Music and Some Highly Musical People Part 37

_Professor A.P. Williams_, born in Norwich, Conn., in 1840, is highly esteemed as a vocalist and pianist. He is an efficient teacher of vocal and instrumental music. He received his musical training from his father, Mr. P.M. Williams, who, a native of Ma.s.sachusetts, was a proficient vocalist and organist. Professor Williams is a man of decided intellectual merit, and is princ.i.p.al instructor in a grammar-school in New Orleans.

_Mr. E.V. Macarty_, a native of New Orleans, was born in 1821. He began lessons on the piano under Professor J. Norres. In 1840 he was sent to Paris, where, through the intervention of Hon. Pierre Soule and the French amba.s.sador to the United States, he was admitted to the Imperial Conservatoire, although he was then over the age prescribed for admission. At the Conservatoire he studied vocal music, harmony, and composition. He has composed some pieces that have been published, the names of which, however, are not known to the writer.

Mr. Macarty is especially distinguished as a vocalist: as a singer he is full of sentiment, and very impressive; is a fine pianist; and much admired, too, as an amateur actor. In the _role_ of Antony, in the play of that name, by Alexandre Dumas, as well as in that of Buridan in "La Tour de Nesle," by the same author, Mr. Macarty has won high honors. He also has held several positions of trust under the State government.

_Mr. F.C. Viccus_ is a gentleman of fine musical abilities, a performer on the violin, cornet, and even other instruments.

_McDonald Repanti_, before going to Mexico, became one of the most remarkable pianists of New Orleans. His trade in early life was that of a worker in marble; and being very fond of music, and desirous to study the piano, he used to work very hard at his trade during six months of the year, and then devote the other six to severe study of music, and practice on his favorite instrument. This he did under the instruction of his brother, Fierville Repanti, who was formerly a teacher of marked ability, and a composer of music. Fierville removed to Paris, where he died some years ago.

_Maurice J.B. Doublet_ was born in New Orleans in the year 1831. In that city he takes rank with the best violinists, and is highly rated as a general musician. Modesty has kept him away from the public but too often, since he possesses powers that would cause him always to be the recipient of much applause from large and cultivated audiences. He studied under L. Gabici. Mr. Doublet, as a violinist, is most remarkable for the purity of the tones produced, and the faithfulness he exhibits in giving expression to the composer's thoughts. These qualities, which it seems were given him by nature, are also noticeable in all of his pupils. Mr. Doublet is also a composer, but is so modest as to hide from the general public all that he has done in that line.

_Dennis Auguste_ was born in New Orleans in 1850, and is therefore twenty-seven years of age. Although so young, he is regarded as a fine musician. He grew to manhood in the family of Col. Felix Labatut, by whom and his wife Dennis was treated as a son. Mr. and Mrs. Labatut, who were a n.o.ble and high-minded couple, of well-known liberal ideas, spared no pains to give their charge a thorough education. Teachers were employed to instruct him in many branches of learning. Mr. Ludger Boquille, a colored gentleman, became his teacher in French; Prof.

Richard Lambert gave the youth his first lessons in music and on the piano; Prof. Rolling, a well-known artist, directed him in the same studies afterward; while in vocal music, harmony, and composition, he became proficient under Mr. Eugene Prevost. Mr. Auguste has proved himself worthy of the care that was given to his training by his Christian-like guardians and faithful teachers. As a performer he is held in high esteem, and is often employed by the best families of both races in his native city.

_Henry Corbin_, for several years a resident in New Orleans, was born in Cincinnati, O., in the year 1845. He learned the violin under a German teacher and under Professor Bonnivard. He has played as an amateur on many occasions at concerts, and always with marked acceptance to his audiences. Mr. Corbin's musical achievements are very fine, considering the great amount of time he has given to employments connected with state and city government. He was at one time private secretary to Gov. Pinchback; at another, secretary of the Board of Directors of the Public Schools of New Orleans; and is now tax-collector for the Sixth District in that city.

_J.M. Doublet_ is only eighteen years of age, but is considered already a violinist of excellent ability. He has studied music under the direction of his father, J.B.M. Doublet.

_Adolphe Liantaud_ is one of the best performers on the cornet in New Orleans: indeed, for purity and smoothness of tone, as well as power, he is regarded as most remarkable.

_Mr. Henry Berrot_ is considered an excellent player on the contra-ba.s.s, although beginning its practice only a few years ago, and at an age when most persons would despair of acquiring a knowledge of that or any other instrument.

_Mrs. P. Casnave_ is a brilliant pianist.

_Miss Macarty_ has on several occasions appeared at public concerts, and has always been received with marked favor. She is quite studious, and renders difficult and cla.s.sical compositions for the piano in a most creditable manner.

As may be readily supposed of a community like that of New Orleans, where there is a large colored population composed of so many people of culture, the gentler s.e.x are only behind the other, in possessing a knowledge of music, to that extent which has been caused by those unreasonable, unwritten, yet inexorable rules of society, that have hitherto forbidden women to do more than learn to perform upon the piano-forte and guitar, and to sing. But among the ladies of New Orleans there are many who may be called excellent pianists, and those who, possessing good voices, sing the choicest music of the day with a fine degree of taste and expression. Most of these (only a few of them are performers in public), by their musical culture, and the possession of those general graces of a beautiful womanhood,--graces the possession of which

"Show us how divine a thing A woman may become,"--

add to the adornments and refining pleasures of many private circles, and thus keep pace with their male relatives and friends in demonstrating the intellectual equality of their race. It would, however, take up far too much of s.p.a.ce to here present a larger number of the names of these accomplished ladies than has already been given; and it is therefore hoped that the latter,--fair representatives of many others that might be given,--and the general mention just made, may suffice.

Returning to the other s.e.x, I first refer to _Constantin Deberque_, who is a musician of fine ability, a teacher of great skill, and a gentleman of good general culture. Mr. Deberque will again be mentioned on a succeeding page.

_Dr. E. Dubuclet_ is a finished violinist. He is a brother of Dr.

Dubuclet, heretofore mentioned as having removed to Bordeaux, France.

_The Dupre family_ are remarkable for their excellent musical qualities. Each of the brothers, Ciel, Lucien, and Esebe, play upon several instruments; while their two sisters are also well versed in music.

_Mr. Raymond Auguste_, as a cornetist, is quite noticeable for the purity, strength, and fine expression of the tones he produces.

_Eugene Convertie_ is a cla.s.sical student; wins golden opinions for his piano performances; and has been highly esteemed as a teacher of that instrument. He is now succeeding as a dry-goods merchant in New Orleans.

_Mr. Kelly_, band-director, is very effective as a performer on the cornet.

_Mr. emile Ricard_ is regarded as a good pianist and teacher.

_Joseph A. Moret_ is a violin-player, to whom all listen with pleasure. He was first a pupil under Professor Snaer, and afterwards studied under Professor Bonnivard. Mr. Moret, having been instructed by such good teachers, possessing much natural talent, and being withal so young, has before him a brilliant future.

_Joseph Mansion_ is an amateur violinist, and a gentleman of much intelligence. He was formerly a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and is now State-tax a.s.sessor.

_Joseph Bazanac_ was an excellent performer on the flute and ba.s.soon, and a teacher of music. He was, besides, acknowledged as a skilful instructor in the French and English languages. He died a few months ago.

_Charles Martinez_, who died in 1874, was most remarkable for proficiency in performance upon a great number of instruments,--being an artistic guitarist and violinist, a player upon the contra-ba.s.s,--and was also a good singer. Being of an ambitious turn of mind, Mr.

Martinez studied, without a teacher, to become a notary-public, and was appointed as such.

_Professor Thomas Martin_ was at a time one of the first musicians of New Orleans and of Louisiana, being without an equal as a guitarist, was a great performer on the violin and piano-forte, and played even other instruments. He was also a fine vocalist, a ready and good composer, and was much celebrated for abilities in teaching music. A fine-looking man, very agreeable and gentlemanly in his manners, Professor Martin soon won his way against all obstacles, and became the favorite musical instructor not only of those of his own race, but also of many persons connected with the most aristocratic white families of New Orleans and its vicinity. This once talented musician is now no more; he having died some years ago in Europe, as I am informed.

_Octave Piron_ was once very prominent as an excellent vocalist and guitarist. He devotes his attention now more to the contra-ba.s.s, upon which instrument he is regarded as a good performer.

_J.M. Holland_ is a young man who gives much promise of becoming an excellent pianist.

And thus I might go on and on, mentioning name after name, and achievement after achievement; but warned by the great number of pages already devoted to these praiseworthy musical people of New Orleans, and believing that enough has been presented to serve the object had in view when these notices were begun, I will shortly close this record.

As a sample of the concerts frequently given in New Orleans by _amateur_ musicians of the colored race, I append this programme of one lately given:--

[Ill.u.s.tration:

GRAND

Vocal and Instrumental Concert,

ON OCTOBER 14, 1877,

IN

Masonic Hall, cor. of St. Peter and Claude Streets,

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

LOUIS MARTIN, a.s.sISTED BY HIS AMATEUR FRIENDS.

PROGRAMME.

=Part First.=

1. OVERTURE.--"La Muette de Portici" ORCHESTRA.

2. THE FAVORITE.--"Priere."--_Donizetti_ Miss Mc----.

3. LE BOHeMIEN.--_Samuel Snaer_[19] Mr. O.P.

4. SYMPHONY.--For Two Violins and Piano, { L.M., J.M., { and Miss A.F.

5. MY SUNDAY DRESS.--Song Jos. L., Jun.

=Intermission.--Part Second.=