Henry Davey

“ He had previously made himself acquainted with various systems of embossed type, and now began to teach several blind children, who were formed with some deaf mutes into a day school in Egremont Place, Brighton. In Frere's system [see Frere, James Hatley] , and the others previously used for teaching the blind, contractions are very extensively used; Moon, after some years' teaching, judged this system to be too complicated for the vast majority of blind persons, especially the aged, and accordingly constructed a system of his own in 1845. ”

“ CALDICOTT, ALFRED JAMES (1842–1897) , musician, was the eldest son of William Caldicott, a hop merchant of Worcester and musical amateur, and was born at Worcester on 26 Nov. 1842. At the age of nine he became a choirboy in the cathedral, where several of his brothers and half-brothers subsequently sang also. He rose to be the leading treble, and, while taking part in the Three Choir festivals, formed the ambition to conduct an oratorio of his own in the cathedral. ”

“ Chappell was the first who seriously studied traditional English tunes, and his publication was epoch-making. In 1840 Chappell became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He took an active part in the formation of the Percy Society, for which he edited Johnson's 'Crown Garland of Golden Roses.' He projected the Musical Antiquarian Society, to publish and perform early English compositions, and established madrigal-singing by a small choir at his premises in New Bond Street. Most of the leading English musicians joined the society, which began publishing in 1841 ”

“ In 1859 he composed an operetta, 'The Pirate's Isle,' which was privately performed by amateurs, as was also a second operetta, 'Out of Sight,' in 1860. The reception of these encouraged him to attempt a larger work, and he collaborated with Tom Taylor in 'Court and Cottage,' which was publicly heard in 1862 with decided success; but he did not relinquish his political career or become a professional musician until several years later. ”

“ The publications have always been sold under cost price, the deficiency being made up by contributions from the charitable public. In 1852, when the greater part of the Bible was still unprinted, a formal report was published, with a defence of Moon's system against objectors, who had sneered at the cost and bulk of his publications; he argued that the Frere and other systems depending upon contractions complicated the notation so far that the books were useless to the majority of the blind. He soon extended his system to foreign languages, beginning with Irish and Chinese ”

“ Immense learning and research are displayed throughout the work, which at once became the recognised authority upon the subject. It suffers from Chappell's prejudices against Scotland and everything Scottish; and Dr. Burney, who did not appreciate Elizabethan madrigals, is repeatedly attacked with unjustifiable exaggeration, notably in the preface. A new edition, edited by Professor H. E. Wooldridge, appeared in 1892, with the title 'Old English Popular Music,' and the tunes re-harmonised on the basis of the mediæval modes ”

“ Clay's musical powers were lyrical rather than dramatic. His operas and operettas have not been retained on the repertory, but several of his songs are still favourites. They are, in construction as well as feeling, closely allied to the songs of his friend Sullivan, and have, like them, the rare power of satisfying alike the performer, the connoisseur, and the uncultivated hearer. One of the very best, 'She wandered down the mountain side,' was specially successful. An- other of Clay's best songs, 'The Sands o'Dee,' has remained familiar. ”

“ This fact helps to illustrate the powers and limitations of the art of music. Should any profound research on the functions of the various arts be undertaken, Caldicott's glees may give considerable assistance. ”

“ He also refused to be made doctor of music. Continual work as a performer, composer, editor, and teacher, brought on an illness which necessitated a lengthened rest in 1881-2; he visited Italy, and during his convalescence gave a grand recital in Rome, at the request of Liszt. ”

“ He patiently continued his investigations into antiquarian music, and waited till 1855 before issuing an improved edition of his collection. It was renamed 'Popular Music of the Olden Time,' and arranged in two octavo volumes, letterpress and music interspersed. ”

“ Bac. Cantab. In the same year he made his first notable success as a composer, his humorous glee 'Humpty Dumpty' being awarded a special prize at a competition instituted by the Manchester Glee Society. ”

“ He published some pianoforte and vocal pieces, which had little success; his organ compositions are much more important, and are constantly played at recitals in churches and concert-rooms. His ecclesiastical music, especially his 'Benedicite' (1864) with a free organ part, and his service in F, may often be heard in cathedrals and parish churches. ”