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Scan 382
A dictionary of music and musicians, 1926
14 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 334. See the scan on archive.org.
1an octavo publication, consisting of operas and pianoforte pieces, named The Pianoforte Magazine, which ultimately extended to about thirty volumes. This was issued at half-a-crown a part; and by an advertisement in the Times of the year quoted we find purchasers were entitled, after a number of payments, to a pianoforte. This is perhaps the earliest record of a kind of purchase now in some evidence. About 1798 the firm is styled 'Harrison, Cluse & Co.', and it is at 78 Fleet Street. In 1802 it is at 108 Newgate Street, and probably did not exist much later than that date. Their publications are always exceedingly well engraved, and comprise many useful reprints of earlier standard works. They commenced the issue of what promised to be a very excellent dictionary of music, but it did not reach beyond a few numbers. It was printed in a rather unwieldy oblong folio. F. K.
3HARRISON, SAMUEL, born at Belper, Derbyshire, Sept. 8, 1760. He received his musical education from Burton, a well-known bass chorus singer, probably the same whose nervous system was so powerfully affected by the music on the first day of the Commemoration of Handel, in 1784, as to occasion his death in the course of a few hours. On the establishment of the Concert of Ancient Music in 1776, Harrison appeared as a solo soprano singer, and continued so for two years afterwards. But in 1778, being engaged to sing at Gloucester, his voice suddenly failed him. After an interval of six years, during which he most assiduously cultivated his voice and style, George III. heard him sing at one of Queen Charlotte's musical parties, and caused him to be engaged for the Commemoration of Handel in 1784, at which he sang 'Rend' il sereno al ciglio' from 'Sosarme,' and the opening recitative and air in 'Messiah.' He was next engaged as principal tenor at the Concert of Ancient Music, and from that time took his place at the head of his profession as a concert singer. Harrison's voice had a compass of two octaves (A to a'). It was remarkably sweet, pure and even in tone, but deficient in power. His taste and judgment were of a high order, and in the cantabile style he had no equal. Compelled by the exigencies of his engagements to sing songs which demanded greater physical power than he possessed, he always sang them reluctantly. On Dec. 6, 1790, Harrison married Miss Cantelo, for some years principal second soprano at all the best concerts, etc. In 1791 he and Knyvett established the Vocal Concerts, which were carried on to the end of 1794, and revived in 1801. Harrison's last appearance in public was at his benefit concert, May 8, 1812, when he sang Pepusch's 'Alexis,' and Handel's 'Gentle airs.' On June 25 following, a sudden inflammation carried him off. He was buried in the graveyard of the old church of St. Pancras. The inscription on his tombstone includes an extract from an elegiac ode on Harrison, written by the Rev. Thomas Beaumont, and set to music by William Horsley, but the lines are so inaccurately given as completely to mar the allusion to the song, 'Gentle airs.' Mrs. Harrison survived her husband nineteen years.
5W. H. H.
7HARRISON, WILLIAM, born in Marylebone parish, June 15, 1813. Being gifted with a tenor voice of remarkable purity and sweetness, he appeared in public as an amateur concert singer early in 1836. He then entered as a pupil at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1837 appeared as a professional singer at the concerts of the Academy, and subsequently at the Sacred Harmonic Society. On Thursday, May 2, 1839, he made his first appearance on the stage at Covent Garden, in Rooke's opera, 'Henrique.' A few years later he was engaged at Drury Lane, where he sustained the principal tenor parts in Balfe's 'Bohemian Girl,' Wallace's 'Maritana,' and Benedict's 'Brides of Venice,' and 'Crusaders,' on their first production. In 1851 he performed at the Haymarket Theatre, in Mendelssohn's 'Son and Stranger,' and other operas. In 1856, in conjunction with Miss Louisa Pyne, he established an English Opera Company, and for several years gave performances at the Lyceum, Drury Lane, and Covent Garden Theatres. During their management the following new operas were produced:—Balfe's 'Rose of Castille' (1857), 'Satanella' (1858), 'Bianca, the Bravo's Bride' (1860), 'Puritan's Daughter' (1861), and 'Armourer of Nantes' (1863); Wallace's 'Lurline' (1860), and 'Love's Triumph' (1862); Benedict's 'Lily of Killarney,' 1862; Mellon's 'Victorine' (1859); and Howard Glover's 'Ruy Blas' (1861). In the winter of 1864 Harrison opened Her Majesty's Theatre for the performance of English operas. He translated Massé's operetta, 'Les Noces de Jeanette,' and produced it at Covent Garden Theatre in Nov. 1860, under the title of 'Georgette's Wedding.' Harrison, in addition to his vocal qualifications, was an excellent actor. He died at his residence in Kentish Town, Nov. 9, 1868.
9W. H. H.
11HART, ANDRO, an early Edinburgh printer of note, who printed with musical notation some editions of the Scottish Psalter as The CL. Psalmes of David in Prose and Meeter … Edinburgh, printed by Andro Hart, 1611, 8vo. One by his 'heires' is dated 1635. F. K.
13HART & SONS, an eminent firm of violin makers and experts, was founded at 28 Wardour Street, London (the present premises of the firm, though the name of the street has been altered), by JOHN HART about 1825. This John Hart, grandfather of the present (1905) head of the firm was an expert not only in all matters connected with the violin, but with the shot-gun also. He opened business with a collection of guns and violins, and for a considerable time it was doubtful which of these two would prove the fitter, and survive. In the end violins
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