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

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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 . The year of his birth may be approximatelygiven as 1779. An official 18 documentof identity, dated ', 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 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.

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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 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 , 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. The son of this African Prince and gentrypresent to his elegantFather, who is one of the has been celebrated as a very accomplished mostaccomplished men in Europe, conversingwith fluency musician.' Why that dusky African should don and charmingaddress in its severallanguages. 'Turkish attire' as his 'Sunday best' is not quite A correspondentobserves, that he hopes whilst every obvious, unless he wanted to make an advertise- attentionis paid to the extraordinarymerits of the above ment impression in favour of his violinist son. phenomenon,it will not be forgottenthat he was invitedto Another extract from the Post of this city by Rauzzini,whose attentionto the public enter- MIlorning occasion and whose real and December also be : tainmenton every goodness 8, I789, may given disinterestednessof heart should meet with an encourage- BATH. ment equal to his deserts.- The Bath Journal, Monday, The young African Prince, whose musical talents have December7, 1789. been so much celebrated, had a more crowded and splendid In the same issue appeared the following'vote of concert on than has ever been known Saturday morning thanks' fromthe pen of the 'African Prince' : in this place. There were upwards of five hundred and fiftypersons present, and they were gratified by such skill To the NOBILITY, and GENTRY, Visitors, and Residents on the violin as created general astonishment, as well as of that wonderful city-BATH ! pleasure. Rauzzini was enraptured, and declared that he MR. BRIDGTOWER would wish to express his feelings had never heard such execution before, even fromhis friend with that Gratitudewhich is due to Generousand Noble- La Motte, who was, he thought, much inferior to this mindedBritons.

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The peculiardistinction with which his son and himself Later in the season he joined Clement, another have been honouredon this blessed Island-the AZYLE Of violinist prodigy, in giving a concert, under the the unfortunate,and which the poor wanderingStrangers patronage of the Prince of Wales, at the Hanover from the neighbourhoodof the Tropic, have experienced Square Rooms on June 2. The Abbe Vogler, withthe and sincerest purest delight. who was presenton that occasion, recordsthat the The Talents of his Son have now been honouredwith the united ages of the performersin the stringquartet graciousapprobation of thefirst Nobility and Gentryof this were under the first violin his firstPerformance in Public in Great fortyyears, player Kingdom, being (Clement) being only eight and a-half and the beforetheir at Windsor,and to Britain-excepting Majesties second violinist, from Africa,' ten theirRoyal Highnessesthe Princeof Wales, and the Duke 'Bridgetower Let a yearsold. of Cumberland. Thanks flowingfrom heart full of At the Handel Commemoration held infinite to of 1791, acknowledgmentsbe acceptable the Ladies, in Westminster and Hummel Noblemen,and who have so interested Abbey, Bridgetower gentlemen warmly sat on each side of Bates at the themselvesin his Favour! His Son, whose little heart Joah organ, whenthese two clad scarlet out is as sensiblytouched with the applause his Talents have boys, in coats,pulled producedand the liberalencouragement they have received, the stops forhim. In the same year we findhim unites with MR. BRIDGTOWER in this Testimony of among the violinists at the Haydn-Salomon Gratitude. Whilst they exist the City of BATH shall be concerts. He appeared at several of the Lenten foremostremembered in theirPrayers and Praises. Oratorios,given at the King's Theatre, in 1792, and on 28 he a concerto Viotti at Duke St., No. IO, SaturdayEvening, Dec. 5. May played by Barthelemon'sconcert, the announcementsstating that 'Dr. will at the Piano Forte.' In additionto the above concerts,Bridgetower played Haydn preside 'A concertoon the violin betweenthe 2d. and In the followingyear the boy was engaged to 3d. at a lecture Charles which is Acts' of a performanceof the 'Messiah' play given by Clagget, given best described froma littlebook entitled: (at Bath) on Christmas Eve, 1789, forthe benefit of Rauzzini. In the meantimethe had boy given ' A DISCOURSEON Music to be deliveredat Mr. a concert at ' Clagget's (December 18, I789) when, Attic Concertat the King's Arms, Cornhill,October 31, to Felix according Farley's Journal, 'he led the 1793. On this Evening,various Pieces will be performed, band with the coolness and spiritof a Cramerto and Songs accompaniedon Clagget'sAiuton; or Ever-tuned the astonishmentand delight of all present.' He Organ; an instrumentwithout Pipes, Strings,Glasses, or gave a second concert at Bristol on New Year's Bells, whichwill neverrequire to be Retunedin anyClimate. Day, i790, which caused some unpleasantnessin Many pieces will also be performedon HIS PERFECT PIANO regard to procedure, the account being too long FORTE ; And it will thenbe proved,they admit of regular and involved to be given here. Modulationthrough Twenty-nine Keys, everyone of which Having conquered Bath, Master Bridgetowerare as harmoniousas any of the few Keys we have to boast laid siege to London. He made his firstappearance on commonKeyed Instruments. in the metropolisat one of the Lenten Oratorio To be had at the King's Arms, Cornhill; and at the performances,Drury Lane Theatre, February Musical Museum,Greek-street, Soho. I9, Price One 1790, when he played a solo betweenparts i and 2 Shilling. of the 'Messiah.' In to the Lenten referring In this publicationClagget describes himselfas performancesof that year, W. T. Parke, the gossipingoboeist, says, in his 'Musical Memoirs' : Harmonizer of Musical Instruments,Inventor of the 'Concertos were performedon the oboe by me, Aiuton,or ever tunedOrgan, and of the evertuned Piano and on the violin, for the firsttime, by Master Forte,without Strings, of the Royal TeleochordonStop, for Bridgtower,son of an African prince, who was Harpsichords,-& Grand Piano Forte,also of the Cromatic attended by his father,habited in the costume of Trumpet& French Horn. Constructedto be performed the in use & Minor Without or his country The youth considerable upon keys Major Crooks, [!] displayed whatever. ability,and was much applauded.' The following undergoingany Change criticismson the boy's London debut appeared in Clagget's 'Night's Entertainment' included a two newspapersof the day : Haydn Quartet,played by 'Master Bridgetower, Sufficientas the Messiah would have been for an high Atwood Jun., and others,' in addition to the treat,the Managers had providedan additionaldish in a 'Eleventh solo of Corelli on the violin,'played by Concertoon the Violin by MasterBridgetower son to the Master Bridgetower,and accompaniedon the Royal AfricanPrince, a youth,as he appeared,not fourteen,but Teleochordon. Concerning the latter piece apparentlya complete master of the violin; we say, Clagget's littlebook says : apparently,as it wouldbe arrogantlypresumptuous in us to decide on musicalabilities.-He gave the utmostsatisfaction The eleventhSolo of Corelli,which Master Bridgetower in his performance,and we imaginethe more he is known, will now performon theViolin, is composedin E major. It he will be moreadmired.-(Public Advertiser,February 20, will be accompanied in regular thorough bass on the I790 ) Teleochordon. Upon common keyed instrumentsthe Master Bridgetower,son to the AfricanPrince, who has thoroughbass could not be played to morethan six bars, latelyfigured away so muchat Bath on the violin,performed although the Solo consistsof near five foliopages, nor can a Concertowith great taste and execution; his fatherdwelt theyaccompany one bar ofthe first Adagio. This is the true on everynote withrapture, and seemed highlygratified by stateof our Keyed instruments,and nothingis more easy the reiteratedplaudits so warmlybestowed on the young than to prove that their imperfectionsare much more Prince.-(London Chronicle, February 20, 1790.) numerousthan we have thisnight stated them to be.

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Bridgetower seems to have settled down in The concert took place in the Augarten,Vienna, London more or less as an orchestralplayer, as in at eight o'clock in the morningof probably May 'A Musical Directoryfor the year 1794' (a scarce 24, I803 (the exact day cannot be determined). book) we findhis name appears thus: As the time drew near forthe concert,Bridgetower became anxious Bridgetower,George, Violin, Ora DL, Abb.-No. 20, about the new work, the Eaton-Street,Pimlico. compositionof which Beethoven had put off until the eleventh hour. Ferdinand Ries tells us that the abbreviations standing for 'Oratorios Drury Beethoven called upon him at half-pastfour on the Lane' and 'Abbey Westminster,Grand Perfor- morningpreceding the concert,and asked him to mances in.' He was one of the firstviolinists of copy out withall speed the violin part of the first the Prince of Wales's private band who divided Allegro(his regularcopyist being otherwise engaged) their time between the Prince's residences in of which the pianofortepart was only sketched. London (Carlton House) and (the The lovelyvariations were literallyfinished at the Pavilion). last moment,and Bridgetowerhad to play his violin From letters addressed to him there can be no part as best he could from the more or less question that in his prime Bridgetoweroccupied a illegible manuscriptof the composer. The last good positionin London musical circles. That he movementwas ready in good time,as it originally was on intimate terms with some of the leading formedthe finale of the Sonata in the same key musicians of the time is proved by his being (Op. 30), dedicated to Alexander I., Emperor of addressed as 'My dear George' by Viotti (who Russia. held him in the highest esteem), Frangois Cramer, Bridgetowerrecorded on his copy of the Sonata Thomas Attwoodand Dr. Charles Hague, Professor a veryinteresting incident in connection withthe of Music at Cambridge University,at whose first performanceof this magnificentwork. In concerts the mulatto violinist often played. The Thayer's 'Beethoven's Leben' it is given in a letters addressed to him by Samuel Wesley and German form,but through the kindness of Mr. printedin the April issue of THE MUSICALTIMES H. E. Krehbiel, of New York, the English editor (p. 236) show that he was on friendlyterms with of the new edition of Thayer's book, we are thatdistinguished Bach-loving musician; moreover, enabled to give the note exactly in Bridgetower's it is interestingto find that Bridgetower'sname is own words. He says: in the list of subscribers to the first English 'When I accompanied him [Beethoven] in this edition, that of Wesley and Horn, of Bach's Sonata-concertanteat Wien at the repetitionof the 'Das wohltemperirteClavier,' published between firstpart of the Presto,I imitated the flightat the the years I8Io and 8I13. And has not Wesley I8th bar of the pianofortepart of this movement leftthe followingappreciation of his friend? thus: GeorgeBridgetower, whom theyused to denominatethe Inmavolta. AfricanPrince, is justly to be ranked with the veryfirst mastersof the violin. He practisedmuch with the celebrated Viotti,and imbibedlargely of his bold and spiritedstyle of execution. It was a richtreat for a lover of the instrument to hear him performthe matchlessand immortalsolos of SebastianBach, all of whichhe perfectlyretained in memory and executedwith the utmostprecision, and withouta single error. Indeed, whateverthe composition,or whoeverthe 2d volta. authorwhose music he undertookto perform,he treatedin so perfectand masterlya manneras to yield entire and universaldelight and satisfactionto everyauditor.-(British Museum, Add. MS. 27,593,f va o109.) - - ', ?-_-___-?__ In 1802 Bridgetowerobtained leave of absence from the Prince of Wales (afterwards King George IV.) to visit his mother,then residing at -where he gave concerts on July 24, 'He jumped up, embraced me, saying, "Noch and 1802, March, 1803-and to take the baths at einmal, mein lieber Bursch" [" Once more, my Teplitz and Carlsbad. His connection with the dear fellow"]. Then he held the open pedal English Court enabled him to obtain valuable during this flight,the chord of 6 as at the ninth lettersof introductionto influentialpersons abroad, bar. so much so, that at Vienna he had a most brilliant ' Beethoven's expression in the Andante receptionamong the highestmusical circles in the [variations] was so chaste, which always charac- Austriancapital. terizedthe performanceof all his slow movements, From Dresden he made his way to Vienna, that it was unanimouslyhailed to be repeated twice. where he not only enjoyed the friendshipof 'GEORGE POLGREEN BRIDGETOWER.' Beethoven, but he induced the masterto compose somethingfor his concert. With what result?- An interesting and important light upon the the Sonata forpianoforte and violin in A (Op. 47), dedication of the Sonata is to be found in the known the world over as the 'Kreutzer Sonata.' Musical World of December 4, 1858. In a

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 306 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-MAY I, 1908. letterwritten to the editor by J. W. Thirlwall, a ActI. Overture,Zauberfl6te-Mozart ; Song, Sig. Morelli well-knownviolinist of that time,he says : -Cimarosa ; Concerto,Violoncello, Mr. F. Bridgtower- In respectto the KreutzerSonata, Bridgetowertold me, Romberg; Song,Sig. Viganoni-Paer ; Sestettofor Violin, thatwhen it was written,Beethoven and he were constant Tenor, Violoncello, Clarinett,Horn, Bassoon,and Double companions,and on the firstcopy was a dedicationto his Bass by Messrs. Bridgtower,Shield, F. Bridgtower, friendBridgetower; but, ere it was published,they had Kramer, Rehn, Malsh, and Dragonetti-Beethoven; somesilly quarrel about a girl,and in consequenceBeethoven Song, Mrs. Ashe; Concerto,Violin, Mr. Bridgtower- scratchedout the name of Bridgetowerand insertedthat of Bridgtower. Kreutzer-a man whomhe had neverseen. Act. II. New Grand Symphony-Beethoven; Scena, In confirmationof the statement that the Miss Parke--Guglielmi;New Grand Duet fortwo Piano composer and the mulatto violinist were friends, Fortes,Mrs. Billingtonand Mr. Cramer-Cramer; Duet, there are two short letters from Beethoven to Miss Parke and Sig. Viganoni; Finale ; Piano Forte, Mr. G. Bridgetowercouched in the most genial terms,in Smart. addition to the letterwhich we give in facsimileas Tickets,Half-a-Guinea cach, to be had of Mr. Bridgtower, Great St. one of the extrasupplements to the present issue. 4, Ryder Street, James's; Birchall's New Bond Street; Old Bond Clementi The following is an English translation of a Monzani, Street; & Co., letterof introductionin which it will be observed Cheapside; and Bett's,Royal Exchange. Beethoven his friend'sname 'Brischdower' spells ! The violoncellist, 'Mr. F. Bridgtower,'in the To MonsieurBaron Alexandre de Wezlar. above advertisementwas doubtlessa brotherof the At March home, I8th. subject of this biographicalsketch. we have never I take the of Though spoken, liberty For the next few years Bridgetowerseems to recommendingto you the bearer of this note, Mr. Brischdower, have lived in London. An event in his a skilfulvirtuoso and masterof his instrument.He important very life was the taking of the degree of Bachelor of his Concertosand Quartetsexcellently, and I much plays Music at the Universityof For this wishthat would himsome acquaintances. With Cambridge. you procure he composed an exercise to words written Lobkowitz,Fries, and all otherdistinguished amateurs, he by F. A. Rawdon, which has becomeacquainted with advantage. began: I thinkit would not be a bad plan were you to takehim By faithsublime fair Passiflora steers one eveningto Theresa Schonfeld,where, I know many Her Pilgrimagealong thisvale of tears, friendsare in the habitof going, or to receivehim yourself. The hopes of Heaven alone her thoughtsemploy, I knowthat you yourself will thankme forhaving procured Christis her glory,and the Crossher joy. you thisacquaintance. Good bye, Herr Baron. Yours obediently, The exercise was performed,accompanied by a BEETHOVEN. fullband, at Great St. Mary's Church, Cambridge, on In his application to the Vienna police for CommencementSunday, June 30, 1811, in the of the Chancellor of permissionto give his concert,Bridgetower signed presence the University, H.R.H. the Duke his name 'August Bridgetower.' Those who of Gloucester, then on a visit to The purchased ticketsincluded the BritishAmbassador Cambridge. Timnesof July 2, I8II, in a notice of the connected with the (50), Prince Esterhazy(io), Prince Lobkowitz(20), doings royal referred to the 'anthem Count Rasomousky (5), Princess Liechtenstein, visit, composed by Mr. the an and others; some of these names willbe recognised Bridgtower, celebrated violinist, as exercise for his as among those in Beethoven's aristocraticcircle, Bachelor's degree in music,' 'The the total amount realized by the sale of tickets adding composition was elaborate and rich; and to the being 1,140 florins. Czernyappears to have been highlyaccredited talentsof the Graduate. The triostruck its present,as he recordsthat 'Bridgetowerplayed so us, particularly,by beauty; but Master Hawes was not very extravagantlyas to cause laughter,'but as the equal to his solo parts.' In the he received a letter composer of the pianofortestudies was then a boy followingyear dated Duchess from of only twelve years of age, his judgment should '2, Street,April 30, 1812,' Dr. Crotch, which : not be taken too seriously. reads Bridgetowerreturned to London vid Dresden, MY DEAR SIR,-As I findyou are frequentlyin company his passport (dated July27, 1803) fromthe latter with the Prince Regent, could you do me the favorto place describing him as 'a musician,a native of mentionmy Oratorio to his R.H., or if thatis disagreeable Biala (Poland), aged twenty-fouryears, medium to you wouldyou be so kind as to informme what is the height, clean shaven, swarthycomplexion, dark regular way of proceedingin such cases. It is to be brownhair, browneyes, and straight,rather broad repeatedMay 26th,and the Patronageof H. R. H. wouldadd nose.' On May 23, 18o5, he gave a concert in mucheclat to ye business. London, which was announced thus in the I am Dear, Your most sincerely Morning Chronicleof that day: WM. CROTCH. NEW ROOMS, HANOVER SQUARE. The oratorio above referredto is 'Palestine,' Under the patronage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. produced at the Hanover Square Rooms, April 21, I8I2. MR. BRIDGTOWER leave to inform the begs Nobility, was not one ofthe Gentry and his Friends, that his Concert will take place this AlthoughBridgetower original evening. Mrs. Billington and Mr. J. Cramer have kindly membersor associates of the PhilharmonicSociety, offered to play the same Duett as at Messrs. Cramer's his name appears in the programmeof the fourth concert on Monday last. concertof the firstseason (May 3, 1813), as leader

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 1, 19o8.

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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, 1908. 307 of Beethoven's 'Quintett,' his colleagues being evidentlymoving in aristocraticcircles. We find F. Cramer, Moralt, H. Gattie, and Lindley ; at him in London in August, 1843, througha letter the sixthconcert (May 31, 1813), he played second addressed to him by Vincent Novello, who signs violin in a Quartet by Mozart. At that timehe himself 'your much obliged old pupil and was probablyan Associate,as he was re-admittedto professionaladmirer'; that Novello studied under the Society on November 6, 1819, being then Bridgetoweris a new biographical.fact. John Ella married,for Mr. Watts,the Secretary,wrote to him has recorded that he met the mulattoviolinist in saying that, 'by a vote of the General Meeting Vienna in 1845 ; he was again in London in 1846, [held April 14, 1819] Mrs. Bridgetoweris invited and there are letters in the collection of Mr. to accompany you as usual to the concerts, &c., Edward Speyer which prove that Bridgetowerwas until the usual formscan be gone throughfor your at St. Cloud, Paris, in 1848. re-admission.' He seems to have had a connection No biographerhas hithertodiscovered the date with the Professional Society during i815, an and place of Bridgetower'sdeath, the nearest organization which was a short-livedrival to the approach thereto is that 'he is believed to have PhilharmonicSociety. died in England between 1840 and I850.' We The remainingyears of Bridgetower'slife were have, however,been able, througha curious chain more or less passed in obscurity. So far as is of clues, to obtain definite informationon this knownhe appears to have lived abroad fromabout point. Subjoined is a certifiedcopy of the register 1820 to 1843. He wasat Rome in 1825 and 1827, of his death as obtained fromSomerset House:

Certified Copy of an Entry in a REGISTER OF DEATHS, Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE, (6 & 7 Wm.IV., cap. 86.) 2/ SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON.

REGISTRATION DISTRICT Camberwell

I86o. DEATHS in the Districtof Peckham in the Countyof Surreyv

N. When d Where Name and Surname. and Sex. Age. Profession.Rank or ofDeath.Cause Signature,an Residencefo Description, of ReWhen teed. SignatureRegistrar. of Where .When i~Informant. I Twentyninth February Synocha X The markof 186o Ann Io days Chapman Second Chas. Jno. 373 8 Victory GeorgePolegreen Male Calculus Presentat theDeath ScarCh 78 of aNicolles Cottages Bridgetower years long NeptuneCottage 86o Registrar BedfordStreet standing Park Street Montpellier Certified Camberwell Road

CERTIFIED to be a trueCopy ofan Entryin the CertifiedCopy ofa Registerof Deaths in the Districtabove mentioned. Given Seal at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE, SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON, under the Seal of the said Office,the 3rd day of March, 19o8.

It will be observed that the informantof in South London without success. Then that death Bridgetower's was an illiteratewoman who great walhalla of literaryand musical celebrities, could not write; this will doubtless account for Kensal Green Cemetery, was tried, with the the phonetic spelling of his second name. As resultthat the remains were found to be interred the mulatto violinist died in a back street at therein 'Compartment 9, Vault 39, Catacomb B. it be assumed that Peckham, may he had 'come (No. 15,780).' The coffin bears the following down in the world.' In the year i86o, No. 8, inscription: Victory Cottages was apparently known as '8, Norfolk Street,' the name of the occupier being enteredin the rate-bookas 'Bridge,' without George PolegreenBridgetower Esq. any Cfiristianname. Neitherthe name of Bridge, Died 29th February,I860. nor thatof Bridgetower,appears in the Post Office Aged 78 years. Directory (London Suburbs) of 186o, which contains the names of only three residents in Norfolk Street,all of them tradesmen-a grocer, A fewmonths beforehis death-on September a beer retailer,and a dairyman. Io, 1859-Bridgetower made a will in which he With regard to the discovery of Bridgetower'sbequeathed the whole of his propertyto a married place of burial, application was successively sister of his late wife, whose maiden name was made to the Superintendentsof three cemeteries Drake. The will was proved on July 3, I86o,

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 308 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-MAY I, 19o8. by the executor, the testator's friend 'Samuel Dr. Hague, of Cambridge,in the year 1805-with Appleby, Esq., Solicitor, of 6, Harpur Street, permission to reproduce it, together with the Red Lion Square,' the estate being sworn 'under Beethoven letteras two of our extrasupplements, 61i,ooo.' The will is signed 'G. P. Bridgetower,'both forthe firsttime. but the preamble gives his name as 'George Thanks are also due to the followinggentlemen Polgreen Bridgetower,of Peckham,' followed by for their kind help: Mr. Thomas Burgess, the words 'being about to go to Paris.' It is Superintendent of Kensal Green Cemetery; more than probable that he inherited some Mr. J. D. Davis, a well-knownmusician of Bath, propertyleft by his mother,who died soon after for searching and copyingextracts from old Bath his visit to her in 1803, judging fromthe followingnewspapers; Mr. H. E. Krehbiel, of New York; legal notice which appeared in The Times of Mr. Edward Speyer; and Mr. C. William Tagg, October 23, 1832 : Town Clerk of Camberwell,for searchingthe old rate-booksof that to and who have Borough. Notice Heirs others-All persons any F. G. E. claim on or to Property,amounting to about 800 Saxon Dollars, leftby the late Mary Ann Bridgtower,who died at Budissen on the IIth of September,1807, are hereby directedto make knownand prove the same by themselves, lRote0. or theirattornies, at the sittingsof the magistratesof the occastonaI said town,on or beforethe I2th of March, 1833,or theywill forfeitall rightand title to the said property-Dated at Theyear 's at thespring, in the of 8th Budissen, kingdom Saxony, August,1832. By And day's at themorn, orderof the SittingMagistrates. Morning'sat seven, The As a is unknown to hill-side'sdew-f~earled.: composer, Bridgetower The lark's on the fame. In the new edition of Grove's wing, 'Dictionary on the of Music and Musicians' The snail's thorn; (art. Bridgetower, God's in His heaven- vol. it is stated that there are i., p. 402, note) All's withthe world.' 'some MS. compositions' by him in the British right Museum, but this needs correctionby substituting ROBERT BROWNING. the word 'printed' for 'MS.' The chief of these published compositions by Bridgetower How the heart of Samuel Wesley would have is 'Diatonica Armonica for the pianoforte' rejoiced had he lived in this year of grace 19o8t (1812). This work, 'dedicated to his pupils,' Why? Because he wouldhave seen the rich fruition consists of forty-onestudies, in scale passages, of the Bach-seed he sowed, in season and out of forthe instrument. There is also a ballad entitled season, a centuryago. Here, in the presentissue we have the satisfactionof 'Henry,' which was 'sung by Miss Feron and of THE MUSICAL TIMES, dedicated to Her recordingno fewerthan five performances of thegreat humbly with permission Royal B Mass-in at a northernsuburb of the of the said minor London, Highness Princess Wales,' London, Dublin, Leeds, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. permission having been given in a letter dated Moreover,the workwas giventwice on December16 'December 11, I8Io.' The song is signed, by last-in London,and, forthe firsttime in Scotland,at the composer, 'G. H. P. Bridgetower,'a form Edinburgh; also at Oxfordand Cambridgeduring the of his name which agrees with that given in past term,making a totalof nine performanceswithin fourmonths in various of the United the Gentlemen's Magazine of 1811 in con- parts Kingdom. nection with the Cambridge event above referred to. Here it may be observed that the various a spellings of and discrepancies in Bridgetower's It shouldnot be forgottenthat Wesley was very name are in their In the practicalpropagandist of the worksof THE MAN,as puzzling variety. a BritishMuseum are two books of' he designatedhis great hero. Nearly hundredyears printed Minuets, have run their course since he introducedBach's for the German and &c., violin, mandolin, flute, vocal music into England. It was at Wesley's harpsichord,composed by an African,'who may be 'Musical Morning Party,' given at the Hanover Bridgetower. They are inscribedrespectively 'to Square Rooms on June3, 1809, thatthe motet'Jesu, his Grace Henry, Duke of Buccleuch,' and to the meine Freude' ('Jesu, Priceless Treasure') was of its first ' Right Honble. JohnLord Montagu,of Boughton.' performed,and that within six years Three of these dance tune are scored publicationin Germany. Why the great B minor compositions Mass had to waittill the 1876 beforeit received forhorns, violins, and basses. year its completeinterpretation in thiscountry is a mystery, The freshinformation contained in the foregoingand, at the same time,a seriousreflection on the Bach biographical sketch has largely been obtained loverswho came afterWesley. Now we are atoning through the interesting collection of letters forthis neglect, and performancesare sureto be given addressed to Bridgetower,and other documents in places wherethe sublimestrains have not hitherto to now in the of Mr. been heard. To quote froma letter writtenby relating him, possession and addressed to Arthur F. who has and Wesley on December 8, I8o8, Hill, F.S.A., generously : at the of the BenjaminJacob, organist of SurreyChapel 'Depend unreservedlyplaced them disposal on it thereis nothingmore necessaryto renderhis present writer. To him special thanks are also divineStrains the Chiefdelight and solace ofall truly due for the loan of the only known portrait of harmonizedSouls, but an assiduous cultivationof Bridgetower-presentedby the mulattoviolinist to them.' Perfectlytrue !

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