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Scan 752
Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, 1922
20 lines. Read by computer on 5 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1ones, bearing Antonio Stradivari's name alone, inserted. Of the two brothers, Francesco was the better luthier. His work is not without originality, the outline of his ff holes in particular differing greatly from that of his father. A picture of one of his violas is included in Mr. George Hart's The Violin. E. H-A.
3STRAIGHT & SKILLERN, a firm of London music-publishers. Thomas Straight and Thomas Skillern were established in Great Russell Street, Covent Garden, and issued a set of Country Dances for 1768. On the death of James Oswald about 1769, they appear to have taken over his business at 17 St. Martin's Lane, and to have reissued some of the Oswald publications, in some instances in conjunction with William Randall. About 1777 or 1778, Thomas Straight either died or gave up business, and Skillern was left alone at 17 St. Martin's Lane, where he remained until about 1799 or 1800, at which time his death occurred, his plates and stock-in-trade being bought by Preston. Skillern's son (presumably) now went into partnership with Challoner (evidently Neville Butler Challoner, the harpist) at 25 Greek Street; they afterwards, circa 1815, were near the corner of Regent Street and Oxford Street.
5Thomas Straight, jun., after his father's death, set up a music-business at 138 St. Martin's Lane, removing about 1796, and apparently devoting himself to music-engraving solely, at 7 Lambeth Walk. Another address of the same or another Straight is 4 Green Street, Leicester Square. F. K.
7STRAKOSCH, MAURICE and MAX, brothers well known in the United States as entrepreneurs of operatic and concert ventures.
9Maurice Strakosch, the elder of the two, was born at Lemberg in Moravia in 1825 (Baker's Dict.), or 1823 (Mus. World). He studied at the Vienna Conservatorium, and from 1845 to 1860 lived in the United States, first as a teacher and then as an impresario. After Rossini's death he gave performances of the 'Messe Solennelle' at the Salle Ventadour, Paris, where he organised a successful opera season in 1873-74. He was European agent for his sister-in-law, Mme. Patti, from her début in 1859 until her marriage, and also for many other distinguished singers. He joined his brother in management of the Apollo Theatre in Rome in 1884-85. In 1887 he published a volume of memoirs, and died suddenly, Oct. 9, of the same year. His younger brother, Max, remained in America, when Maurice went to Europe, and managed in his stead. He directed many successful enterprises of Italian opera, managed the Apollo Theatre, in Rome, with his brother in 1884-85, and died in New York, March 17, 1892. A. C.
11STRALOCH MS., a famous MS. collection of airs written in lute tablature, for Robert Gordon of Straloch, and dated 1627 and 1629. The MS. was in small oblong octavo of ninety-two leaves, and was entitled, 'An playing Booke for the Lute. Where in ar contained many cvrrents and other mvsical things… At Aberdein. Notted and Collected by Robert Gordon [Sir Robert Gordon of Straloch]. In the year of our Lord 1627. In Februarie.' On the back of the title was a sketch of a person playing on the lute.
13It was given, in 1781, by Dr. George Skene of Aberdeen, to Dr. Burney, who does not appear to have mentioned it or to have made any use of it. It afterwards came into the possession of Mr. James Chalmers of London, at the sale of whose effects it disappeared. In 1839 it was lent to George Farquhar Graham, who made some extracts from it. Graham's original transcript was in the library of the late T. W. Taphouse of Oxford, and was sold in 1905. A fair copy was made by Graham, and deposited in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh; other copies, too, have been made from the original transcript, one by the present writer. Though the Straloch appears to be the earliest MS. containing Scottish airs, yet the list of contents (see Gentleman's Magazine, February 1823) shows how small a proportion they bear to the English and foreign airs.
15F. K.
17STRANIERA, LA (The Stranger). Italian opera in two acts; libretto by Romani, music by Bellini. Produced at the Scala, Milan, Feb. 14, 1829. In London at the King's Theatre, June 23, 1832, for Tamburini's début. G.
19STRATHSPEY, a Scottish dance, closely allied to the Reel, derives its name from the strath or valley of the Spey, in the North of Scotland, where it appears to have first been danced. The word does not appear in connection with music till late in the 18th century, but much earlier than that tunes are found suited for the style. Though slower in time than the Reel, the Strathspey calls for more exertion. The former is a gliding dance, while the Strathspey abounds in those jerky motions which call every muscle into play. Thus the music of the Reel is composed of a series of passages of equal quavers, while the Strathspey consists of dotted notes and semiquavers. The latter frequently precede the long note, and this peculiarity has received the name of the 'Scotch snap.' That the two words were formerly almost synonymous, is shown by a volume which is still of the highest authority and of which the title-page runs thus—'A Collection of Strathspeys or Old Highland Reells, with a Bass for the Violincello, Harpsichord, or Piano-forte. By Angus Cumming, at Granton. Strathspey. 1780.' The word Strathspey is here printed in very large letters, while 'Old Highland Reells' are in the smallest. Moreover, throughout the volume, the word Strathspey is not once used, but always Reell So-and-so. No. 5, for example, though clearly a Strathspey, is entitled 'Acharnae Reell.' Reels, and the dance music of Scotland generally, have been
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