William Vincent Wallace Author(s): Susanne Cole and W. H. Grattan Flood Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 53, No. 835 (Sep. 1, 1912), pp. 595-596 Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/907641 Accessed: 29-02-2016 08:55 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 131.91.169.193 on Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:55:42 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-SEPTEMBER I, 1912. 595
' Music and Nationalism' to the recent action of the British for harmony rather than discord. There is nothing to be
section of the International Musical Society was a perfectly said against the choice of representative works from the
natural transition of thought. This organization and its 'Golden Age' of English music, although we think Dr.
policy fell inevitably into the ugly picture of musical Maclean overstates the case when he says that but for the
Chauvinism for which I had material and to spare. Congress our foreign guests might have died in complete
To turn from Dr. Maclean's criticism of my article to his ignorance of our 17th- and I8th-century music. Some of it
defence of the I.M.S. What are his vindications of the has been actually published in Germany, and it is occasionally
all-British programmes presented to our guests in May and startling to find that well-informed Continental musicians
June last? They seem to be threefold. First, he argues, know as much about it as we do ourselves. It is not,
there was the justification of German precedent. If Germany however, the selections from the 'Golden Age' that are
had to a great extent ignored British claims at the previous open to reproach or criticism, but those from an age which
Congresses, let us go one better and exclude the foreigner has not yet proved its claim to be so distinguished. When
altogether from the London programmes. This is what I it comes to dealing with metal that has hardly yet been
mean by 'a retaliatory policy of a weak and short-sighted minted and stamped as current coin in the musical marts of
kind.' But of course the proceedings of the council of thirty the world, a very tactful and delicate method of exploitation
may have been actuated by much higher motives. The idea becomes necessary.
may really have been the didactic one of instructing the Among the thirty who sat weekly in anxious conclave over
many learned and enthusiastic musicians who attended the this ticklish question, Dr. Maclean tells us some of the 'best
first British Congress in the things that it was good for business heads' were included. The obvious deduction is
them to hear. Let us hope so; but a cynical demon that a 'best business head' is not necessarily combined
whispers to me that the sentiment of cut for cut lay at the with an impartial or impeccable artistic taste.
basis of the whole policy. I have dealt with two of Dr. Maclean's lines of defence-
Dr. Maclean shifts the reproach of Chauvinistic action from the plea of precedent, and the shifting of responsibility from
the British section to the entire Society. In a Society styled the British committee to the whole organization of the
'International' it is doubtful diplomacy for one country to I. M.G. There remains yet a third which I prefer to
save its face at the expense of another. But since the pot indicate in his own not too-happily chosen phrases: 'The
has now called the kettle black, let us see what special London Congress Committee, in deciding what musical
justification the latter may have for its blackness. Since the entertainment should be given, considered first the fact that
foundation of the Internationale Musikgesellschaft in Berlin in the patriotic motive was the only one likely to take money
1899, three Congresses have been held in Germany. The out of the pockets of private individuals.' If this were a true
whole idea of the International Society emanated in the picture of unmusical England, my article on 'Chauvinism in
first instance from that country, and it was a very natural Music' would be justified indeed! But after all it would
thing in the infancy of the organization, when the German only represent one side of the question. The subscriptions
membership was probably largely preponderant, that the first gathered in when, metaphorically speaking, Britannia's
Congress should be held there, and should be devoted to helmet was handed round to individuals thus stigmatised as
native music. But it was not the music of their contemporary being too inartistic to contribute to music for its own sake,
composers that was pushed into prominence. With wisdom were certainly not ungenerous; but who can say that they
and dignity, the German Committee decided to give nothing might not have been still more liberal, had the appeal been
but the works of Bach in the centre which had witnessed made on a more liberal basis ?
his greatest activity. Considering the almost divine The Congress is over and done with, but we have its
significance of this composer, could a more glorious records enshrined in a weighty volume, so that it is
start have been made by any budding institution than inevitable that we should think over its results, and we are
the performance of his music, isolated from that of surely justified in asking ourselves: Did we make the most
all secondary names? The universality of Bach's genius of a great opportunity?--Has the Congress really been
must surely have excluded all questions of international beneficial and strengthening to our musical life? If the
claim on that occasion. The second Congress took place at majority of our British representatives reply in the
Basel in September, 19o6. The music performed there was, affirmative, so much the worse for majorities. Personally,
says Dr. Maclean, 'with the exception of one short piece by I can picture to myself a Congress at which the social
Purcell, all Continental music of a particular type.' Why not functions might be less brilliant-if indeed they were
say what type? The uninformed might infer that it was brilliant-and the ultimate results more artistic and
Strauss, Debussy, Max Reger, Ravel, Sinigaglia, or Sibelius further reaching. I do not believe I am in a minority of
-anything, everything in fact, that rigorously excluded the one in feeling that the Congress of 191I was in many ways
henpecked British school. The simple truth is that the music an expression of our weakness rather than of our strength;
given at the second Congress was sensibly limited to the kind but even if I stand alone, I must still unashamedly express
known as 'antiquarian.' The programmes were fairly evenly the hope that when the opportunity recurs, England, ignoring
divided between the early schools of the Netherlands, Italy, all precedent, however justifiable, may set the generous
Germany, and France ; the latter, represented by Couperin, fashion of a truly International gathering at which we shall
Rameau, Leclair, and others, taking a slightly prominent welcome not only the critics, professors, and learned musicians
position. English music was represented in the programmes of other lands, but the leading creative artists as well. It
by Purcell, Dowland, and Morley. Of the third Congress, should be possible to organize a Congress that would do us
held at Vienna in 19o09, Dr. Maclean says: 'Although an honour in our neighbours' eyes as well as in our own limited
effort was made towards having one concert with an vision.-Yours obediently, ROSA NEWMARCH.
international programme, the local committee did not see
[We comment on this letter on p. 575.--ED., M. T.]
their way to it, and all the music given was Austrian music.'
As an officer of the Internationale Musikgesellschaft Dr.
WILLIAM VINCENT WALLACE.
Maclean might have frankly alluded to the special justifica-
TO THE EDITOR OF ' THE MUSICAL TIMES.'
tion for this second national display; it was the centenary
of the death of ' Papa' Haydn, and the Viennese performances DEAR SIR,-I have read with much interest Dr. Grattan
were very properly consecrated to his music, or to that of Flood's centenary notice of the composer of ' Maritana,' but
his immediate predecessors and contemporaries. In all this as it contains some inaccuracies I shall esteem it a favour if
we can but admire the wisdom and moderation of the you will be good enough to allow me to correct them in the
German committees who, putting aside the temptation to set next issue of your paper. In the first place, your contributor
their living representatives of music in the forefront of claims Wallace as a convert to the Church of Rome as far
the pageant, restricted their programmes impartially to back as 1830. I fail to see how this could be, seeing that he
names that have been consecrated by the judgment of was admitted into the mysteries of Freemasonry many years
generations. after this date in New York. On his return to London
If at our first British Congress, held in May and June, Wallace was affiliated to the 'Mount Moriah' Lodge, of
191I, the committee thought fit to break with this admirable which he remained a member to the day of his death. I
precedent, they might at least, in striking certain have had his certificate of this Lodge in my hand, and I am
contemporary British notes, have struck also the international given to understand that it is now deposited in the Grand
one. The result would in the opinion of many have made Lodge, Great Queen Street, W.C. As Dr. Flood is a
This content downloaded from 131.91.169.193 on Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:55:42 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 596 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-SEPTEMBER I, 1912.
Knight of St. Gregory, I need not point out to him that the As to my statement that Wallace was attended on his
Church of Rome does not allow her sons to become members death-bed by his wife, I made it relying on the published
of Masonic Societies, and it is therefore highly improbable obituary notice in the Revue et Gazette hfusicale de Paris
that the composer ever embraced Roman Catholicism. I for October 27, 1865. I now admit that Miss Stoepel was
well remember that when the fund and concert were organized the lady who was with the dying composer, but the New
for his aged widow in 1895, Cardinal Vaughan at first refused York Herald distinctly announced the 'marriage' of
his patronage on the ground that Wallace was a Protestant. Wallace to this lady in October, 185o, an announcement
When it was explained to him, however, that Mrs. Wallace which was copied into the Mfusical World for November 9,
was a Catholic, he immediately allowed his name to be I85o. Furthermore, in the announcement of the benefit
added to the list of patrons. Vincent Wallace was buried in concert in January, I866, quoted by Miss Cole in her
Kensal Green Cemetery on October 25, 1865, with letter, the concert was stated to be 'for the benefit of
Protestant rites, and this could not have occurred had he the widow and children of the late Vincent Wallace.' In
died in the Roman Catholic faith. charity, I therefore assumed that Miss Stoepel was Mrs.
Again, Dr. Flood tells us that the composer separated from Wallace No. 2, but this would make the composer out a
his wife (nde Kelly) in Sydney in 1835,' whom he never bigamist if he had really married her, which was not the
saw again.' He then goes on to say that he was 'lovingly case.
attended by his wife' on his death-bed in 1865. This is Miss Cole is mistaken in her statement that at the time of
absolutely incorrect, for in this year Mrs. Wallace was bed- Wallace's death his wife was 'bedridden in Dublin and
ridden in Dublin and bereft of her reason. I am afraid the bereft of her reason.' A friend who knew Mrs. Wallace
late Sir Robert Stewart is responsible for all these absurd well tells me that he received music-lessons from Mrs. Wallace
stories about Wallace, and Sir George Grove was fully alive in Dublin in 1865 and 1866. She died in Dublin on
July 25, 1900. to this fact when he admitted to a friend of mine, in 1895,
that 'Sir Robert had drawn on his imagination.' Sir George Let me take this opportunity of announcing that an
Grove promised to make the necessary corrections in the influential committee, including the Bishop of Waterford
Dictionary, however, and this has been faithfully done by and Lismore, Lord Roberts, Count de la Poer, the Mayor
Mr. Fuller Maitland, the present editor. and High Sheriff of Waterford, Mr. Percy Fitzgerald,
In 1850 the New York Herald gave currency to a report Mr. Edmund Downey, Mr. Joseph O'Mara, and others, has
that Wallace had married Miss H6l~ne Stoepel, the pianist, been formed to hold a Vincent Wallace Centenary
but his son often assured me that no such marriage had ever Celebration in Waterford next November.
taken place either in America or elsewhere. Miss Stoepel Yours faithfully,
was a talented pianist, but she was also possessed of common-
W. H. GRATTAN FLOOD.
sense, and as she was well aware that Mrs. Wallace was
alive in Dublin, it is highly improbable that she would
consent to enter into a bigamous contract with the composer.
TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE MUSICAL TIMES.I
It was a liaison simply, and two sons were the issue of that
DEAR SIR,-I am obliged by your communication of the unfortunate attachment. They both committed suicide in
America, and Miss Stoepel died in New York, in 1885, aged 3rd inst., and thank you for giving me an opportunity of read-
ing Dr. Flood's letter. I merely wish to say that all my fifty-eight. After the death of the composer, a concert was
information is derived from the son of the composer, and as
organized in London 'for the benefit of Mrs. Wallace and
he administered his father's estate in 1865, I presume he her family.' It was a failure, however, as the following
knew the correct state of affairs better than any one else. extract from the Illustrated London News, January 13, 1866,
I am not concerned with the religious views of the composer, clearly proves :
and the point I wish more particularly to emphasise is that 'The Committee of Musicians and persons ccnnected with
Miss Stoepel was never his wife. It is quite correct to say the musical profession for the purpose of raising a " memorial
that the concert given in 1866 was advertised (erroneously) fund " for the benefit of the widow and children of the late
as 'for the benefit of Mrs. Wallace and her children.' It Vincent Wallace gave a concert (announced as the first of a
appeared in The Times in January of that year, and the series) for this purpose at the Hanover Square Rooms, on
announcement of my own annual concert appeared in the Thursday last. But it proved a failure, in so far as regards
same paper a few days after. Artists were asked to volunteer its object, for there were not as many persons present as could
for a second 'Wallace' Concert to be given in the following defray the advertising, lights, attendance, and other necessary
February, but it never took place, for the reasons stated in expenses ; the use of the Rooms and the services of the
my first letter. Mr. Vincent Wallace informed me that performers having been given gratuitously.'
his mother was seriously ill in Dublin at the time of his The concert was never repeated, for awkward questions
father's death, but Dr. Flood could not have been in close were being asked in the Press, and the lady on whose behalf
touch with this lady, or he would have known that she was the benefit performance was organized returned to New York
not at the composer's death-bed in 1865. He now admits to earn her livelihood by teaching. The composer had one
his error, and my point is gained. I have no desire to legitimate child only-William Vincent Wallace ; he died in
prolong this correspondence, and thank you for allowing me the Charterhouse on December 13, 1909.
to state my views in your paper.-Believe me, yours very Vincent Wallace was a gifted composer and musician;
truly, when one has said this, very little remains to be added with
benefit to the public. His poor wife died in Dublin in 1900oo, August 12, 1912. SUSANNE COLE, A.R.A.M.
after a long and painful illness-R.I.P. Believe me,
Yours very truly,
July 20, 1912. SUSANNE COLE, A.R.A.M. ST. GEORGE'S HALL, LIVERPOOL:
FIRST LADY PERFORMER.
TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE MUSICAL TIMES. [Before being printed the above letter was submitted to
Dr. Flood, whose reply is as follows ; and this letter in turn
SIR,-In your issue for August, under the heading of
was submitted to Miss Cole, whose final reply is also given.] 'Church and Organ Music,' you mentioned a recital, given
on Willis's magnificent organ in St. George's Hall, Liverpool, TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE MUSICAL TIMES.'
by Miss Lilian Frost, and you state that she is the only lady
DEAR SIR,-Miss Cole implies that Wallace was not a
who has played on this organ. Will you permit me to
convert to the Catholic Church in 1830, on the ground
contradict this statement by saying that I was present, on
that he was admitted to a Masonic Lodge in New York in
Saturday, June 8, 1895, at two organ recitals given in this
I842, and she adds that 'the Church of Rome does not hall by Miss Emily Edroff, and that I have copies of her
allow her sons to become members of Masonic Societies.'
programmes before me as I write.-I am, Sir,
Let me briefly say that Wallace undoubtedly became a
Yours faithfully,
Catholic in Thurles, and there it was he assumed his new name
'Lismore,' Hampton Hill, HENRY T. SILBERTHORPE. of 'Vincent.' But he also reverted in 1842. However,
Middlesex, Miss Cole is much mistaken in thinking that Catholics in
August 14, 1912. 1830 could not become Freemasons.
This content downloaded from 131.91.169.193 on Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:55:42 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions