Music and Some Highly Musical People Part 8

"But painful trials awaited her from a quarter the most unexpected. The individual with whom she had drawn up the contract for this musical tour was unfaithful to his promises; and she found herself abandoned, without money and without friends, in a strange country.

"She had been told Lord Shaftesbury was one of the great good men of England; and she resolved to call upon him in person, and entreat an interview. His lordship immediately granted her request, listened patiently to her history, and directly gave her a letter of introduction to his lawyer.

"It may perhaps be considered a providential concurrence that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was in London this same time with Miss Greenfield. We notice in her 'Sunny Memories,'

under the date of May 6, the following remarks: 'A good many calls this morning. Among others came Miss Greenfield, the (so-called) "Black Swan." She appears to be a gentle, amiable, and interesting young person. She has a most astonishing voice. C. sat down to the piano, and played while she sang. Her voice runs through a compa.s.s of three octaves and a fourth. This is four notes more than Malibran's. She sings a most magnificent tenor, with such a breadth and volume of sound, that, with your back turned, you could not imagine it to be a woman. While she was there, Mrs. S.C. Hall, of the "Irish Sketches," was announced. I told her of Miss Greenfield; and she took great interest in her, and requested her to sing something for her. C. played the accompaniment, and she sang "Old Folks at Home," first in a soprano voice, and then in a tenor, or baritone. Mrs.

Hall was amazed and delighted, and entered at once into her cause. She said she would call with me, and present her to Sir George Smart, who is at the head of the Queen's musical establishment, and, of course, the acknowledged leader of London musical judgment.

"'In the course of the day I had a note from Mrs. Hall, saying, that, as Sir George Smart was about leaving town, she had not waited for me, but had taken Miss Greenfield to him herself. She writes that he was really astonished and charmed at the wonderful weight, compa.s.s, and power of her voice. He was also as well pleased with the mind in her singing, and her quickness in doing and catching all that he told her. Should she have a public opportunity to perform, he offered to hear her rehea.r.s.e beforehand. Mrs. Hall says, "This is a great deal for him, whose hours are all marked with gold."'

"Again Mrs. Stowe says, 'To-day the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland called with the d.u.c.h.ess of Argyle. Miss Greenfield happened to be present; and I begged leave to present her, giving a slight sketch of her history. I was pleased with the kind and easy affability with which the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland conversed with her, betraying by no inflection of voice, and nothing in her air or manner, the great lady talking with the poor girl. She asked all her questions with as much delicacy, and made her request to hear her sing with as much consideration and politeness, as if she had been addressing any one in her own circle. She seemed much pleased with her singing, and remarked that she should be happy to give her an opportunity of performing in Stafford House, as soon as she should be a little relieved of a heavy cold which seemed to oppress her at present. This, of course, will be decisive of her favor in London. The d.u.c.h.ess is to let us know when the arrangement is completed.

"'I never so fully realized,' continues Mrs. Stowe, 'that there really is no natural prejudice against color in the human mind. Miss Greenfield is a dark mulattress, of a pleasing and gentle face, though by no means handsome. She is short and thick-set, with a chest of great amplitude, as one would think on hearing her tenor. I have never seen, in any of the persons to whom I have presented her, the least indications of suppressed surprise or disgust, any more than we should exhibit on the reception of a dark-complexioned Spaniard or Portuguese.

"'Miss Greenfield bears her success with much quietness and good sense.'

"Her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland afterward became her ever-unfailing supporter and adviser.

"The piano-forte which previously had been furnished Miss Greenfield to practise upon was taken from her. The d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, upon learning the fact, immediately directed her to select one from Broadwood's.

"We cannot refrain from quoting Mrs. Stowe's description of the concert after dinner at the Stafford House:--

"'The concert-room was the brilliant and picturesque hall I have before described to you. It looked more picture-like and dreamy than ever. The piano was on the flat stairway just below the broad central landing. It was a grand piano, standing end outward, and perfectly banked up among hot-house flowers, so that only its gilded top was visible.

Sir George Smart presided. The choicest of the _elite_ were there,--ladies in demi-toilet and bonneted. Miss Greenfield stood among the singers on the staircase, and excited a pathetic murmur among the audience. She is not handsome, but looked very well. She has a pleasing dark face, wore a black velvet head-dress and white carnelian ear-rings, a black moire-antique silk made high in the neck, with white lace falling sleeves and white gloves. A certain gentleness of manner and self-possession, the result of the universal kindness shown her, sat well upon her. Chevalier Bunsen, the Prussian amba.s.sador, sat by me. He looked at her with much interest. "Are the race often as good-looking?" he said. I said, "She is not handsome compared with many, though I confess she looks uncommonly well to-day." The singing was beautiful. Six of the most cultivated glee-singers of London sang, among other things, "Spring's Delights are now returning," and "Where the Bee sucks, there lurk I." The d.u.c.h.ess said, "These glees are peculiarly English." Miss Greenfield's turn for singing now came, and there was profound attention. Her voice, with its keen, searching fire, its penetrating vibrant quality, its _timbre_ as the French have it, cut its way like a Damascus blade to the heart. She sang the ballad, "Old Folks at Home," giving one verse in the soprano, and another in the tenor voice. As she stood partially concealed by the piano, Chevalier Bunsen thought that the tenor part was performed by one of the gentlemen. He was perfectly astonished when he discovered that it was by her. This was rapturously encored. Between the parts, Sir George took her to the piano, and tried her voice by skips, striking notes here and there at random, without connection, from D in alto to A first s.p.a.ce in ba.s.s clef. She followed with unerring precision, striking the sound nearly at the same instant his finger touched the key.

This brought out a burst of applause.

"'Lord Shaftesbury was there. He came and spoke to us after the concert. Speaking of Miss Greenfield, he said, "I consider the use of these halls for the encouragement of an outcast race a consecration. This is the true use of wealth and splendor, when they are employed to raise up and encourage the despised and forgotten."'

"TUESDAY, May 31, 1853.

"Miss Greenfield's first public morning concert took place at the Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. She came out under the immediate patronage of her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Norfolk, and the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury. It commenced at three o'clock, and terminated at five."

"The London Morning Post" says,--

"A large a.s.semblage of fashionable and distinguished personages a.s.sembled by invitation at Stafford House to hear and decide upon the merits of a phenomenon in the musical world,--Miss Elizabeth Greenfield, better known in America as the 'Black Swan;' under which sobriquet she is also about to be presented to the British public. This lady is said to possess a voice embracing the extraordinary compa.s.s of nearly three octaves; and her performances on this occasion elicited the unmistakable evidence of gratification."

"The London Times" said,--

"Miss Greenfield sings 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' with as much pathos, power, and effect as does the 'Swedish Nightingale,' Jenny Lind."

Again: "The London Observer" remarks,--

"Her voice was at once declared to be one of extraordinary compa.s.s. Both her high and low notes were heard with wonder by the a.s.sembled amateurs, and her ear was p.r.o.nounced to be excellent."

"The London Advertiser" of June 16 contained the following comments:--

"A concert was given at Exeter Hall last evening by Miss Greenfield, the American vocalist, better known in this country under the sobriquet of the 'Black Swan.' Apart from the natural gifts with which this lady is endowed, the great musical skill which she has acquired, both as a singer and an instrumentalist, is a convincing argument against the a.s.sertion so often made, that the negro race is incapable of intellectual culture of a high standard.... Her voice is a contralto, of great clearness and mellow tone in the upper register, and full, resonant, and powerful in the lower, though slightly masculine in its _timbre_. It is peculiarly effective in ballad-songs of the pathetic cast, several of which Miss Greenfield sang last night in a very expressive manner. She was encored in two,--'The Cradle-Song,' a simple melody by Wallace, and 'Home, Sweet Home,' which she gave in an exceedingly pleasing manner. The programme of the concert was bountifully drawn up; for, in addition to the attractions of the 'Black Swan,' there was a host of first-rate artists. Herr Brandt, a German artist with a remarkably sweet voice, sang Professor Longfellow's 'Slave's Dream,' set to very beautiful music by Hatton, in a way that elicited warm applause. Miss Rosina Bentley played a fantasia by Lutz very brilliantly, and afterward, a.s.sisted by Miss Kate Loder (who, however, must now be known as Mrs.

Henry Thompson), in a grand duet for two piano-fortes by Osborne. M. Valadares executed a curious Indian air, 'Hilli Milli Puniah,' on the violin; and Mr. Henry Distin a solo on the sax tuba. The band was admirable, and performed a couple of overtures in the best manner. Altogether, the concert, which we understand was made under the distinguished patronage of the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, was highly successful, and went off to the perfect gratification of a numerous and fashionable audience."

"In July she gave two grand concerts in the Town Hall in Brighton, under the patronage of her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Norfolk, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Beaufort, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Argyle, the Most n.o.ble the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Most n.o.ble the Marchioness of Kildare, the Most n.o.ble the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Carlisle, the Countess of Jersey, the Countess of Granville, the Countess of Wilton, the Viscountess Palmerston, the Lady Constance Grosvenor, and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.

"_Vocalists._--Miss E.T. Greenfield (the 'Black Swan'), Madame Taccani, Countess Tasca, Mr. Emanuel Roberts (Queen's concerts).

"_Instrumentalists._--Piano-forte soloist, Miss Rosina Bently [Transcriber's Note: Bentley elsewhere] (pupil of Miss Kate Loder); violin, M. de Valadares (pupil of the Conservatoire, Paris); accompanist, Mons. Edouard Henri; conductor, Mr. F. Theseus Stevens.

"She gave a series of concerts at the Rotunda in Dublin, Ireland."

"Extract from programme of Miss Greenfield's benefit concert, Aug. 17, 1853:--

"_Vocalists._--Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Pyne, and Mr. W.

Harrison; pianist, Miss Rosina Bently; violinist, M. de Valadares from the East Indies; accompanist, Mr. R. Thomas."

"In October, 1853, we find her again at the Beaumont Inst.i.tution, Beaumont Square, Mile End, London, at Mr.

Cotton's concert, supported by Miss Poole, the Misses M'Alpine, Miss Alleyne, Mr. Augustus Braham, Mr. Suchet Champion, Mr. Charles Cotton, the German Glee Union, and the East-Indian violinist M. de Valadares; conductor, Herr Ganz."

"Nov. 3, 1853, at Albion Hall, Hammersmith, she made her appearance under the patronage of her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Norfolk, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Beaufort, her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Argyll, the Most n.o.ble the Marchioness of Aylesbury [Transcriber's Note: Ailesbury], the Most n.o.ble the Marchioness of Kildare, the Most n.o.ble the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, Earl of Carlisle, Countess of Jersey, Countess of Granville, Countess of Wilton, Viscountess Palmerston, the Lady Constance Grosvenor, and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.

"_Artists._--Miss E.T. Greenfield, Miss J. Brougham, Miss E.

Brougham, Mr. Charles Cotton, Mr. Augustus Braham the eminent tenor; piano-forte, Miss Eliza Ward."

"At the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, Dec. 23, 1853, under the same distinguished patronage as at Hammersmith.

"_Artists._--Mrs. Alexander Newton (of her Majesty's Grand National Concerts), Miss Ward, Miss E.T. Greenfield, Mr.

Augustus Braham, Mr. Charles Cotton (from Milan), Mr.

Distin."

"Again: to verify the fact of her having received the attention of very distinguished personages, the following certificates are laid before the reader:--

"'Sir George Smart has the pleasure to state that her Majesty Queen Victoria commanded Miss Greenfield to attend at Buckingham Palace on May the 10th, 1854, when she had the honor of singing several songs, which he accompanied on the piano-forte.

"'To Miss GREENFIELD, from Sir GEORGE SMART, Kt.,

"'Organist and Composer to her Majesty's Chapel Royal.

"'June 24, 1854. No. 91, GR. PORTLAND ST., LONDON.'

"'This is to certify that Miss Greenfield had the honor of singing before her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

By her Majesty's command,