ANNALS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

Annals of Music in America

A CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF SIGNIFICANT
MUSICAL EVENTS, FROM 1640 TO THE PRESENT
DAY, WITH COMMENTS ON THE VARIOUS
PERIODS INTO WHICH THE WORK IS DIVIDED

BY

HENRY C. LAHEE

BOSTON
MARSHALL JONES COMPANY
MDCCCCXXII

COPYRIGHT, 1922
BY MARSHALL JONES COMPANY
PRINTED OCTOBER, 1922

THE PLIMPTON PRESS ·   NORWOOD ·   MASSACHUSETTS

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

PREFACE

The object of this book is to give as complete a record as possible of the beginning and progress of music in the United States of America.

The first things recorded are regarded as important. Hence such items as the printing of the first book on music, the importation of the first pipe organs, the establishment of the early musical societies are recorded, while similar events of a more recent date are of no special importance.

The first performance of significant works—operas, oratorios, symphonies and other choral and orchestral works—are chronicled as carefully as possible; also the first appearance in America of noted musicians.

It has been practically impossible to find accurate data about the works of the older composers,—Haydn, Mozart and others, for while there are many programs in which their names are mentioned the work played is seldom specified (see Mr. O. G. Sonneck's "Early Concert-Life in America"), and one must wait until the period arrives in which the work performed is specified. Probably some of the works mentioned had earlier performances by small organizations but the performances recorded here are in all probability the first adequate ones.

Among the items recorded are some which cannot be regarded as marking the musical progress of the country, and yet are items of musical interest;—the first performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and of "America" do not mark any progress and yet are historic events.

The establishment of Gilmore's Band and Sousa's Band are items of interest rather than of educational progress.

In compiling this work such newspapers as are available have been consulted, also the programs of the leading choral and orchestral societies. Valuable help has been gained from the excellent works of Mr. Oscar G. Sonneck, Mr. E. H. Krehbiel, Mr. Philip Goepp, Mr. George P. Upton, Allston Brown and other writers on the American stage, and above all from the admirable notes of Mr. Philip Hale in the programs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It would be ungracious to close this preface without acknowledging with gratitude the valuable assistance of Miss Barbara Duncan of the Boston Public Library.

HENRY C. LAHEE

CONTENTS

ANNALS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

Annals of Music in America

CHAPTER I

1640-1750

The Annals of Music in America during the first hundred years contain very little that would seem to be of any importance to the musicians of today. Nevertheless it is as interesting to note the beginnings of music in this newly settled country as to watch the appearance of the baby's first tooth.

The first settlement at Plymouth took place in 1620, and we find that in 1640 the colonists were already busy with the printing press in Cambridge, Mass., and the second book which came from the press was a reprint of an English Psalm book, printed under the title of the Bay Psalm Book. This was not an original work, but its production shows that music was already a living problem, and was even then part of the life of the colonists.

Practically nothing more of note happened until the importation of the first pipe organ, in 1700. This was quickly followed by other similar instruments in different parts of the country, and even by the building of organs by Americans, the first being by