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George P. Bridgetower and the Kreutzer Sonata Author(S): F George P. Bridgetower and the Kreutzer Sonata Author(s): F. G. E. Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 49, No. 783 (May 1, 1908), pp. 302-308 Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/902975 Accessed: 12-12-2015 03:13 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Musical Times Publications Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Musical Times. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 138.73.1.36 on Sat, 12 Dec 2015 03:13:09 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 302 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-MAY I, 1908. Mr. Charles Harry Moody, the presentorganist As a composer his principal contribution to and master of the choristers,was born at Dennis Church music is a festivalMagnificat in A, sung Park, Stourbridge,on March 22, 1874. A pupil at the Triennial Festival ofNorth-Eastern Cathedral first of the late Mr. G. W. Bates, organist of Choirs in York Minsteron July4, 1902. He has Stourbridge Parish Church, he was afterwardsalso written several songs, and he contributed articled to Mr. T. Westlake Morgan, late organist incidentalmusic, f6rchorus and orchestra,for the of Bangor Cathedral. From Sir John Stainer he Ripon Pageant of 1906. received many valuable hints, especially in the Mr. Moody is a keen antiquary. He has been important matter of accompanying the, choral prominentlyidentified with the flourishinglocal service,and Sir John,up to the time of his death, branch of the British Empire Shakspeare Society took the greatestinterest in the career of his young since its formationfive years ago, and he holds a friend. commission in what till recently was the Ist Aftergaining rich experienceas deputyorganist Volunteer Battalion, Prince of Wales's West of WorcesterCathedral, organist of St. Michael's Yorkshire Regiment, now merged into the College, Tenbury, and (in 1894) acting-organistTerritorial Army. of Wells Cathedral, Mr. Moody, at the age of For kind help in the preparationof this article the writer desires to express his thanks to the Rev. E. H. Swann, M.A., Precentor,for the use of his excellentphotographs ; to Mr. E. W. Winser, the Dean's Verger; and to Mr. C. H. Moody, organist and master of the choristers; also to Mr. G. Parker, author of 'Historic Ripon,' a useful guide to the city and cathedral, for the use of his photographs; and to Messrs. George Bell & Sons forthe illustrationon page 294. DOTTED CROTCHET. GEORGE P. BRIDGETOWER AND THE KREUTZER SONATA. An element of mystery,and more than an element of interest,surrounds the career of the mulatto violinist so intimatelyassociated with Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. Let us endeavour to tell this curious life-story,linking up the various incidentswith information hitherto unknown. George PolgreenBridgetower is said to have been born at Biala, in Poland. The year of his birth may be approximatelygiven as 1779. An official 18 documentof identity, dated 'London, i8 July, 17,' and signed 'Hugh Hammersley,'a member of the bankingfirm of that name, reads: I herebydeclare that I haveknown Mr. G. P. Bridgetower for a numberof years as the son of Mr. John Frederick Bridgetower& Maria his wife, & I never heardof their MR. C. H. MOODY. havingany otherchildren. ORGANIST AND MASTER OF THE CHORISTERS OF RIPON CATHEDRAL. (Photografh by Mr. J. H. Bayley, Rifion.) As we shall presentlysee, BridgetowerSenr. was known in England as 'The African Prince,' a twenty-one,became organist of Wigan Parish designationwhich hardlyaccords withhis Christian Church in December, 1895, and was appointed names. And then may not 'Bridgetower' have conductorof the Wigan and DistrictChoral Society. been an assumed patronymic? Thayer, in his In 1899 he was appointed organistof Holy Trinity 'Beethoven's Leben' (vol. ii., p. 385) raises this Church, Coventry,and in January,1902, on the question, and adds 'Whether Bridgetowerfound resignation of Dr. Crow, to Ripon Minster. Mr. his way to Biala and married a German or Moody is Lecturer in Music at the Ripon and Polish lady, is all a mystery.' On the other Wakefield Diocesan Training College. He hand it is stated (Musical World, December 4, conducts the Ripon Choral Society,and also the 1858, p. 771, note) that he was 'supposed by his Festival Choir, the latter sustaining the monthly friendsto be the son of an Indian princess,'while oratorio services held in the cathedral. He estab- the 'Dictionary of Musicians' (1825) states that lished annual cathedral performancesof Brahms's he 'is said to be a descendantof an Indian prince' ! 'Requiem' and Bach's 'St. Matthew' Passion, One thing is certain, from whichever parent he and his organ recitals are much appreciated. obtained his dark-huedvisage, he was a mulatto. This content downloaded from 138.73.1.36 on Sat, 12 Dec 2015 03:13:09 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions The Musical Times.] Refiroduced,full size, from a zvwaer-colourdrawing in t/ze ossession [May I, 19o8. of Mr. Arthur F. Hill, F.S. A., anzd by his kindl ermission. A?j GEORGEPOLGREEN BRIDGETOWER. 1782 ?--1860. This content downloaded from 138.73.1.36 on Sat, 12 Dec 2015 03:13:09 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-MAY I, 19o8. 303 Master Bridgetowerstudied under Barthelemon wonderfulboy. The fatherwas in the gallery, and so Giornovichi, Thomas Attwood, and - Haydn! affectedby the applause bestowed on his son, that tears Where he the earliest of his of pleasureand gratitudeflowed in profusion. The profits passed years wereestimated at twohundred childhood is unknown, but, assuming the guineas,many persons having givenfive guineas for each ticket. correctnessof the statement(to be presentlygiven) that he was a pupil of Haydn, he must have been The Bath newspapersof the day furnishus with in the neighbourhood of Vienna before he had some interestinginformation concerning the completed his tenthyear. Englishdebut of MasterBridgetower. His first Bridgetower did not make his first public concertis announcedthus in the Bath/Chronicle appearance in London, as has been stated, but of December3, 1789: in Paris, at the Concert Spirituel of April 13, AT THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS. 1789. In a transcriptof what appears to be the announcement of that music-making,he is thus For the Benefitof described : Master GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK BRIDGTOWER, Instruments: a youthof Ten Years old, Pupil of the celebratedHAYDN. On Saturdaymorning next, the 5th of December, will MR. GEORGES BRIDGETOWER -- - iolon. be a GRAND CONCERT of Vocal and Instrumental MUSICK; (Debut de Mr. Georges Bridgetower,n6 aux colonies de ans. when Master BRIDGTOWER will develope his talentson the anglaises,ag6 9 Violin. MR. PERRET - . - - - - Basson. Act I. Overture. Miss (The singerswere M. Lais, Mdme. Todi, Mlle. Maillard, Itaydn.-Song, Cantelo.- Quartetto, Mr. Harrison. Violin, and Mile. Lillette.) Pleyel.-Song, --Concerto MasterBridgtower, Viotti. That invaluable French periodical publication, Act II. Concerto Piano Forte, Mrs. Miles (late Miss Le Mercurede thusrecords the dtbut of Guest). Song, Mr. Harrison.-Concerto Violin, Master France, Piece. the 'English colonial' in thesewords : Bridgtower,Giornowich. -Song, Miss Cantelo.-Full To beginprecisely at Twelve o'Clock. Un debut curieux,& qui a infinimentinteresse, c'est celui Tickets5s. each, to be had at the New Assembly-Rooms, de M. Bridge-Tower,jeune Nigre des Colonies,qui a joud Pump Room, Lintern'sMusick Shop, at the Libraries,and plusieursconcertos de violon avec une nettet6,une facilite, of Mr. Bridgtower,at Mr. Phillips's,No. io, Duke Street. une ex4cution& memeune sensibilit6,qu'il est bien rarede rencontrerdans un age si tendre(il n'a pas dix ans). Son It will be observed that the boy's christiannames talent,aussi vrai que precose,est une des meilleuresr6ponses as above given are the same as those of the then que l'on puisse faire aux Philosophes qui veulent priver Prince of Wales, afterwards King George IV. ceux de sa Nation & de sa couleur,de la facult6de se Whether this was of an trick,or dans les Arts. part advertising distinguer for some other reason, the use, on this debut In the of that combination of names is followingmonth-May ' 27, 1789--thereoccasion, royal was announceda 'Concert la Salle du Pantheonsomewhat of a mystery. The concert was noticed a Paris,donne au beneficedu jeuneG. Bridgetower.'in the followingterms : The younggentleman then crossed the Channel, The amateursof music in this cityreceived on Saturday and, on the authorityof his father,we next last at the New Rooms thehighest treat imaginable from the hear of him at WindsorCastle, playingbefore exquisite performanceof Master Bridgtower,whose taste King George III. and his Court. Bath, then and executionon the violin is equal, perhaps superior,to the fashionablerendezvous of 'The Quality,'the best professorof the presentor any formerday. The is where we can next trace the child fiddlerConcert Room, Recesses and Gallerywere throngedwith the best of and scores went and his paternal relative. In the Morning Post very company, away without of being able to procurea hearing. Those who had that November 25, 1789, under 'Bath,' we gain of the curious information: happinesswere enrapturedwith the astonishingabilities following ' Amongst thiswonderful child-for he is but ten old. He is a those added to the years Sunday promenade [i.e., along mulatto,the (sic), it is said, of an AfricanPrince. the South grandson Parade] were the African Prince in the The greatestattention and respectwas paid by the nobility Turkish attire.
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