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Scan 60
Grove's Dictionary of music and musicians, 1927
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1Parepa-Rosa Gold Medal, and in 1877 the Nilsson prize. While a student, on Apr. 8, 1875, she sang with success in public concerts, notably in 1887 at the Philharmonic, on the production in London of the third part of Schumann's 'Faust.' On Jan. 5, 1878, she made her first appearance at the London Ballad Concerts, at which concerts she afterwards sang for many years as principal soprano vocalist; on Jan. 19, at the Popular Concerts, and in the autumn at the Worcester Festival. On Feb. 5 and Mar. 11, 1880, she sang with the greatest success the part of Margaret on the production in England, in its entirety, under Hallé at Manchester, of Berlioz's 'Faust,' and on May 21 and 22 repeated the part under the same conductor at St. James's Hall, and for many years under him in London, Manchester and elsewhere. In 1881 she sang the part at the Norwich and Huddersfield Festivals, and in 1888 at the Richter Concerts. On Nov. 20, 1886, she sang with success the part of Mary on the production at the Crystal Palace of Berlioz's 'Childhood of Christ.' She was the possessor of a mezzo-soprano voice of two octaves and a note from b to c", of limited power but very sweet, always perfectly produced and of great charm. In 1888 she married William Cadwaladr Davies of the Inner Temple and North Wales Circuit. In 1900 Mrs. Davies finally retired from public life. Since the death of her husband in 1905 she has interested herself in higher education in Wales, wherein he had been very active; also in the Welsh Folk Musical Society, of which she is president. In 1916 the University of Wales bestowed upon her the degree of Mus.D. (honoris causa).
3DAVIS, JOHN DAVID (b. Edgbaston, Oct. 22, 1869). At the age of 16 he was sent to Frankfort-on-Main to learn German, this being by way of preparation for a commercial career, and incidentally entered the Raff Conservatorium of Music. The following year he went to Brussels to learn French; shortly after this he became a member of the Brussels Conservatoire, studying composition and the piano under Professor Zarembski, and later under Professor Leopold Wallner. He was also under De Greef for pianoforte and F. Kufferath for counterpoint. In 1889 he returned to Birmingham and took up composition and teaching; in 1893 he joined the teaching staff of the Midland Institute, but in 1904 was compelled by ill-health to resign. An opera, 'The Zaporognes,' was given in 1903 at the National Flemish Theatre in Antwerp under the title of 'The Cossacks.' Among his orchestral works, some of which have been widely performed, are:
5Symphonic Variations and Finale. Produced at a Charles Williams Orchestral Concert, Queen's Hall, in 1905, also at Promenade Concerts in Birmingham.
6'The Cenci,' a symphonic ballade, after Shelley. Produced at Birmingham, and given at Bournemouth and elsewhere.
7'The Maid of Astolat,' symphonic poem. Produced at Birmingham; subsequently performed at the Albert Hall under Landon Ronald, at Bournemouth and Eastbourne, and at Liverpool, under Cowen.
8'Germania,' a concert overture. Produced by the Birmingham Festival Choral Society.
9'Miniatures,' a suite for small orchestra. Produced by Henry Wood at a Promenade Concert, and given under Dan Godfrey at Bournemouth.
10Prelude to Maeterlinck's 'L'Intruse.'
11'Elegy' for small orchestra. Antwerp and Birmingham.
12'Song of Evening,' for string orchestra.
13'Coronation March' for full orchestra in G minor. A composition which received the prize of £100 offered by The Artist in 1902.
15Among chamber compositions are:
16Two Quartets for strings in G minor and D minor.
17Variations from Suite on a Londonderry Air, written by five composers, for string quartet.
18'Song of Evening,' for string quartet or quintet.
19Two Sonatas for piano and violin.
20Pianoforte Sonata in G minor.
21Six pieces for piano and violin.
22'Elegy' for violoncello and piano.
23Arioso, Gavotte, and Trio for piano and violin.
24Many piano pieces and Songs, and three Partsongs.
26(See B. M. S. Ann., 1920.) G. S. K. B.
28DAVIS, THOMAS, an English composer of some degree of merit, who about the middle of the 18th century worked for Henry Waylett, a publisher, of Exeter Change. Of his compositions, Waylett issued two sets of 'VI Solos for a German Flute or Violin with Bass for the Harpsichord,' 'Twenty English and Scotch airs,' and some sets of country dance tunes, one being for the year 1751.
30DAVISON,1 JAMES WILLIAM (b. London, Oct. 5, 1813; d. Margate, Mar. 24, 1885). He was a writer on music, and for 33 years (1846–79) music critic to The Times.
32He was educated with a view to the Bar, but forsook that career for music, and studied the pianoforte with W. H. Holmes, and composition with G. A. Macfarren. He made the acquaintance of Mendelssohn during one of his early visits to England, and deepened it in 1836, when, in company with Sterndale Bennett, he attended the production of 'St. Paul' at Düsseldorf. He gradually forsook composition for criticism. In 1842 he started the Musical Examiner, a weekly magazine which lasted two years; and in 1844 succeeded G. A. Macfarren, sen., as editor of the Musical World, which continued in his hands down to his death. Davison contributed to the Saturday Review for ten years, and for long to the Pall Mall Gazette and Graphic. But it was as musical critic of The Times that his influence on music, always of the most conservative kind, was most widely exercised. He married (1859) Arabella GODDARD (q.v.), who had been his pupil, and they had two sons, Henry and Charles. The former compiled his father's memoirs, published (1912) under the title From Mendelssohn to Wagner.
34DAVY, JOHN (b. Upton Helions, near Exeter, Dec. 23, 1763; d. London, Feb. 22, 1824), a composer now remembered chiefly by one famous song, 'The Bay of Biscay.' He was articled to Jackson of Exeter in 1777. Some years afterwards Davy obtained employment in the orchestra of Covent Garden Theatre and as a teacher. After the publication of his vocal quartets, madrigals and sonatas he was engaged to supply music for several dramatic pieces.
361 A fuller notice by Grove appeared in former editions of this Dictionary.
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