· ...... SAMUEL FELSTED'S JONAH THE EARLIEST AMERICAN ORATORIO by Thurston Dox

HE PASSAGEWAY FROM listed as "Jonah, an Oratorio, Samuel, the first of four children, almost total obscurity to a disposed for Voice and was born there in 1743. place in music history's hall Harpsichord," was published in 1775 After William's death in 1767, of fame opens to few by Longman, Lukey and Broderip Samuel became organist at St. composers. Samuel Felsted for Felsted. Andrew, where he later composed of Jamaica (1743-1802) is Samuel Felsted was not British, Jonah. In 1783 he was appointed certainly one who has however. He was Jamaican. His organist of the Kingston Parish traveled through that father, William Felsted, was an iron­ Church, the largest and most doorway in record time. Considering monger - a hardware merchant prestigious church on the island. The that absolutely nothing was previous organist, Daniel mown about the life of this DeLuskie, had served the composer until the late church for 41 years and was 1970s, his sudden rise to most likely responsible for visibility is astounding. some of Samuel's education In October 1789, during in music. Samuel continued his inaugural tour to Boston, as organist at the Kingston George Washington was Parish Church until his honored by a concert at the death in 1802. Stone Chapel (then called The Felsted family was King's Chapel) in the heart not wealthy, though they of the old city. The featured eventually owned a work on the program was respectable amount of the oratorio Jonah by income property. This fact, Samuel Felsted.1 In along with other convincing reporting the performance of evidence,5 supports the Jonah, Oscar Sonneck, the contention that Samuel godfather of American music Felsted did not leave history, could do little more Jamaica either for an than account for it as education abroad or for any Boston's first hearing of a other reason. He was a complete oratorio. His par­ native-born American enthetical anecdote, "even if composer who spent his it was only Jonah, ... by entire life on the island of the obscure Samuel Felsted, Jamaica and is now to be who seems to have been respected along with better mown in America contemporary musicians of than in England," reveals the who had come to Jamaica in the the northern colonies. assumption that the composer of 1730s. William was also an amateur For almost a century the Felsted Jonah must have been English. 2 The musician and was organist at the family maintained a prominent place publication of the original score of Parish Church of St. Andrew near in Jamaican musical life. Samuel's Jonah in London gives support to the town of Kingston.3 Around 1737 sister, Christiana, and his only son, this assumption. The score, now he moved his hardware business to John Lawrence, were organists at owned by the British library and Boston where he met J oyce Weaver. 4 the Parish Church of St. Andrew. A They were married in Philadelphia second William Felsted is listed in Dox is Professor of Music at Hartwick (May 1, 1741) while en route to a the Feurtado manuscripts at the College in Oneonta, New York. permanent residency in Jamaica; Institute of Jamaica Library as

February 1992 Page 27 "Organist, St. Catherine, 1819" interests, Felsted forwarded speci­ continuous access to the currents of (meaning, organist of the Spanish mens of native Jamaican butterflies cultural life abroad. Musicians, small Town Cathedral, Parish of St. and designs for a horizontal as their numbers were, could easily Catherine). Grandchildren of windmill to the Society as evidence obtain published scores and William and Joyce lived in Jamaica of his activities as a botanist and an instruments from Europe to remain into the nineteenth century, but the inventor.7 Regarding his trilogy of au courant. All this is apparent in family name disappears from public talent in the arts, it is reasonable to Felsted's writing. records after the 1830s. assume that he was the poet-librettist Jonah is clearly an oratorio in the Even though Samuel Felsted spent for Jonah and was indeed a painter. commonly accepted sense of the his entire life in Jamaica, his The Institute of Jamaica documents time; that is, it is an unstaged notoriety was by no means limited to that a painting of a Kingston dramatic work on a biblical subject the island. In 1771 his application residence by S. Felsted, dated 1778, for chorus, soloists, and for membership in the newly-formed was offered for sale to the Institute instrumentalists. Considering the American Philosophical Society was in 1947 by a London art dealer. 8 composer's British connections, approved and he became one of a however, it is surprisingly unlike small number of applicants from the Handefs later oratorios. The single­ West Indies to be admitted into that unit structure of Jonah bears little select company, which included relationship to the massive two- and Benjamin Franklin and other Two of the subscribers of three-part molds in which those colonial intellectuals. The application the first engraving of monumental works (Messiah, Judas itself opens a much broader view of Maccabeaus, Samson, Israel in Felsted. The supporting recom­ Jonah were the famous Egypt) were cast. Its structure­ mendation by his sponsor, a British-American painter, with successive recitatives and arias, Dr. James Smith, refers to Felsted as and few choruses - is more like possessing "merit in the three sister Beniamin West and the Handefs very early oratorios. sciences, Poetry, Painting and Music, for which he has a natural genius."6 engraver Francesco 1) Overture In further testimony to his scholarly Bartolozzi. 2) Recitative - Narrator, "Jonah, Arise! to Nineveh Repair" 3) Air - Jonah, "Out of the Deep, Oh God I Cry" 4) Air - Jonah, "Billows Foam Felsted was no stranger in Around My Head" England. Two of the subscribers of 5) Recitative - Narrator, "The the first engraving of Jonah were the Lord Commands, With Haste famous British-American painter, the Fish Obeys" Benjamin West and the engraver 6) Air - Jonah, "My God and Francesco Bartolozzi, both of whom King, to Thee I Sing" served the British crown during their 7) Recitative - Narrator, "Jonah, careers. West painted the picture of Arise, Again Thy Steps Prepare" Jonah used for the cover of the score 8) Air - Jonah, "Lord I Obey, and Bartolozzi made theengravingi Taught by Thy Pow'rful Hand"· Connections such as these in the 9) Recitative - Jonah, "Repent, cultural milieu of Felsted's world Ye Men of Nineveh, Repent" must be acknowledged as highly 10) Chorus of Ninevites, "Have significant. Mercy Lord and Hear Our Plaintive Cries" Felsted's oratorio, Jonah, 11) Recitative - Narrator, "God THE TALE OF THE represents a mixture of stylistic Saw Their Works, He Listen'd RINGS OF POWER attitudes, although it is not nearly as to Their Prayer" Text by J. R. R. Tolkien Music by Thomas Peterson benighted as one might anticipate 12) Chorus, "Tune Your Harps Thomas Peterson's 80 minute musical from an eighteenth-century resident Your Voices Raise" saga based on Tolkien's Lord of the Rings of Jamaica. The island was far more and The Silmarillion. For narrator, boy strategic as a cornerstone of colonial Three other aspects of oratorio sopranos, soloists, chorus and orchestra. commerce and politics than could style also need to be considered. Info., scores, and rentals: ever be imagined today when one First, as Baroque and Classical considers its present international oratorios go, Jonah is a relatively Cynthianlll!!l position and its more familiar role as short work (1:lbout 40 minutes). Publications lfJ a mecca of tourism. Eighteenth­ Secondly, in addition to the 1301 No. 4th St. Fargo, ND 58102 century Jamaica played a vital part narrator, there are only two roles for (701) 280-2009 in the trade linkage with England soloists, 9 and there is no dramatic and provided the inhabitants dialogue between them. Finally, the

Page 28 CHORAL JOURNAL accompaniment is for keyboard, style and certain phrases strongly The work was dedicated to Louise with the opportunity of obbligato suggest the composer may have Dalling, wife of John Dalling, then instruments or, if one wished, known Rander s organ concerti Lt. Governor of Jamaica. In the instrumental doubling of selected rather well. Also, underneath the dedication Felsted refers to "this little keyboard lines. 10 entire score, Felsted's knowledge of piece, which is submitted to the All this suggests that Felsted did figured bass appears very well candor of its judges as my first not conceive Jonah as entertainment attempt at composition."12 Felsted in the concert hall, but rather as an set out to have it subscribed, edifying element within the context soliciting patrons to underwrite its of worship. Such an attitude was publication by purchasing scores in consistent with that aspect of the There is no doubt that advance. Two hundred and thirteen Enlightenment in Germany which F elsted's Jonah was the individuals responded, an impressive held that the chief function of all register for any composer under church music was to edify-to first dramatic oratorio to patronage. The list included, in induce feelings of reverence. In addition to Benjamin West and addition, the proportionately be composed in the New Francesco Bartolozzi, the Governor reduced use of the chorus is more World. of Jamaica, British military officers, characteristic of 18th-century Italian members of the Jamaican Assembly, oratorios than either German or court judges, attorneys, merchants, English works, as is the placement of organists, and plantation owners these choruses at the endY The pre­ from all over the island. It seems classical spirit moved freely in schooled. Felsted was in close touch that Felsted was very well known Felsted's cosmopolitan musical with his musical present and yet, and respected within the confines of thought, often identifying itself with hardly detached from the immediate his insular world. C.P.E. Bach and studiously avoiding past in which he was reared. The story of Jonah itself, as told imitative counterpoint. At the same The exact date and circumstances by Felsted, has been condensed into time, vestiges of the past remain. of the composition and first five recitatives which are interspersed The simple recitatives are Baroque in performance of Jonah are unknown. between Jonah's reflective arias. The

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February 1992 Page 29 two choruses come as the lengthy recitative. In 44 measures, of praise and thanksgiving to the denouement of the drama, the first the story moves from the point at creator ("My God and King, to Thee being the Ninevites' plea for mercy, which Jonah receives God's call to I Sing"). In a spirit of total and the second, a reflective chorus save Nineveh from destruction, repentance, he reiterates the phrase expressing joy and praise at God's through the reluctant prophet's "my humble voice I raise," and forgiveness. frenzied voyage to escape commits his life to praise in serving a The overture to Jonah, an responsibility, to his legendary merciful God. This aria contains energetic Italian sinfonia in three sojourn in the belly of the whale. several passages of zestful coloratura sections (Examples la, lb, and Ie), Rapid scales paint the text as the writing (Example 4). Perhaps the leads the narrator (tenor) into a billows soar to the skies, the thunders most expressive musical moments in roll, and the "fork-ed" lightnings the oratorio occur in the chorus play (Example 2) . "Have Mercy, Lord," as the In the aria, "Billows Foam Ninevites respond in penitence to Around My Head," Felsted pictures Jonah's ultimatum. The tight the angry sea with gushing scales chromatic lines of the melody are ACDA PUBLICATIONS and leaping broken chords (Example fused with the moaning sighs and AVAILABLE FROM THE 3). This aria confirms that Jonah has wails of the accused (Example 5). NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS been swallowed by the great fish, as Musically, this chorus is through MONOGRAPH No.1 he sings "Nor leave me longer in the composed, but in reuse of text and The GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNING CHORAL tomb." Realistic dramatic sequence is texture it adheres to the ternary DIRECTOR was prepared by the National Com· mittee on High School Choral Music (1972), Gor· no more an issue to Felsted in his design characteristic of the arias. don H. Lamb, Chair. libretto than it often is to the opera In the final chorus, "Tune Your MONOGRAPH No.2 composer. An expression of the Harps, Your Voices Raise," Felsted's AN ANNOTATED INVENTORY OF DISTINCTIVE spirit, however, in response to a spirited phrases send unbridled praise CHORAL LITERATURE FOR PERFORMANCE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, by Margaret demonstration of God's awesome soaring to the heavens, Jonah joins Hawkins. power is another matter. After the chorus in a brief solo passage and MONOGRAPH No.3 surviving this dreadful encounter a rising melodic sequence seems to THE CHORAL JOURNAL: AN INDEX TO with death, Jonah responds by carry the exaltation to the throne of VOLUMES 1·18, by Gordon Paine. singing a glorious and buoyant aria heaven itself (Example 6). MONOGRAPH No.4 A CLASSIFIED, ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARTICLES RELATED TO CHORAL MUSIC IN FIVE MAJOR PERIODICALS THROUGH 1980, Example 2 edited by Lynn Whitten. MONOGRAPH No.5 SINGING IN ENGLISH: A MANUAL OF ENGLISH DICTION FOR SINGERS AND CHORAL DIRECTORS, by Richard Cox. the bil-lows rise, MONOGRAPH No.6 A CLASSIFIED INDEX OF AMERICAN DOC· TORAL DISSERTATIONS AND DISSERTATION PROJECTS ON CHORAL MUSIC COMPLETED OR CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS THROUGH 1989, Compiled by Michael J. Anderson. Example 3 ------Mail Orders To: The Choral Journa/;·P.O. Box 6310, Lawton, OK 73506·0310 Quantity f I .... Monograph No.1 ($5.00) - Monograph No.2 ($5.00) Monograph No.3 ($7.50) f - Monograph No.4 ($10.00) Monograph No.5 ($10.00) Monograph No.6 ($10.00) -- 8 7 6 5 rom: 3 4 3 Example 4 (Name) ....., " I .. (Address) tJ ==::::::4 ... ~ ~~ ...... r (City) (State) (Zip) sing - - thy MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO THE CHORAL JOURNAL :

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Page 30 CHORAL JOURNAL During the early stages of Felsted a chorus, soloists, and orchestra commercial history that is imbedded research, a recording of Jonah was capable of adequately performing a in the country's past. Serious inquiry produced on the Musical Heritage full-length oratorio. This accounts into the state of the arts in colonial Society label (1983) through the for the popularity of Jonah in the Jamaica, which might well have combined efforts of the American states after the Revolution, as it was uncovered Felsted's activity, has Music Research Center, founded by relatively short, could be successfully received proportionately scant Sister Mary Dominic Ray, and the performed by a choir trained in the attention. Catskill Choral Society.13 Enough singing schools, and required only a Along with the certainty that information had been uncovered by small complement of instruments, or Jonah is the New World's first that time to complete the project keyboard alone. The availability of oratorio, it is truly significant in yet with a set of record jacket notes, Jonah made it possible for a small another way. It has suddenly thrust since used by Howard Smither as the choir of determined singers to the musical past of this small West starting point for his discussion and actually perform a complete Indian island into the forefront of analysis of Jonah in A History of oratorio. It was simply accessible. historical view. In November of Oratorio .14 Smither brings the Since Felsted rocketed from total 1990, a group of leaders in Jamaican weight of his position as the world's obscurity to a secure place in music cultural life, sensing a wealth of leading authority in the field of history 200 years later, one could meaning for Jamaica in the re­ oratorio to bear by according Felsted reasonably ask why Jamaican discovery of Felsted, presented a and Jonah a distinguished niche in historians appear to have overlooked performance of Jonah in the Parish the annals of oratorio history. him. There is a reasonable, if not Church of St. Andrew, where the There is no doubt that Felsted's somewhat humorous explanation, in oratorio was undoubtedly first Jonah was the first dramatic oratorio that the only record of Samuel performed some 215 years ago. Over to be composed in the New World. Felsted available on inquiry in the 700 persons attended the concert in No evidence has appeared to suggest Library of the Institute of Jamaica the presence of foreign ambassadors that the efforts of any colonial was one that accounted for his and numerous Jamaican dignitaries. composers in the northern colonies service in the Kingston Militia during The excitement created by this were directed toward this genre. the late 1780s. For Jamaican performance was the catalyst for the Religious choral music for them was historians, his name had never in the form of tune books and surfaced in any way which attracted anthems for service use. researchers or linked him to the arts. At the time of Felsted's Jonah In a general way, of course, (1775), it was only in the prominent Jamaican historians have had enough cities of America that even the most to consider in accounting for the remote possibility existed to assemble mass of political, military, and

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February 1992 Page 31 acceptance of this native-born Notes • A report of the Record Commissioners of English-American colonial composer the City of Boston, Records of the Boston I Due to the illness of several singers, the Selectmen, 1736 to 1742 (Boston, Rockwell as a true Jamaican. The cultural actual performance of lonah had to be and Churchill, 1886), p. 28. leadership, the critical historians, postponed from October to December. 5 Dr. James Smith, a judge of the Court of and the concerned citizenry of 2 Oscar Son neck, Early Concert-Life in Common Pleas in Kingston, wrote a letter to Jamaica have received Felsted as America (Leipzig: Breitkopf and Hartel, the American Philosophical Society in support their own-with appropriate pride 1907), p. 284. of Felsted's application for membership 3 The inventory of William Felsted's estate, (1770). He made the following comment and honor. The New World's first administered on April 2, 1768, mentions "a about Felsted's education: "His education has oratorio and its lost composer have parcel of musical instruments." been rather confined, but by great industry returned home. and force of native genius, he has recommended himself to the wise and learned of this island." Had Felsted left Jamaica for an education abroad, it surely would have - been mentioned here. He was 27 years old at BANDS. ORCHESTRAS. CHOIRS the time. 6 The letter of recommendation, dated September 28, 1771, is addressed to Dr. William Shippers. It is preserved in the archives of the American Philosophical Society STAR AT THE NATIONALS in Philadelphia. National Events - Setting the new standard of 7 Windmills were used as a power source for the refineries on sugar plantations. The excellence in music festivals and special events horizontal design proposed by Felsted was intended to be more efficient than customary • 98% of attending Directors rated our Festivals superior or excellent vertical ones. • One free package for every 20 paying participants S Institute of Jamaica Library, MS 1000, file 11; courtesy of Dr. Kenneth E. Ingram. • Full time festival host per group o Three tenor soloists are necessary for the • Popular and well attended festivals character delineation to be ideal, though a performance with two soloists is possible. • No application fee necessary, deposit required to hold reservation 10 The published score (1775) does not specify instruments nor contain instrumental April 10-13 April 21-28 May J.4 May 15-18 parts. In the opinion of the author, it is not Atlanta, GA Honolulu, HI Anaheim,CA Chicago,IL the reduction of an orchestral score. However, Mexican Cruise Bahamas Cruise Myrtle Beach, SC instrumental doubling of lines extracted from the keyboard score was a likely performance (Premier Line) April 24-27 (Dolphin Cruise) New York City, NY practice as the advertisements for the Boston New Orleans, LA Anaheim, CA Nashville, TN Quebec, Canada performance in 1789 announced, "The March 27-30 (French Quarter Bahamas Cruise Nassau, Bahamas Washington, D.C. SI. Louis, MO instrumental parts by a Society of Gentlemen, Festival) (Premier Line) Orlando, FL Vancouver, Canada •(Orchestra Only) with the BAND of His Most Christian Boston, MA San Antonio, TX Rapid City, SD Williamsburg, VA Majesty's Fleet." San Francisco, CA Dallas, TX SI. Louis, MO April 3-6 Denver, CO " Leonardo Leo's Abel, Johann Hasses's La Williamsburg, VA Toronto, Canada June 5-8 Houston, TX Nashville,TN conversione di Sant' Agostino, Nicolo Jomelli's Orlando, FL La passione, and Ferdinando Bertoni's David New Orleans, LA Apr1l17-20 Orlando, FL May 8-11 poenitens all follow this pattern. (See Smither, Orlando, FL Bahamas Cruise Toronto, Canada Bahamas Cruise Howard: A History of the Oratorio, Volume San Diego, CA (Dolphin Line) Washington, D.C. (Premier Line) 3.) Washington, D.C. Orlando, FL (Choral Only­ Chicago,lL 12 It is highly unlikely that lonah was (Cherry Blossom) America Sings) Felsted's first composition, since it was written April 20-24 in his early 30s and clearly shows a seasoned Bahamas Cruise understanding of compositional craft. (Dolphin Line) 13 Samuel Felsted, lonah: An Oratorio. The Catskill Choral Society, Thurston Dox, IIOur 'hoir has attended festiva's Conductor (Ocean City, N.J.: Musical Heritage Society, MHS Stereo 4870L, with three different organizations recorded and issued in 1983). 14 Howard E. Smither, "The Oratorio in and by far Nationa' Events was the Classical Era" in A History of the Oratorio, vol. 3, (Chapel Hill: The University superior in servite and qua'ity. II of North Carolina Press, 1987), pp. 311-327. Richard Lenz, Director Stevenson High School HI Livonia, MI Call National Events Toll Free 1-800-333-4700 BUCKNELL Member: Your tour is protected by: A professional music program in an outstanding liberal-arts setting full member: NASM ® BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY NATIONAL EVENT!fi Dept. of Music, Room 107 Lewisburg, PA 17837

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