1800-1825
In 1800 we find the first mention of the use of the bassoon. This was in
Bethlehem, Pa., and it seems to complete the list of instruments for the
average orchestra. Notwithstanding the record of the importation of
oboes, many years earlier, and the fact that Graupner, one of the
leading musicians in Boston about this time, was, or had been an
oboeist, some historian has stated that even well into the nineteenth
century there was only one oboe player in the United States, and he
lived in Baltimore. Surely this must be an error.
In December 1800 we find the first annual concert of the Philharmonic
Society in New York City. This society died in a few years, and in 1820
another Philharmonic Society was formed. This society also dwindled,
though it did not die, for in 1840 it was reorganized, and has ever
since taken a leading part in the musical life of New York.
Many musical societies made a beginning. Few lived long. But of those
which lived perhaps the most noted is the Handel and Haydn Society of
Boston, formed in 1815. This society gave what was claimed to be the
first complete performance of Handel's "Messiah," but it is also
claimed that this was done in 1801 in the hall of the University of
Pennsylvania.
The Handel and Haydn Society also gave what was called the first
complete performance of Haydn's "Creation," an honor which is also
ascribed to King's Chapel in 1816, while portions had been performed in
1811 at Bethlehem, Pa. Thus it is difficult to fix definitely the first
performances of many of the large works. In later days, especially in
the case of Wagner's operas, portions were given at concerts long before
complete stage performances were essayed.
Another musical society which is in existence at the present day, and
which undoubtedly has had much influence on the musical life of America,
was the Pierian Sodality of Harvard University, established in 1808 by
the undergraduates.
In Philadelphia we find the establishment of the Musical Fund Society,
which, for a number of years, did much to promote good music in that
city. At its first concert, on April 24, 1821, Beethoven's First
Symphony was played for the first time in America. Mr. Goepp gives us a
full account of this and tells us that the whole symphony was too severe
a task for an audience of that period, so the performance was broken and
diversified by vocal and other solos between the movements.
New England possessed several musical societies in 1821, by which
performances of oratorio were given. The Sacred Music Society was
formed in New York City in 1823 and lasted till 1849. So it may easily
be seen that, as the population increased, musical societies were soon
established.
Theatres, while not strictly part of the musical life of the country,
can hardly be separated from it because they were the home of ballad
operas, and all musical stage representations. They were already in
existence in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia before the beginning of
the nineteenth century, but we find in 1807, the opening of "Le Théâtre
St. Philippe" in New Orleans with Méhul's one-act opera, "Une Folie."
This theatre being burned in 1817, a new one, "Le Théâtre d'Orléans,"
was built and opened in the following year. This theatre was the finest
in the country at that time and was the home of opera for a number of
years. The record of opera in New Orleans is incomplete, but it is well
known that New Orleans was the home of French opera in America long
before it became popular in other parts of the country.
But America was gradually edging up to the time of grand opera. Singers
were arriving from abroad and brought with them their ambitions. We find
that an English version of Rossini's opera, "Il Barbiere," was given at
the Park Theatre, New York City, in 1819, with Miss Leesugg as Rosina,
and in 1823 an English version of Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" was
presented. Again in the early part of 1825, Weber's opera "Der
Freyschütz" was presented, in English, at the Park Theatre, with Miss
Kelly and Mrs. de Luce in the leading parts. Similar performances
followed in other cities, and the country was thus gradually prepared
for the real thing,--grand opera,--in its native language.
While the record of items during the period 1800 to 1825 is not very
long it still shows considerable progress. The people grew up in a
country where there was little musical cultivation, where there were
small communities, and where the struggle for existence had been the
first consideration. They responded warmly to the efforts of the country
singing teacher, the choral society promoter, and later to the producer
of opera, and if history shows many failures, it may be pointed out that
these failures could not have taken place if no effort had been made.
Perhaps efforts in many cases were premature. Also there was much to
learn in the management of masses of people. The virtues of a true
democracy are nowhere more necessary than in a choral society.
1800. Bassoon used in Bethlehem, Pa.
1800. Dec. 23. First Annual Concert of the Philharmonic Society
given at Tontine Hall, Broadway, New York City.
1801. Handel's "Messiah" given in the hall of the University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
1802. "Harmonic Society" founded in Philadelphia.
1803. Benjamin Crehore of Milton, Mass., made the first pianoforte
in New England.
1807. Massachusetts Musical Society formed in Boston for improving
the mode of performing sacred music. Ceased to exist in 1820.
1807. "Le Théâtre St. Philippe" opened in New Orleans with a
one-act opera by Méhul,--"Une Folie."
1808. The Pierian Sodality, half musical, half social club
organized by the undergraduates of Harvard University.
1809. Haydn Society formed in Philadelphia.
1811. John Davis, from San Domingo, opened the "Théâtre d'Orléans"
in New Orleans.
1811. Haydn's "Creation" and "The Seasons" performed in part at
Bethlehem, Pa.
1813-1893. John S. Dwight, editor, critic, member of Brook Farm
community, and founder in 1852 of "Dwight's Journal of Music,"
the first publication of its kind in America.
1814. Sept. 14. The words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" written by
Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort Henry. They
were published next day as a "Broadside" and on the 20th
appeared in the "Baltimore Patriot." The tune of "Anacreon in
Heaven" was adapted by the author.
1815. April 20. Handel and Haydn Society, Boston, organized with
Thomas S. Webb as President. At the first concert the chorus
consisted of about one hundred, of whom ten were women.
Orchestra a dozen instruments, and organ.
1816. First complete performance of Haydn's "Creation" given at
King's Chapel, Boston.
1817. Charles B. Incledon, noted English tenor singer, visited
America.
1818. New Théâtre d'Orléans, the finest in the United States,
opened in New Orleans. The old theatre was burned in 1817. The
new theatre was the home of opera for some years.
1818. Dec. 25. The Handel and Haydn Society of Boston gave what is
called the first complete performance of Handel's "Messiah" in
America. (Philip Goepp states that the "Messiah" was given in
1801, in the hall of the University of Pennsylvania.)
1819. "Haydn Society" formed in Cincinnati, O.
1819. Feb. 16. First complete performance of Haydn's "Creation"
given by the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston. (This was claimed
also in 1816 for a performance at King's Chapel.)
1819. An English version of Rossini's "Barber of Seville" given in
New York City, with Miss Leesugg as _Rosina_, at the Park
Theatre.
1820. Philharmonic Society organized in Bethlehem, Pa. (Originally
the Collegium Musicum of 1750.)
1820. Two musical societies formed in New York City, viz.,--the
Philharmonic, and the Euterpean.
The Philharmonic used to engage prominent artists. It
gradually dwindled but was reorganized in 1840.
The Euterpean gave concerts which were usually followed
by a supper and a ball. It ceased to exist about 1845.
1820. Aug. 30. George F. Root, noted American song-writer. Died
Aug. 6, 1895.
1820. The Philadelphia Musical Fund Society established. Gave its
first concert April 24, 1821, when Beethoven's First Symphony
was played for the first time in America. (Between the movements
vocal and other solos were given by sundry artists.)
1821. New England musical matters on record of this year are: An
oratorio given by the Psallion Society of Providence, R. I.;
A performance of music by the New Hampshire Musical
Society at Hanover, N. H.;
The existence of a Beethoven Society in Portland, Me.
1823. Production in New York City of "Clari, the Maid of the
Mill," ballad opera by Sir Henry Bishop and J. Howard Payne.
This opera contains the song, "Home, Sweet Home." Was presented
in London on May 23.
1823. May 23. Mozart's opera, "The Marriage of Figaro" (Bishop's
English version), presented in New York City at the Park
Theatre.
1823. The pianoforte manufacturing house of Jonas Chickering
established in Boston.
1823-1849. Sacred Music Society, New York City.
1824. St. Cecilia Society formed in Philadelphia.