The Violin Part 13

Our Norwegian artist now revisited Paris, under happier auspices.

Welcomed and introduced with eager kindness by the composer of "Robert le Diable," he was several times listened to with delight on the stage of the Opera, and obtained the greatest success that has been known since the displays made by Paganini.

Opinions were not agreed as to the extent to which Ole Bull was to be considered an imitator of Paganini. It appears certain that the example of the latter first led him to attempt the more strange and remote difficulties of the instrument. It was during the time of his distressed condition, that he found means to hear the great Italian artist, by actually selling his last shirt, with the produce of which he joined the crowd in the saloon of the French Opera. Every one around him, after the electrifying strains of the magical performer, was exclaiming that he had reached the farthest limits of what was possible on the violin. Ole Bull (says the writer of the French account), after applauding like the rest, retired in thoughtful mood, having just caught the notion that something beyond this was yet possible; nor did the idea cease to occupy his mind, but gathered fresh strength during his rambles in Switzerland and Italy, until it impelled him, at Trieste, to abandon the old track, and resign himself to the dictates of his own genius.

In justice to Paganini, it must never be forgotten that _he_ was the first who, in modern days, conceived the principle of its being possible to extract a variety of new _effects_ from the versatile instrument that had been supposed to have surrendered all its secrets to the great antecedent Masters; and that his practice lent marvellous ill.u.s.tration to what he proceeded, under that impulse, to explain;-nor does the supremacy of Paganini in the _nouveau genre_, for the reasons previously touched upon in these pages, seem likely to be seriously shaken by _any_ who may seek the encounter of a comparison. It may certainly be averred, however, that, of all who have attempted to follow in the direction taken by the great Genoese genius, Ole Bull has been, owing to the fire and enthusiasm of his own temperament, decidedly the farthest removed from servility of imitation. It speaks much for the originality of the Norwegian artist, that, in the early practice of his instrument, instead of a fostering excitement, he had to encounter the decided opposition of adverse views; and, instead of the open aid of a master, had only for his guide the secret impulses of his own mind. On the whole, he must be acknowledged a man of fine genius, who forced his way through no common difficulties to a distinguished rank in the musical art, and who presents, to the contemplation of the persevering student, one of the most cheering of those examples which the history of human struggles in pursuit of some absorbing object is so useful to enforce. It must add not a little to our admiration of him, to find that, in the mysteries of composition, he has discovered and shaped his own course. The ingenuity of construction evident in the orchestral accompaniments to his pieces, would suggest a methodical study of the harmonic art: yet it was said, on the contrary, that he was quite unacquainted with even the elementary rules of that art; and that it would have puzzled him to tell the conventional name of any one chord. How then did he arrive at the power of writing music in parts? He opened a score, studied it, thought over it, made a relative examination of its parts after his own way, and then, setting to work, as the result of this progress, became a composer himself. In the character of his compositions, we may trace the effect of this unusual and (it must be confessed) somewhat too self-dependent "moyen de parvenir." They are impulsive and striking-enriched with occasional pa.s.sages of fine instrumentation, and touched with sweet visitations of melody-but they are deficient in coherence of structure, and in the comprehensiveness of a well-ordered design. They may serve as fresh examples to ill.u.s.trate the old maxim-that genius itself cannot with safety neglect that ordinary discipline which gives familiarity with the rules and methods of art.

The most surprising thing (amounting indeed to an enigma), in connection with Ole Bull's powers of execution, was the very small amount of manual practice which he stated himself to have been in the habit of bestowing on the instrument-a thing quite at variance with all the received notions, as well as usage, on the subject. His labour was, it appears, in by far the greater part, that of the head; and a very limited application of the hands sufficed to "carry out" what he ex-cogitated-to work out his purposes and "foregone conclusions." It sounds n.o.bly, as a proposition, that it is "the mind's eye," and not the blind gropings of practice, that should shew the violinist the way to greatness, and give him the knowledge which is power: but, alas! common natures-nay, all that are not marvellously _un_common-find it necessary to draw to the utmost on both these resources, and cannot spare their hands from the neck of the instrument. This comparatively trifling amount of manual cultivation, however, while it remains on the whole "a marvel and a mystery," may be accepted as a proof in itself of how little trick (setting aside his extravagant "quartett on _one_ string") there was in Ole Bull's performance: for the successful display of tricks is essentially dependent on the most a.s.siduous manipulation;-the _charlatanerie_ of the instrument being the triumph of the hand, as distinguished from that of the mind. To particularize the various merits which belong to his execution, would lead beyond the limit here proposed-else might his sweet and pure tone-his delicate harmonics-his frequent and winning _duplicity_ of notes and shakes-his rapid and exact _staccato_, &c. be severally dwelt upon in terms of delight.-I cannot forbear referring, however, to the "ravishing division" of his consummate _arpeggios_, forming a finely regulated shower of notes, rich, round, and most distinct, although wrought out by such slight undulations of the bow, as to leave in something like a puzzle our notions of cause and consequence. To suit the wide range of effects which his fancy sometimes dictated, it appears (another marvel!) that he subjected his violin to some kind of _alterative_ process; for which purpose he would open it (to use his own expression) like an oyster!

The manners and conversation of this young artist, at the time when he was exciting attention in England, bore an impress of genius which it was impossible to mistake; and his occasional sallies of enthusiasm served to impart an increased interest to the abiding modesty which tempered and dignified his character. In describing the state of his own mind, under the immediate domination of musical ideas, he pictured it under the forcible figure of an alternate heaven and h.e.l.l; while he would speak of the object and intention of his playing as being to _raise a curtain_, for the admission of those around him, as partic.i.p.ants in the mysteries open to himself. In his habits, he was very temperate-wisely avoiding to wear out, by artificial excitements, the spontaneous ardour of his eminently vital temperament.

All the ordinary arts and intrigues by which it is so common, and is sometimes thought so necessary, for men to seek professional advancement, seemed completely alien to the nature of this child of the north. In person, he was tall, with a spare but muscular figure, light hair, a pale countenance, and a quick, restless eye, which became extremely animated whilst he was in the act of playing. When I add that he entertained an invincible antipathy to _cats_-exhibiting unequivocal signs of distress whenever one of those sleek and sly animals was discovered in the social circle-I shall have furnished all the information I am able to give (his latter career being unknown to me) concerning a man well ent.i.tled to commemoration.

Before concluding this chapter, a few words of record are due to the two sons of one of the most gifted musicians of the present day. I allude to the a.s.sociate brothers LABITSKY, who, after a training in the Musical Conservatory at Prague, and subsequent studies prosecuted at Leipsig, have become candidates for public favour in England, where (for the present, at least) they appear to be settled. Their first appeal to notice in this country took place at Her Majesty's Theatre, during the progress of the late Grand National Concerts. Their style is said to be characterized by firmness and evenness in the bowing, with a correspondent fulness and purity of intonation.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.

... a _crescent_; and my auguring hope Says it will come to the full.-SHAKSPEARE.

Climate, and the national habits of life, have in England presented no light obstacles to the progress and well-being of the musical art, as collectively regarded. The fogs and lazy vapours that so oft obscure, in our dear country, the genial face of the sun, must needs check and chill our animal spirits, and beat back into the heart the feelings that else would seek fellowship with the ear, by uttering the language of sweet sounds. The eager pursuit of business, on the other hand-the continuity of _action_, rigorously self-imposed, in order to satisfy both our material wants and our ambition-leaves us little opportunity-even when our sky and our land are _not_ mutually frowning and exchanging sullen looks-for the liberation and development of our half-stifled musical impulses. The consequence of this two-fold opposition is-in mult.i.tudinous instances-that the music which is _in_ us, comes not _out_; and hence it happens that we are too often suspected, by foreigners, of organic deficiency in this matter, and too often induced to doubt of ourselves. With the luxurious climate, however, and the leisurely life, that combine to make the people of _Italy_ as vocal as gra.s.shoppers, _we_, too, should burst forth into the raptures of song, and overflow with melodial honey;-_so_ at least I venture to believe, when I think of our stock, actually _hived_, in the way of _glees_ and _ballads_-a not contemptible little store.

In addition to the two sources of impediment just noticed, may we venture to glance at a third? There is another gloom, besides that of our skies, that has had its obstructive influence, and still, in _some_ degree, retains it. England, happily for her own comfort, has now left far behind her those puritanic days wherein all persons who ministered to the _amus.e.m.e.nt_ of their fellow-beings were stigmatized as the "_caterpillars_ of a common-wealth," and found law and opinion alike arrayed against them;-but the spirit of Puritanism, once so tyrannically exclusive, has never since departed wholly from among us-and we have, to this day, many sincere and well-meaning compatriots, whose peculiar notions of what const.i.tutes piety, lead them to look with distrust and suspicion upon all that is beautiful in Nature or in Art, and so, to consider musical talent rather as a snare to be shunned, than as a resource to be cherished. These movers-in-a-mist, and extra-burden-bearers, confounding into _one_ the two ideas of cultivation and corruption, as if the terms were synonymous, refuse all countenance to music, as an _art_. Its secular forms, in particular, are their aversion; for they have a strong impression that music is then, _only_, in its right place, when directly employed in the service of the sanctuary. They discover, even in an _Oratorio_, copious matter for reprobation. They have no sympathy with the practice of the sweetly majestic Psalmist of Israel, who brought together, to aid in the solemnities of public worship, all that was _best_ in vocal and instrumental skill. Vociferated dissonance, exempt from rule, and from accompaniment, has _their_ approval, far above any tempered and balanced harmony; because (as _they_ persuade themselves) the one comes from the heart, and the other does _not_. To such persons, I can only (in the words of the Archbishop of Granada to Gil Blas) wish all happiness, and a little more _taste_-regretting that the influence of what I conceive to be their _mistake_ should have helped, with the other cited causes, to lessen the diffusion among us of the most delightfully recreative of all the arts, which, thus discouraged, has been driven to become the spoiled favourite of the great and rich, instead of being the constant friend and solace of the whole community.

Adverting now specifically to the English School of the violin, I would remind the reader of what has been previously observed respecting the very low estimation in which that instrument was for some time held, after its first advent to this country. To raise it into favorable regard, and to stimulate the efforts of our native professors, successive importations of foreign talent (chiefly from Italy) were required, and supplied. Our debt of this kind to the Italians has been larger than that of our continental neighbours, either of France or of Germany. Indeed the very fact of our possessing a School of our own, in this branch of art, has, I believe, been commonly overlooked by the musical writers of the continent: nor is this very surprising, when it is considered how the great masters from Italy, taking the lead in concerts and public performances, became "the observed of all observers," and the sole marks, or at least the princ.i.p.al ones, for the pen of the writer. It may be demonstrated, nevertheless, that we, too, as violinists, have our separate credit to a.s.sert for the past, and yet more for the present, though we may not aspire to an equal amount of merit, in this sense, with Germany or France. We have certainly not caught, so effectually as the French, the various dexterities and felicities of execution; but it is perhaps not too much to say that we possess more "capability" for the development of the graver and better sort of _expression_. Your Englishman, with all his lumpish partiality for beef and pudding, is generally allowed to be a being of profounder sensibilities than your Frenchman. He is a better recipient of the more intense emotions that lie within the province of the "king of instruments," although its more brilliant characteristics are less within his reach. The violin is a _shifting Proteus_, which accommodates itself to almost every kind and shade of emotion that may actuate the human mind: but then, the lighter emotions more frequently dispose us to seek the aid of music for their audible sign, than the graver ones: therefore your Frenchman, "toujours gai," is oftener impelled to practise the violin than your Briton; and therefore he becomes, after his own fashion, a better player. But, after all, those who would appreciate _all_ the capabilities of the violin as an individual instrument, should watch its "quick denotements, working from the heart," under all manner of hands-Italian, German, French, English, Dutch, and the rest.

With regard to _compositions_ for the instrument, generally, it must be admitted that those to which merit, as well as custom, has given the greatest currency in this country, have been of foreign production-chiefly Italian or German. Truth requires the acknowledgment, that in _this_ matter we stand far from high in the scale of national comparison. It is the remark of Burney, that, for more than half a century preceding the arrival of Giardini, the compositions of Corelli, Geminiani, Albinoni, Vivaldi, Tessarini, Veracini, and Tartini, supplied all our wants on the violin. Though somewhat poor in this point of view, we are, however, not dest.i.tute. Let us advert here to two instances only, that is to say, Boyce and Purcell. Dr. Boyce's "Twelve Sonatas, or Trios, for two Violins and a Ba.s.s," were longer and more generally purchased, performed, and admired (says Dr. Burney) than any productions of the kind in this kingdom, except those of Corelli. They were not only in constant use as chamber-music, in private concerts-for which they were originally designed-but in our theatres as act-tunes, and at the public gardens as favourite pieces, for many years.

"Purcell's Sonatas and Trios (observes Mr. Hogarth, in his 'Memoirs of the Musical Drama') belong to the same school as those of Corelli. The Trios of the great Italian composer were published in the same year, and could not have served as a model to Purcell, who, in acknowledging his obligation to 'the most famed Italian masters' in this species of composition, must have alluded to Torelli and Ba.s.sani, the latter of whom was Corelli's master. Purcell's Sonatas, in some respects, are even superior to those of the great Italian composer; for they contain movements which, in depth of learning and ingenuity of harmonical combination, without the least appearance of labour or restraint, surpa.s.s anything to be found in the works of Corelli: but Corelli had the advantage of being a great Violinist, while Purcell, who was not only no performer himself, but probably had never heard a great performer, had no means, except the perusal of Italian scores, of forming an idea of the genius and powers of the instrument. This disadvantage prevented Purcell from striking out new and effective violin pa.s.sages, and produced mechanical awkwardness, which a master of the instrument would have avoided: but it did not disable him from exhibiting taste and fancy; and every admirer of the works of Corelli will take pleasure in these Sonatas of Purcell."

The first Englishman who seems to have attained distinction as a professional Violinist, was JOHN BANISTER, successor of Baltzar, the Lubecker, in the conduct of Charles the Second's new band of twenty-four violins. DAVIS MELL, the clock-maker, should, however, if we are to "keep time," be first introduced, since, although but an Amateur, he was an eminent hand at the violin, and was an agent of some little importance in the diffusion of a taste for the instrument, ere it had yet struggled into general notice. The merits of Davis Mell may be best described in the language of an already familiar friend, honest Anthony Wood:-

"In the latter end of this yeare (1657), Davis Mell, the most eminent Violinist of London, being in Oxon, Peter Pett, Will. Bull, Ken. Digby, and others of Allsowles, as also A. W. (Anthony a Wood) did give him a very handsome entertainment in the Tavern cal'd The Salutation, in St.

Marie's Parish, Oxon, own'd by Tho. Wood, son of ---- Wood of Oxon, sometimes servant to the father of A. W. The company did look upon Mr.

Mell to have a prodigious hand on the Violin, and they thought that no person (as all in London did) could goe beyond him. But when Tho.

Baltzar, an outlander, came to Oxon in the next yeare, they had other thoughts of Mr. Mell, who tho' he play'd farr sweeter than Baltzar, yet Baltzar's hand was more quick, and could run it insensibly to the end of the finger-board."[54] And in another place, the same writer says, "After Baltzar came into England, and shew'd his most wonderful parts on that instrument, Mell was not so admired; yet he play'd sweeter, was a well-bred gentleman, and not given to excessive drinking, as Baltzar was."

It is worthy of notice that in the year of that event (the Restoration) which proved so favourable to the march of fiddling in this country, there was published by John Jenkins (who had been a voluminous composer of _fancies_ for viols) a set of twelve sonatas for two violins and a ba.s.s, professedly in imitation of the Italian style, and the first of the kind which had ever been produced by an Englishman. "It was at this time" (observes Burney) "an instance of great condescension for a musician of _character_ to write expressly for so ribald and vulgar an instrument as the _violin_ was accounted by the lovers of lutes, guitars, and all the _fretful_ tribe." This John Jenkins is designated by Wood as a little man with a great soul. He died in 1678.

JOHN BANISTER was the son of one of the _waits_ of the parish of St.

Giles; yet, under this humble condition, he was enabled, by obtaining the rude commencement of a musical education from his father, to work his entrance into a successful career. He manifested, in a short time, such ability on the violin, as to gain the marked encouragement of being sent into France by our vivacious Charles II, for improvement, and of being appointed, on his return, leader of the royal band. From this service he was dismissed, for an offence of the tongue, such as the French partialities of the English King could not brook. He had ventured to tell Charles that the English performers on the violin were superior to those of France. Pity that a potentate so expert at a _jest_ could not (or would not) find one wherewith to excuse the frankness of his man-in-office! Banister was one of the first who established lucrative concerts in London. In the announcement of one of these (in 1677), it is stated that the musical performance will begin "with the parley of instruments, composed by Mr. Banister, and performed by eminent masters." Banister died in 1679, and was interred in the cloister of Westminster Abbey. A contemporary, of some celebrity for his musical zeal, the Hon. Mr. North, has made a flattering allusion to this individual:-"It would be endless to mention all the elegant graces, vocal and instrumental, which are taught by the Italian Masters, and perhaps outdone by the English Banister."

JOHN BANISTER, Jun. son of the preceding artist, and trained, by his father to his own profession, obtained a post as one of King William's band, and also played the first violin at Drury Lane, when operas were first performed there. In this latter post he continued for a number of years, and was succeeded in it by Carbonelli. He was the composer of several _grounds with divisions_, inserted in the publication called the "Division Violin;" and a collection of music for the instrument, jointly written by himself and the German, G.o.dfrey Finger, was published by him, and sold at his house in Brownlow-street, Drury Lane. This Banister died about the year 1729.

OBADIAH SHUTTLEWORTH, organist of St. Michael's, Cornhill, and afterwards of the Temple Church, manifested such powers on the violin as to be ranked among the first performers of his day. He was the son of a person who lived in Spitalfields, and who had acquired a small fortune, partly by teaching the harpsichord, and partly by copying Corelli's music for sale, before it was _printed_ in England. Shuttleworth was the leader at the Swan Concert in Cornhill, from the time of its inst.i.tution till his death, about the year 1735. He was likewise a respectable composer, and produced twelve concertos and several sonatas, for violins. Of his compositions, however, if any are now extant in print, they are only two of the concertos, which were formed from the first and eleventh solos of Corelli.

HENRY ECCLES, an English Violinist of considerable eminence, dedicated himself to foreign service, owing either to the want of due encouragement in his native country, or to the disappointment of expectations too loftily pitched. He went to Paris, and succeeded in attaching himself to the band of the King of France. His father, Solomon, had been also a professor of the instrument, and had some hand in the second part of the "Division Violin," published in London, 1693.

Henry Eccles was the composer of twelve esteemed Violin Solos, published at Paris in 1720.

In treating of the progress of the violin in England, let us here again refer to the great name of PURCELL. The colouring and effects of an orchestra, as Dr. Burney has remarked, were but little known in Purcell's time, yet he employed them more than his predecessors; and, in his sonatas, he surpa.s.sed whatever our country had produced or imported before. The chief part of his instrumental music for the theatre is included in a publication which appeared in 1697, two years after his death, under the t.i.tle of "A Collection of Ayres composed for the Theatre, &c." These airs were in four parts, for two violins, tenor and ba.s.s, and were in continual requisition as overture and act-tunes, till they were superseded by Handel's hautbois Concertos, as were those also by his overtures, while Boyce's Sonatas and Arne's compositions served as act-tunes[55]. Purcell lived, however, somewhat too early, or died too young, for the attainment, even by _his_ genius, of any very high success is instrumental composition. Ba.s.sani and Torelli, others inferior to them, formed his models of imitation for violin-music-the works of Corelli being hardly then known in this country; and indeed he was so imperfectly acquainted with the extensive powers of the violin, as to have given occasion to Dr. Burney to remark that he had scarcely ever seen a becoming pa.s.sage for that instrument in any of his (Purcell's) works. His Sonatas, which contain many ingenious, and, at the time when they were composed, _new_ traits of melody and modulation, must yet be admitted to discover no great knowledge of the bow, or of the peculiar genius of the instrument and, if they are compared with the productions of his contemporary, Corelli, they will hardly escape being characterized as barbarous. This, the substance of Burney's remarks on this matter, though according somewhat fainter praise to Purcell than is a.s.signed to him by Mr. Hogarth, does not seem to differ much from the latter, in the essential points.

The arrival of Geminiani and Veracini, which took place in 1714, formed the commencement of an important epoch in the progress of the violin in England. The abilities of those eminent foreign masters established them as models for the study of our own artists, and confirmed the sovereignty of the instrument over all others, in our theatres and concerts. The next English performer to be noticed is-

WILLIAM CORBETT, a member of the King's band, and a violinist of celebrity, who was the leader of the first Opera orchestra in the Haymarket, at the time when "Arsinoe" was performed there. In the year 1710, when the Italian Opera, properly so called, was established (with "Rinaldo" for its initiatory piece), a set of instrumental performers were expressly introduced, and Corbett, though in the service of the King, was permitted to go abroad. Visiting Rome, where he resided many years, he made a valuable collection of music and musical instruments.

Some persons, professing to be acquainted with his circ.u.mstances, and fidgetting themselves to account for his being able to lay out such sums as he was observed to do, in the purchase of books and instruments, a.s.serted pretty roundly that he had an allowance from Government, besides his salary, with the commission to watch the motions of the Pretender! This anxiety to construe fiddling into politics, and to find the heart of a state-mystery in the head of a violinist, is of a piece with what has been already related as to Rode and Viotti.-Returning from Italy about the year 1740, Corbett brought over with him a great quant.i.ty of music which he had composed abroad. Full of ambition to print, and desire to profit, he issued proposals for publishing by subscription a work ent.i.tled "Concertos, or universal _Bizarreries_, composed on all the new _gustos_, during many years' residence in Italy." This strange medley he dragged into publication; but buyers were few and shy. It was in three books, containing thirty-five Concertos of seven parts, in which he professed to have imitated the style of the various kingdoms in Europe, and of several cities and provinces in Italy. In his earlier days, before he left England, he published, in a soberer vein, two or three sets of _Sonatas for Violins and Flutes_,-twelve _Concertos for all Instruments_, and several sets of what were called _Tunes for the Plays_. Corbett died, at an advanced age, in the year 1748, bequeathing by his will the best of his instruments to Gresham College, with a salary of ten pounds a-year to a female servant, who was to act in the demonstrative character. Her expositions of the merits of this collection, are not to be confounded with the "Gresham Lectures."

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN FESTING, performer and composer, but coming short of the summit in either capacity, was, I believe, of German birth, but nurtured to his art in England, under the direction of Geminiani. He filled the place of first violin at a musical meeting called the _Philharmonic Society_, and chiefly composed of n.o.blemen and gentlemen performers, who met on Wednesday nights, during the winter season, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand. On the building of the Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens, he was appointed sole conductor of the musical performances there. By his zeal and indefatigable exertion, he also contributed very essentially to the establishment of the _fund_ inst.i.tuted for the support of decayed musicians and their families; and for several years discharged, without any remuneration, the office of secretary to that excellent inst.i.tution. Its rise occurred in the year 1738, from the following circ.u.mstance. Festing, happening to be seated one day at the window of the Orange Coffee-House, at the corner of the Haymarket, observed, in the act of driving an a.s.s, and selling brick-dust, a boy whose intelligent countenance, contrasting with the humility of his rags, strongly excited his interest. On enquiry, the lad was found to be the son of a _musician_, who had fallen under the blight of adversity. Struck with sorrow and mortification that the object before him should be the child of a brother-professor, Festing determined to attempt some plan for his support. In this worthy purpose he was a.s.sisted by Dr. Maurice Greene-and from this germ of benevolence, sprang eventually the enlarged and estimable charity which has since flourished from season to season.

Inferior, as a performer on the violin, to several others of his time, Festing had nevertheless sufficient talent, in a.s.sociation with gentlemanly manners and conduct, to obtain considerable influence in the musical profession, and to derive an ample and constant support from the patrons of the art among the n.o.bility. Though not eminent as a composer, he has shewn some merit in his _solos_, and a very fair understanding of the nature and resources of the instrument. These solos are but little known, having been originally sold only by private subscription. Festing died in 1752. He was succeeded at Ranelagh, and at some of the Concerts, by Abraham Brown, a performer who had a clear, sprightly, and loud tone, but had no sense of expression.

THOMAS PINTO, who attained the honor of dividing with Giardini the leadership of the band at the King's Theatre, was born in England, of Italian parents. His early genius for the Violin was so well directed as to render his playing, as a boy, a theme of astonishment; and, long before he was of age, he was employed as the leader of large bands at Concerts. At this time, however, he fell into a train of idle habits, and began to affect the fine gentleman rather than the musical student-keeping a horse, and sporting a special pair of boots, as his custom of a morning, while a switch in his hand displaced the forgotten fiddle-stick. From this devious course he was reclaimed by the accident of the arrival of Giardini, whose superiority to all the performers he had ever heard, inclined him to think it necessary that he should himself recur to practice; and this he did, for some time, with great diligence. A very powerful hand, and a wonderfully quick eye, were the masterly possessions of Pinto, and enabled him to perform the most difficult music at sight. He played thus, indeed, with more advantage than after studying his subject; for then, in his carelessness, he would trust to his memory, and frequently commit mistakes-missing the expression of pa.s.sages, which, if he had thought them worth looking at, he would have executed with certainty. After leading at the Italian Opera whenever Giardini's more extensive avocations caused him to lay down the truncheon, Pinto was engaged as First Violin at Drury-Lane Theatre, where he led for, many years. On the death of his first wife, Sybilla, a German singer, he married another singer, Miss Brent (the celebrated pupil of Dr. Arne), and settled in Ireland, where he died in the year 1773.

MATTHEW DUBOURG, recorded to have been one of the most eminent of the race of English Violinists, was born in the year 1703, and gave very early evidence of his musical propensities. It does not appear from whom he derived his first instructions on the instrument; but, when quite a child, he played his first solo (a sonata of Corelli's) at one of the concerts of the eccentric Britton, the musical small-coal man. To make his infantine person sufficiently visible on that occasion, he was made to borrow elevation from a joint-stool; and so much was the "tender juvenal" alarmed at the sight of the splendid audience a.s.sembled for music and coffee in Britton's dingy apartment, that at first he was near falling to the ground, from dismay. When about eleven years of age, he was placed under the tuition of Geminiani, who was then recently arrived in this country; and, thus tutored, he was enabled fully to confirm the promise which his first attempts had exhibited. At the age of twelve, he was again before the public-having a benefit concert at what was called the Great Room in James Street. Before he had completed his seventeenth year, he had acquired sufficient power and steadiness to lead at several of the public concerts; the fulness of his tone, and the spirit of his execution, being generally noticed. A few years more sufficed to establish thoroughly his reputation; and, in 1728, he was honoured with the appointment of Master and Composer of the State-Music in Ireland.

This situation had been previously offered to his late preceptor, Geminiani, and by him declined on account of its not being tenable, in those jealously restrictive days, by a member of the Romish Communion.

As the duties of this employment did not require Dubourg's constant residence in Ireland, he pa.s.sed much of his time in England, where he was chosen instructor in music to the Prince of Wales, the Duke of c.u.mberland, and other amateurs, whose names might belong to a "Dictionary of Etiquette." On the death of Festing, in 1732, he was appointed Leader of the King's Band, which situation, together with his Irish post, he was so far a musical _pluralist_ as to retain until his death, which occurred in London in the year 1767. As a member of society, according to the testimony about him which remains, few men of his profession have rendered themselves more generally respected than _he_ did.

A considerable share of originality appears to have marked the style of this artist, who, if he derived essential aid from the great man that called him pupil, was any thing but his slavish imitator. "Dubourg's performance on the violin," says Sir John Hawkins, "was very bold and rapid-greatly different from that of Geminiani, which was tender and pathetic;-and these qualities, it seems, he was able to communicate; for Clegg, his disciple, possessed them in as great perfection as himself."

According to the same authority, the talent of Dubourg won for him many admirers, and among them a Mrs. Martin, who had become, from a Dutch widow, an English wife, and, being possessed of a large fortune, came to reside in London, where, during the winter season, she had frequent Concerts, resorted to by citizens of the first rank, and at times by some of the n.o.bility. A picture of Dubourg, painted when he was a boy, was, it seems, a conspicuous object in Mrs. Martin's Concert-Room.[56]

As a composer, Dubourg is, or rather was, known by the _odes_ he officially set to music in Ireland, and by a great number of _solos_ and _concertos_ for the violin, which he wrote for his own public performances. Though alleged to have possessed much intrinsic merit, none of these appear hitherto to have been printed; nor is it likely that they will ever now meet with that honour, as the change of fashion in music would hardly admit of their being rescued from "the dreary _fuimus_ of all things human." For a long time, however, his works (in their aforesaid ma.n.u.script state) continued in the possession of one of his pupils; and perhaps they are not yet scattered, but may be at this moment reposing in some dark old chest, undisturbed, save by the nibblings of the worms. In the faint hope of yet bringing some of them to the light, although with no view towards their multiplication, I have had recourse (but without success) to the friendly aid of that oft-times efficacious doubt-cleaver and knot-cracker, known by the name of "Notes and Queries." As to the _odes_ above referred to, they were _ex-officio_ celebrations of royal virtue, from the now-forgotten hand of Benjamin Victor, the poet-laureate, who has achieved for himself _no_ realization of the cla.s.sic wish, "victorque virm volitare per ora." Of several of these stately effusions, I have the words now before me. They might serve to provoke the smiles of another and a very different laureate, the living Tennyson; but, as a stimulus to _music_, I can say nothing for them-and can only _hope_ that my progenitor's attempts, in a.s.sociation with them, may have been worthy of better company.

While in Ireland, Dubourg was honoured with the intimacy of Pope's _Giant_, the Briarean Handel; and an anecdote, in which they are both concerned, serves to shew, amusingly enough, that tendency to _expatiate_ discursively on their own peculiar instrument, by which most performers of eminence are distinguished. Handel, in a spirit of charity that harmonized fortunately with his interest, but is not to be suspected of being on that account the less sincere, commenced his career in Ireland by presiding at the performance of the _Messiah_, for the benefit of the Dublin City-Prison. On a subsequent evening, Dubourg, as leader of the band, having a _close_ to make _ad libitum_, wandered about so long, in a fit of abstract modulation, as to seem a little uncertain about that indispensable postulate, the original key. At length, however, he accomplished a safe arrival at the _shake_ which was to terminate this long close, when Handel, to the great delight of the audience, cried out, loud enough to be heard in the remotest parts of the theatre-"Welcome home, welcome home, Mr. Dubourg!" One of the evidences of Handel's friendship for him, is to be found among his testamentary arrangements, which included a bequest of 100 in his favour.

During his location in Ireland, Dubourg was also visited (in 1761) by his master Geminiani, towards whom he always evinced the utmost regard, and who died in his house, at the great age of 96.

Garrett, Earl of Mornington, noted for his fine musical taste, no less than for his lineal antecedence to the Duke of Wellington, took the interest of a patron in this modest man of art, of whose ability he shewed a precocious discernment, in his very infancy-as the following little tale will explain.

The father of the Earl played well, as an amateur, on the violin, so as to give frequent delight to his child, whilst in the nurse's arms, and long before he could speak. Dubourg, happening on some occasion to be at the family seat, was not permitted by the child to take the violin from his father nor was the opposition overcome till his little hands were held. After having heard Dubourg, however, the case was altered, and there was then much _more_ difficulty in persuading him to let Dubourg give the instrument back to his father; nor would the infant ever afterwards permit the father to play, whilst Dubourg was in the house.

It appears that the name of this artist is the first on record in connection with the performance of a _violin concerto_ on the stage of an English theatre. At the oratorios given by Handel at Covent Garden in 1741 and 42, Dubourg occupied the ears and eyes of the public, in that way, for many successive nights. Several other performers took the hint, and started upon the same footing soon after[57]. This sort of exhibition, after some years, seems to have grown too common, to satisfy the public appetency; wherefore a Signor Rossignol, in 1776, undertook to perform after a mode which we should now style _a la Paganini_: indeed he seemed to go beyond the modern "miracle of man," for he advertised "a concerto on the violin, _without strings_." Whether the joke turned on the plural number, in particular, or (as the lawyers say) how otherwise, it is now impossible to ascertain.

Dubourg-peace to his gentle memory!-was interred in the church-yard of Paddington, where his calling in life, and his summons to death, were denoted in the following gracefully reflective epitaph:-

"Though, sweet as Orpheus, thou couldst bring Soft pleadings from the trembling string, Uncharmed the King of Terror stands, Nor owns the magic of thy hands."

JOHN CLEGG, a name as closely linked to misery as to talent, was, as already observed, a pupil of the last-named professor. He also travelled with Lord Ferrers into Italy, and much advanced his taste during his stay in that special home of the violin.

Castrucci, leader of the Opera-band in London during the early part of the last century, growing old, and losing much of his former vigour of execution, Handel, then at the head of the management, was desirous of placing Clegg in his station: but, knowing Castrucci to be in no exalted circ.u.mstances, and not wishing to wound his feelings, by making the intended change, without convincing him of his insufficiency, he adopted the following method for effecting his object:-He composed a violin concerto, in which the concertino (or second) part was purposely made as difficult of execution as the first. This piece he gave to Clegg, to be performed by him, accompanied by Castrucci; when the former executed his part with grace and facility, while the latter laboured through _his_ portion of the performance, in a lame and imperfect manner. Castrucci, backward as he had been to admit the rival pretensions of Clegg, was constrained to yield to him the palm of victory; and Handel obtained his wish-but nevertheless retained Castrucci in the band, and was otherwise his friend, in subsequent days.

The beauty of Clegg's tone, and the graces of his execution, won for him many admirers as a performer; but, alas! he purchased at far too dear a sacrifice the fame for which he strove. About the year 1742, he had so deranged his faculties by intense study and practice, that it became necessary to confine him in Bedlam. There, during lucid intervals, he was allowed the use of his instrument; and it was long an _amus.e.m.e.nt_, as fashionable as it was inhuman, to visit him, among other lunatics, in the hope of encountering him at some moment of security from his "battle of the brain," in order to be entertained, either by his fiddle, or his folly! Barbarity like this has now happily ceased to disgrace the movements of fashion, and only leaves a feeling of _wonder_, to qualify the indignation which its remembrance excites.

THOMAS COLLET, of eccentric memory, enjoyed the reputation of being one of our princ.i.p.al native performers about the year 1745, when he led the orchestra of Vauxhall Gardens; an appointment then more highly considered than in these days. Possessing very little, however, either of taste or of musical knowledge, he was always an inelegant player, and owed his success to his powers of execution alone; yet _these_ must have been exerted within a very confined compa.s.s, for Parke, in his "Musical Memoirs," a.s.serts Collet to have had such an aversion to _playing high_, that he dismissed one of his violin-performers for flourishing on the _half-shift_! Parke has added an anecdote about him, which must be confessed to savour not a little of the marvellous. "Although this gentleman, who was a great pigeon-fancier (continues Parke), did not go aloft on the _fiddle_, he went every day up to the top of his _house_, to see his pigeons fly; and on one occasion he was so lost in admiration of them, that, while clapping his hands and walking backwards, he walked over the leads of the house, and in the fall must have been dashed to pieces, had not his clothes been caught by a lamp-iron, to which he remained suspended (more frightened than hurt) until taken down by the pa.s.sers-by."