Frederick Corder

“ In 1847 he published his world-famous 'Traité complet de l'art du chant,' of which a simplified abstract appeared as 'Hints on Singing' in 1894. In both the literary and artistic society of Paris Garcia filled a prominent place. Early in 1848 he resigned his position at the Conservatoire, and came to London in June. On 10 Nov. he was appointed a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music. ”

“ He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1846, studying the piano under Herz, and also under Halevy. In 1848 he settled in London, becoming pianist to Queen Victoria and a fashionable teacher, and was naturalised as a British subject. He published numerous fugitive piano pieces and a very large number of songs, some of which, such as 'The Message' and 'The Requital' (1864) and 'We Two' (1879) , achieved a lasting popularity. His more ambitious attempts at composition attracted no attention. A pianoforte trio and a 'Morceau de Concert for Piano,' both early works, were printed ”

“ A member of the Philharmonic and other musical societies and fellow of the College of Organists, he was a well-known figure in the musical world. His published works include the following choral and orchestral cantatas: ‘Psalm 130’ (1862) ; ‘Alice Brand’ (1870) ; ‘The Lord of the Isles’ (Brighton Festival, 1879) ; ‘Columbus’ (male voices, 1881) ; ‘The Cyclops’ (male voices, 1883) ; music to ‘Alcestis’ (1876) and to Tasso's ‘Aminta’ (for Queen's College, 1898) . Other instrumental works were a concert overture, ‘Andromeda’ (1873) , an organ concerto in F, and a string quartet. ”

“ In 1830 he temporarily interrupted his musical work to accept an 'appointment in the commissariat of the French army at Algiers, and on his return studied medicine in the military hospitals of Paris (art. in Musical Times, April 1905) . In 1840 he presented to the French Institut his 'Mémoire sur la voix humaine,' which was accepted as the best authority on the subject. Appointed to a professorship at the Paris Conservatoire, he attracted many distinguished pupils, including Jenny Lind, whom he instructed in Paris from 26 Aug. ”

“ For more than half a century Garcia held, by general consent, the position of premier singing-teacher in the world. In person he was, from youth to old age, extremely handsome, with all his father's fiery and impetuous disposition. His chief recreation was chess. Mr. C. E. Hallé owns a sketch by Richard Doyle of Garcia and his friend, Sir Charles Hallé, at a game, which is reproduced in MacKinlay's 'Life,' p. 222. There is also a crayon sketch of Garcia, made by his sister Pauline soon after the invention of the laryngoscope. ”

“ Gadsby was a typical Victorian composer, whose works were always well received and never heard a second time. An earnest musician, whose mission in life was to teach others to be like himself, he died on 11 Nov. ”

“ In 1863 he became a teacher of the piano, the writer being one of his first pupils. Having also taught himself the organ, he became organist of St. Peter's, Brockley, holding this appointment till 1884. ”

“ He reintroduced equal temperament in tuning into this country in 1846, and wrote profusely on musical history, contributing largely to 'Grove's Dictionary,' as well as to the ninth edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica.' In 1881 he made a journey through Germany to examine historic pianofortes in the royal palaces. ”

“ In 1906 he won a prize of 50l, offered by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for the best 'Fantasy-Quartet' for strings. Always of a delicate constitution, he died of consumption on 30 May 1906, and was buried at Mitcham, Croydon. ”

“ George Smart, and in 1842, at the age of ten, made a successful appearance in public with her elder sister Susan at the Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. In 1847 the sisters performed in Paris, and in August 1849 Louisa made her debut on the stage at Boulogne as Amina in 'La Sonnambula.' Lablache offered to take her to St. ”

“ She then retired from public life and successfully engaged in teaching in London. Her husband died on 14 March 1892, aged sixty-nine. She received a civil list pension of 70Z. in 1896, and died without issue in London on 24 March 1904. Her sister Susan, who married Frank H. Standing, a baritone vocalist known as F. H. Celli, died in 1886.
[Grove's Dict. of Music; Brown and Stratton's Dict. of Musicians; Musical World, 1857; Athenæum, 26 March 1904; Musical Times, April 1904; Kuhe's Reminiscences; H. Saxe-Wyndham, Annals of Covent Garden; Hays' Women of the Day, 1885.] ”

“ Lockey retired from public life about 1862 on account of a throat affection, and entered into business at Grave send and Dover. He nominally held his position at St. Paul's till his death, but for forty-three years Fred Walker, Joseph Barnby, and Edward Lloyd were his deputies. He died on 3 Dec. 1901 at Hastings. On 24 May 1853 he married Martha Williams, an excellent contralto singer, who predeceased him in 1897, leaving one son, John. ”

“ On 14 Aug. 1851 she performed the Queen of Night in Mozart's 'II Flauto magico' at Covent Garden, and during the season fulfilled many important oratorio and concert engagements. In August 1854 she went to America with William Harrison (1813-1868) [q .v.] , and was received there with great enthusiasm, staying through three seasons. On her return to England in 1857 she went into partnership with Harrison, lessee of the Lyceum and Drury Lane Theatres, for the performance of English opera. The Harrison-Pyne enterprise was inaugurated with success at the Lyceum on 21 Sept. ”

“ James's Church, New York (1891) ; 'An orchestral introduction and chorus in praise of King Alfred,' performed at the inauguration of the Alfred Memorial at Winchester in 1901, besides two motets, two psalms, anthems, part songs, and two sonatas.
[Musical Times, Nov. 1901, March 1902 (with portrait) , May 1902; Brown and Stratton, Musical Biog., 1897; Brit. Mus. Cat.; private information.] ”