Scan 58
The American history and encyclopedia of music, 1908
15 lines. Read by computer on 7 September 2026. Printed page 35. See the scan on archive.org.
1BIOGRAPHIES
3Baillot
4for five years remained with his foster-father as secretary. In 1791 he made up his mind to put his musical knowledge to practical use and went to Paris, where he played first violin at the Theatre Feydeau, but resigned to accept a position in the Ministry of Finance, giving only his leisure time to the violin. In 1795, after a compulsory service for twenty months in the army, Baillot decided to become a professional musician. He worked diligently under Catel, Reicha and Cherubini and studied thoroughly the works of the great violin-masters. He soon became a musician of such a reputation that he was appointed professor of the violin in the Paris Conservatory. From 1805 until his death, he made many successful concert tours through the different European countries. In 1821 he was made leader of the Grand Opéra and, in 1825, also violinist and leader of the Royal band. He produced a large number of compositions for the violin which are valuable for violin practice rather than as music. His Art for the Violin still ranks as a standard work. After the death of Baillot, the style of Paganini became the ruling influence in France and, since then the followers of the classic school of violin-playing are to be found only among the disciples of the German School.
6Baini (bä-ē'-nē), Giuseppe. 1775-1844.
7Italian writer, composer and critic, who was born in a modern day, but who lived in the music of the past. Riemann says of him: "Baini was a strange phenomenon in our century; he lived and moved completely in the music of the Sixteenth Century, and understood nothing of the powerful development of the art which had since taken place. In his opinion, music had been going down hill since the death of Palestrina." Baini's life-work, and labor of love, is his famous monograph on the great Palestrina. He planned to publish the complete works of the Catholic Church's chief composer, whom he named Il Principe della Musica, but lived only long enough to publish two volumes. Baini was born at Rome, entered into holy orders, and is commonly known as the Abbé Baini. He was the nephew and pupil of Lorenzo Baini, composer and maestro at the Church of the Twelve Apostles, Rome. His studies were completed under Jannacóni, the distinguished composer of church music. As Baini possessed a beautiful voice, Jannacóni saw to his appointment in the pontifical choir. In 1817 Baini succeeded Jannacóni as maestro of St. Peter's, and retained this post up to the time of his death. He wrote masses, motets, church-concertos, psalms, hymns and a Te Deum. His most important composition, and a famous one, is a Miserere, given in his time at the Sistine Chapel regularly during Holy Week. But little of his music has been published.
9Balakirev
10Baker, Benjamin Franklin. 1811-
11American vocalist and music teacher. Born in Wenham, Mass. When he was eleven years old, his parents moved to Salem and at fourteen, he entered the choir of a Presbyterian Church in that city. After living in Boston from 1828 to 1833 he went to Bangor, Maine, where he went into business, but he still kept up his interest in music and in 1836 returned to Boston and studied with John Paddon, singing at the same time in a church choir. The next year he took charge of the music in Dr. Channing's church. In 1841 he succeeded Lowell Mason, as teacher of music, in the Public Schools of Boston and was chosen vice-president of the Handel and Haydn Society. During the six years that he held this position he appeared as soloist at many of the concerts. In 1847 Mr. Baker began the work of establishing a school of music in Boston. This work was finished in 1851, when the Boston Music School was founded, with Mr. Baker as principal and head of the vocal department. This school was an important factor in the development of music in the United States. It was closed in 1868 and Mr. Baker retired from active work. Baker's compositions are entirely vocal. The best of them are two quartets, Stars of the Summer Night, and Death of Osceola; an Ave Maria; the three cantatas, The Storm King; The Burning Ship; and Camillus, the Roman Conqueror. He also wrote many other quartets, anthems and songs and a book on Thorough Bass and Harmony.
13Balakirev (bä-lä-kē'-rēf), Mily Alexejevitch. 1836-
14Modern Russian composer and pianist. He was born at Nijni-Novgorod and learned the first princi-
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.