, 1763.
[140] _Pa. Jour._, Nov. 17, 1768.
[141] _Pa. Gaz._, Feb. 17, 1773.
[142] _Pa. Pack._, Mar. 13, 1775.