Part 12 (2/2)
Some time after the publication of the method just mentioned, the Messrs. Brainard engaged Mr. Holland to write a somewhat similar one, but smaller in size, for them. This they issued in 1876, it being styled ”Holland's Modern Method for the Guitar.” Although smaller in size than the first one, it is regarded as the best method for beginners that has as yet been produced.
It may perhaps be interesting to those possessing a scientific acquaintance with the guitar, as well, indeed, as to the general student of music, to learn how this accomplished author acquired the power to so clearly--more clearly than it was ever before done in guitar books--explain the method of producing on the guitar the _harmonic tones_. Writing a friend, Mr. Holland thus speaks of this:--
”When, in writing my first book, I came to the subject 'Harmonics,' I found myself at a loss as to how to explain these tones; not as to how to produce them myself, but to give a correct _theory_ of their production. I searched in vain through a mult.i.tude of musical works, not knowing or thinking of anywhere else to look. I stopped for several weeks, and began a series of observations on the vibrations on the strings of my guitar; having nothing to aid me but my eyes, fingers, and ears, and a knowledge of the fact that the vibrations of a string were doubled in number for every octave of ascent in pitch of tone. I thus discovered the true theory of the harmonic tones to be the vibrations of a single string in a number of equal sections, more or less, and all at the same time; and that their production was at the pleasure of the operator as he desired higher or lower tones. Having fully verified my discoveries, I then corrected the erroneous theory on this subject of the great guitarist, F. Sor. I learned afterwards that the subject was discussed and explained in some scientific works that treated on acoustics.”
I have before referred to the pecuniary disadvantages under which Mr.
Holland had to labor in the beginning of his career. These followed him for a long period. It seems that much time must nearly always elapse ere even genius becomes acknowledged, and its possessor receives that pecuniary reward so necessary to his support. This acknowledgment, and, to an encouraging extent, this substantial reward, came to Mr. Holland after a while, but not until after he had pa.s.sed through many very trying scenes. One of the latter has been thus described:--
”He always had a horror of asking any one for credit or a loan. At a certain time he found himself out of ready money.
It was Sunday, and he had not the 'wherewith' to get his breakfast on Monday morning. He had always lived retired, forcing intimacy with none, and generally mingling only where business called him. He therefore did not feel intimate enough with any one to offer to borrow, nor did he feel like asking anywhere for credit. He had, however, a small job of writing that had been sent in, for which, when done, he was to receive about twenty-five dollars. Here was Mr. Holland's resource. He began his work about seven o'clock on Sunday evening. He wrote till late. Becoming weary, and his eyelids being heavy, he lighted a spirit-lamp; and with a very diminutive French coffee-pot he prepared, and soon was sipping, a cup of coffee that no doubt would have pleased the Arabian prophet, had he been present to partake. Refreshed by this, he continued his labors until the darkness grew to gray dawn, and the dawn to full light of day. At seven in the morning the last note was written. At eight o'clock he took the work to his patron, and before nine returned with a light heart and good material for breakfast.”
A touching incident this, surely, but one that has had either a near or perfect counterpart in the lives of many music writers and teachers, who have often been obliged to labor in season and out of season for the bare necessaries of life. And yet how seldom it is that we are aware of the painful vigils that are kept by these gifted but toiling ones when creating the works that so much contribute to the pleasure of our leisure moments!
Of all the music-publis.h.i.+ng firms for whom Mr. Holland has written, I believe the only ones that know him personally, and know that he is a colored man, are the Messrs. Brainard and Mr. John Church. On this point of color, a little incident in his life is well worth recording.
One day, in 1864, Mr. Holland went into a large music-store (not in Cleveland) to purchase an instrument. The salesmen present seeming disposed--no doubt on account of his color--to give him no attention whatever, he quietly left, and made his purchase elsewhere. He has since been employed by, and has received large sums of money from, that very firm, as a writer of music for them. He does not even now personally know any one of the firm; nor is it supposed that the latter know him otherwise than by his reputation, and through correspondence with him. It is almost certain, that had it been generally known, as it was not outside of Cleveland, that this gifted and accomplished musician was a member of the colored race, his success would have been much curtailed, so greatly has the senseless, the ign.o.ble feeling of color-phobia prevailed in this country. To the Messrs. Brainard and Mr. Church, who proved themselves superior to the low prejudices of the times, all honor be given! To them the brightness of the artist's genius was not obscured by the color of his face.
As another evidence of the esteem in which Mr. Holland is held by one of the firms just mentioned, I append the following extract from a letter which I received a few months ago:--
S. BRAINARD'S SONS' MUSIC-PUBLIs.h.i.+NG HOUSE,
CLEVELAND, O., April 2, 1877.
_Dear Sir_,--... Mr. Justin Holland is one of our finest practical and theoretical musicians. He has written two large methods for the guitar, besides being the composer and arranger of a large amount of guitar-music, both vocal and instrumental. He is a refined and educated gentleman of very modest and unpretending character, but is a thorough musician and student.
Yours,
S. BRAINARD'S SONS.
A few years ago, on his return from a visit to New Orleans, he stopped at Leavenworth, Kan. The editor of the leading paper in Leavenworth, supposing that Mr. Holland intended to remain there, thus spoke of him editorially:--
”PROFESSOR HOLLAND.
”We had the pleasure of a visit yesterday from Professor J.
Holland of Louisiana, who is an eminent music teacher and writer of thirty years' practical experience. He purposes locating in Leavenworth, and giving instructions on the guitar, flute, and piano. He has made an especial study of the guitar, and has written a work on it which is p.r.o.nounced the best in print by competent critics. We need just such a man as the professor in this city, and are glad he has come among us, and hope he may receive a liberal patronage.”
And the editor of ”The Musical World,” Professor Carl Merz, thus mentioned Mr. Holland in the number of that journal for October, 1877:--
... ”Again we would mention Mr. Justin Holland, teacher of the guitar, and composer of music for this instrument. Mr.
Holland is a great lover of art, a gentleman of culture, who reads fluently several languages, and whose labors are highly esteemed by publishers as well as by lovers of the guitar. From 'Der Freimaurer,' a monthly published in Vienna, Austria, we learn that Mr. Holland is now in his fifty-seventh year. He lives in Cleveland, where he enjoys the patronage of the lovers of music, irrespective of color.”
As before intimated, Mr. Holland's pupils have been in many cases members of the richest and most highly cultivated families of Cleveland; and such have been his skill as an instructor, and his n.o.ble qualities of heart and mind in general, as evinced in his deportment towards them, that the persons just mentioned, and others of his scholars, have ever entertained for him not only feelings of deep respect, but those also of affection. Among other very pleasing instances of this is one found in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs of Ma.s.sachusetts, the former a son of Ex-Gov. Briggs of that State, and the latter a native of Cleveland, a lady of great refinement and general culture, who, up to the time of her marriage, was a pupil of Mr. Holland. This estimable couple, who formerly and semi-annually visited Cleveland, never failed at such times to pay their respects to Mrs. Briggs's former tutor, showing by this course that neither time nor s.p.a.ce could obliterate the warm regard which had been created by previous pleasant a.s.sociations.
The writer has thus far said but very little of Mr. Holland's abilities as a performer on, and teacher of, the flute and piano-forte. Let it suffice to say, briefly, that these abilities are such as to show, that, had he chosen to devote himself to either of these two instruments as much as he has devoted himself to the guitar, he might have attained to great distinction in the same. But, even as it is, he is regarded as a fine flutist and pianist. For the piano he has composed and arranged a number of pieces. He has played in public occasionally, of course always with the greatest acceptance. He has, however, never sought for nor made occasions to play in public; being always noticeable for a love of the quieter, and to him pleasanter, walks of musical life.
And now, if this were not intended as a book on musical history alone, the writer might occupy many more pages in narrating the many important events connected with the life of Mr. Holland as a distinguished member for years of the order of Free Masons. We may be allowed to mention incidentally, that his reputation as one of the ”n.o.ble craft” is even greater than his reputation as a musician. It is more nearly world-wide; for we find that as a Mason he is well known in the South and West of this country, and in South America, Italy, Germany, and France. A sketch of his life, together with his portrait, was published at Vienna, Austria, in the ill.u.s.trated monthly ”Der Freimaurer” (”The Freemason”), in the number for February, 1877.
From this journal I learn that Mr. Holland has been a most active and indispensable member of Excelsior Lodge No. 11 of Cleveland (which he a.s.sisted in forming in 1865), and of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. In the former he has held the offices of Secretary and Junior Warden; and in the latter he first served two terms (declining a third) as Wors.h.i.+pful Master, and afterwards was elected Senior Grand Deacon, Deputy Grand Master, Deputy Grand High Priest, of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for Ohio,--serving three terms,--and Most Excellent Grand High Priest. In conducting the foreign correspondence of the Grand Lodge, Mr. Holland has for a number of years performed a most invaluable service. In this work, his familiar acquaintance with the French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese languages was put to uses the most important, as through the same, and his very intelligent and painstaking management, the colored Masons of Ohio have been fully recognized by, and brought into communication with, the Grand Lodges of France, Peru, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. Mr. Holland has also been appointed the representative in this country of the Grand Lodges of France and Peru, each appointment a very rare distinction. He has several times received complimentary mention in the addresses of the Grand Masters of the Ohio Lodge; and in 1866 he was the recipient from the members of the latter of a set of highly eulogistic resolutions, and of a valuable gold watch appropriately inscribed. All these honors were tendered as earnest tokens of the high estimation in which he was held by the brotherhood for the skill and zeal he had so often displayed in serving a cause founded on the n.o.ble principles of faith, hope, and charity.
What a busy, what a useful, honorable life, have we been following! It is hoped that the reader has been entertained and instructed by even this far from perfect unfolding of the same. As for the writer, he leaves its present consideration with feelings of affectionate regret; while he would fain remain to study again and again the valuable lessons that it teaches, and to watch with unabated interest the fortunes of its future. May the latter bring to our n.o.ble friend and artist as little of disappointment as may be! and when the end shall finally come, as come it must some day to all, may he have, as a crowning and sweet reward for the manly, the heroic past, a sleep like that of him who ”lies down to pleasant dreams”!
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