1750-1800
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.