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Scan 24
Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, 1911
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1There is as yet a marked default in detailed information about the individuals and organizations that probably exerted a formative influence in many places during the early decades of the 19th century. Until work like that done by Sonneck for the 18th century has been undertaken the data will remain fragmentary and disconnected. But, happily, it is possible to give some hint of the striking advance of the mechanical and commercial sides of musical life, especially as evidenced by the founding of businesses that were more than transiently important. Accordingly to these considerable attention is here paid, especially in sec. 3. In sec. 4, also, it is possible to emphasize many of the incoming foreigners who were invaluable in awakening artistic thought and ambition. Yet, at best, the time before the Civil War remains relatively defective in presentation, except as imagination and conjecture fill in its manifest gaps of definite fact.
3CHRONOLOGICAL REGISTER
53. The Early 19th Century, 1800–1840
7Adams, F. W. (Montpelier, Vt., 1787–1859), a violin-maker after about 1805 who made about 140 instruments, marked by much excellence of tone.
9Appleton, Thomas, from about 1810 a noted organ-maker in Boston who learned his trade with W. M. Goodrich, from 1813 was partner of Babcock the piano-maker, and from 1820 was successively associated with Ebenezer Goodrich, Corri and the elder Warren (father of S. P. Warren). Among his many organs was one for the Handel and Haydn Society.
11*Arquier, Joseph (France, 1763–1816, France), a 'cellist and composer of operas who conducted a French opera-troupe in New Orleans in 1800–04.
13*Austin, Mrs., an accomplished English opera-singer who from 1829 did much to make popular certain works of Rossini, Boieldieu and Weber.
15Babcock, Alpheus, an ingenious and successful piano-maker, trained by Crehore, who in 1810 opened a shop in Boston with his brother Lewis Babcock (d. 1817), was for a time associated with Appleton and the Hayts (firm dissolved in 1815, see Brooks, Olden-Time Music, p. 270) and from 1822 with Mackay, who supplied capital. In 1829 he moved to Philadelphia and was associated with Klemm (probably the son of the organ-builder in sec. 2 above). His pianos won prizes repeatedly from 1824. In 1825 he patented a solid metal plate which was the first successful application of the principle later universally adopted. See Spillane, Hist. of the American Pianoforte, pp. 85–7, 120–3, etc.
17Bacon, George (d. 1856, New York), joined Dubois and Chambers, the Boston piano-makers, in 1836. About 1841 the firm became Bacon & Raven, and in 1856 Francis Bacon took his father's place in Raven & Bacon, continuing the business now carried on by the Bacon Piano Company of New York.
19Baker, Benjamin Franklin (Wenham, Mass., 1811–1889, Boston), from 1831 singer, teacher, editor, author and composer, first at Salem and from 1837 in Boston. See art. and Tune-Books.
21Beckel, James Cox (b. Philadelphia, 1811), of German parentage, from 1824 assisted his father as organist and from 1829 for more than fifty years held posts in various Philadelphia churches, composing several cantatas, an organ-method, etc.
23Blake, George E. (Philadelphia, 1775–1871, Philadelphia), the son of an earlier music-dealer, began music-publishing in 1802 and became a leader in musical affairs. He was an original member of the Musical Fund Society in 1820, and from 1824 active at exhibitions of the Franklin Institute. See Tune-Books.
25*Boucher, A., a good 'cellist who came to New York in 1833 with Rivafinoli's opera-troupe and was long prominent. He collaborated with Schlesinger in 1837 and was concerned in the establishment of the Philharmonic Society in 1842.
27Bourne, William (d. 1885, Boston), began making pianos in Dayton, O., in 1837, soon moved to Cincinnati and in 1842 to Boston, where in 1846, after being foreman at Chickerling's, he established the firm now known as the Wm. Bourne & Son Piano Co., his son Charles E. Bourne coming into it in 1863.
29Bradbury, William Batchelder (York, Me., 1816–1868, Montclair, N. J.), from 1834 organist in Boston and soon a teacher under Mason, and from 1840 teacher, editor, composer and also piano-maker in New York. See art. and Tune-Books.
31Brainard, Silas (Lempster, N. H., 1814–1871, Cleveland), set up a music-store in Cleveland in 1836 and in 1845 began publishing, thus establishing the firm later known as S. Brainard's Sons (Charles S. and Henry M.)
33*Bristow, William Richard (England, 1803–1867, New York), came to New York about 1824 and was long a leading teacher and conductor. See Bristow, George F. (sec. 4).
35Brown, Bartholomew, from about 1800 a teacher in Boston, was one of the editors of the significant Bridgewater Collection in 1802 (see Tune-Books) and in 1832–38 conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society.
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