Books › Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937 › scan 142
Scan 142
Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937
16 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 120. See the scan on archive.org.
1Boston. He was Vice-President of that Society three years, President from 1843-49 and Trustee from 1831 till his death. While President, he acted as conductor for a while, leading the chorus and sometimes singing himself. He was chairman of the Music Committee of Trinity Church and sang in its choir until he died.
3He was a true representative of American hospitality, entertaining and giving many struggling musicians the means for an education. His pianofortes and warerooms were freely opened for rehearsals and concerts of all concert-giving societies, amateur clubs and individuals. He was also one of the heaviest contributors to the Boston Music Hall enterprise.
5It was through the united efforts of Mr. Chickering and Lowell Mason, then a professor in the Boston Academy of Music, that music was introduced into the Boston public schools, the former contributing the pianoforte and the latter giving his services gratis for a year (1837) in the Hawes School in South Boston for the experiment.
7"It is small wonder, then, that this citizen who took his part also as juryman, justice of the peace, vestryman and President of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association was once described by a friend as 'like his pianofortes, Upright, Grand and Square.'"
9The Chickering Halls
11In Boston there have been four Chickering Halls, the last being erected on [address hidden] near [address hidden] and opened February 8, 1901, with a concert by Mme. Antoinette Szumowska, M. Pol Plançon and the Kneisel Quartet. These Halls have been used for many recitals.
13Chickering Hall in New York, however, is the one which is noted because it was such an important factor in the musical life of that city.18 It was dedicated November 15, 1875, when it was opened for the first appearance of Hans von Bülow in America, with an orchestra under the direction of Dr. Leopold Damrosch and a Beethoven program. A remarkable series of concerts by von Bülow and chamber music soirées with Dr. Damrosch, George Matzka and Frederick Bergner followed. No pianist who has come to America since has ever given so many concerts in so short a period
1518 For source of information in the following paragraphs see The Commemoration of the Founding of the House of Chickering & Sons, [address hidden], N. Y. pp. 79-90.
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