Books › A dictionary of music and musicians (A.D. 1450-1889) by eminent writers, English and foreign : with illustrations and woodcuts, 1879 › scan 638
Scan 638
A dictionary of music and musicians (A.D. 1450-1889) by eminent writers, English and foreign : with illustrations and woodcuts, 1879
38 lines. Read by computer on 7 September 2026. Printed page 602. See the scan on archive.org.
1and 'Angelo' (the last on Victor Hugo's play), the two latter have been published with Russian and German words. Two scherzos and a tarantelle for orchestra, a suite for piano and violin, and upwards of fifty songs, are mentioned by Riemann, from whose lexicon the above notice is taken. A very effective Polonaise in C was played by Rubinstein in London in 1886, and has lately been published by Stanley Lucas & Co. [M.]
3CUMMINGS, W. H. Add that he is editor of the publications of the Purcell Society, and that he contributed a life of that master to the 'Great Musician' series. He was appointed conductor of the Sacred Harmonic Society in 1882.
5CURWEN, JOHN, the founder of the 'Tonic Sol-fa' method of teaching singing, was born Nov. 14, 1816, at Heckmondwike, Yorkshire. For an account of the main work of his life, see TONIC SOL-FA and TONIC SOL-FA COLLEGE. He came from an old Cumberland family, and was educated (at University College, London) for the profession of his father, a Nonconformist minister. It was at a conference of Sunday-school teachers held in Hull in 1841 that he was commissioned to make enquiry as to the best and simplest way of teaching to sing by note, and the investigations thus begun led him to make the spreading of music among the people the great object of his life. In 1843 his 'Grammar of Vocal Music' appeared. In 1853 he founded the 'Tonic Sol-fa Association,' and in 1879 the 'Tonic Sol-fa College.' In 1864 he gave up ministerial work, and devoted his whole time 'to the direction of the large organisation' which had grown up under his care. He died at Manchester June 26, 1880. A biography published in 1882 by his son, John Spencer Curwen (Principal of the Tonic Sol-fa College), under the title of 'Memorials of John Curwen,' gives a picture of a very full and useful life, as well as of a signally fine character. Since the article TONIC SOL-FA was written, the method has been more and more widely adopted, and it is now the most generally accepted means, in England and the Colonies, of teaching the elements of music for sight-singing purposes.
7The following is a list of Mr. Curwen's educational works, omitting the large number of smaller instruction-books, etc., prepared for the use of classes of different kinds:—
9'The Standard Course of Lessons and Exercises on the Tonic Sol-fa Method.' [First edition, 1861; issued in a new form, 1872, as the 'New Standard Course,' the most complete class book of the method for general use, includes Harmony, Musical Form, Composition, etc.].
11'The Teacher's Manual of the Art of Teaching in General, and especially as applied to Music,' 1875. [A book designed for the teaching of teachers, with full explanations and discussions of theoretical points, hints on the management of classes, and on the art of teaching generally. This book superseded an earlier book of a similar character—'Singing for Schools and Congregations,' 1843].
13'How to observe Harmony.' First edition 1861; re-issued in a new form 1872. [The text book used for teaching Harmony on the T. S. F. method. The musical illustrations are printed in both notations].
15'A Tonic Sol-fa Primer' (No. 18 of the series of Primers edited by Dr. Stainer, and published by Messrs. Novello). [Written 'to explain the letter T. S. F. notation and method of teaching to those already familiar with the established mode of writing music by means of the Staff.'].
17'Musical Theory,' 1879. [Mr. Curwen's latest work. Musical examples given in the two notations. In 1 main divisions, Common Scale and Time, Minor M and Transition, Musical Form, Expression, and H mony].
19'Musical Statics: an attempt to show the bearing the recent discoveries in Acoustics on Chords, Disco Transitions, Modulations, and Tuning, as used by mode musicians,' 1874.
21'Tonic Sol-fa Reporter.' Published monthly (1 Begun 1851: nearly 900 numbers since issued: ea number gives articles and essays, together with so pages of part music, choruses, part songs, madrigals, e by old and living composers. The list of pieces th published shows about 3000 titles.
23Various Hymn and Tune Books, Collections of P Music, School Songs, etc., including 'Modern Part Son in 96 numbers (by contemporary composers, Sulliv Macfarren, Pinsuti, Smart, Barnby, and others.
25Mr. Curwen also edited in Sol-fa a large num of classical works (oratorios and other compositio by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Rossini, etc.), a works by modern composers (Macfarren, Mende sohn, and others). [See also vol.ii. 428 a.] [R.B.]
27CUSHION-DANCE. Omit the words (i.e. possibly 'kissing-dance'). The false derivation w probably suggested by some too ingenious G man, and rose from the similarity of the wor Kissen and Küssen. A full description of t dance is given in the Harmonicon, vol. ix. 191. [M]
29CUSINS, W. G. Line 21 of article, add th he resigned the Philharmonic appointment 1883.
31CUTLER, W. H. Add that he is last hea of as giving a grand concert at the Opera Hou on July 5, 1824. The date of his death is u known.
33CUZZONI, FRANCESCA, born at Parma, 1 Modena, 2 about 1700, 3 received her first instru tion from Lanzi, a noted master, and became o of the most famous singers of the last century. S made her début at Venice with Faustina, 171 in M. A. Gasparini's 'Lamano,' being describ as 'Virtuosa di Camera' of the Grand Duch of Tuscany; and she appeared again with Fa utina and Bernacchi in the 'Pentimento Ger roso,' in the same year and at the same pla After singing on most of the principal stages Italy she came to England. On her first arriv here she married Sandoni, a harpsichord-mast and composer of some eminence. 1 Her first a pearance in London was on Jan. 12, 1722, Teofane in Handel's 'Otho.' Her singing her first air, a slow one, 'Falsa immagine,' fix her reputation. A story is told about this so which illustrates her character as well as that Handel. At rehearsal she took a dislike to t air, and refused to sing it; whereupon Han seized her by the waist, and swore he would thro her out of the window if she persisted. S gave way, and in that very song achieved one her greatest triumphs. Success followed her 'Coriolano,' in 'Flavio,' and in 'Farnace'; a she became a popular favourite.
35In the following year she sang in 'Vesp siano' and 'Giulio Cesare.' Meanwhile Cuzzoni's popularity had diminished that of Dur tanti, who left England, and had eclipsed that poor Anastasia Robinson, who soon after retire
371 Burney. 2 Hawkins. 3 Fétis.
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