Part 35 (2/2)

Hopkins Johns_ (who has a very pleasing voice); _Mr. J. Taylor_ (a fine ba.s.so, who has been a member of a meritorious concert-troupe); _Mr. C.A. Johnson_, organist; and _Mr. George Barrett_, tenor. Mr.

Johnson has on several occasions been the director of excellent public concerts in Baltimore and its vicinity, and is deserving of much praise for his activity in promoting the music-loving spirit. The same may be said of Mr. George Barrett.

_Mr. Joseph Ockmey_ is organist of the Bethel (Methodist) Church.

The following are members of the Sharp-street Church choir:--

_Mr. Simpson_, leader; _Mr. Dongee_, organist; _Miss Mary F. Kelly_, soprano; _Miss Emma Burgess_, soprano.

Baltimore has an a.s.sociation of musicians called ”The Monumental Cornet Band,” of which Mr. C.A. Johnson is the efficient leader.

Some time ago I found in the musical column of ”The Boston Herald” of Sunday, July 9, 1876, the following notice of another ”Blind Tom:”--

”A rival of 'Blind Tom' has been found at Blount Springs, Ala., in the person of James Harden, a colored boy from Baltimore. He plays the guitar, and sings the most difficult music, exceptionally well; and is also something of a composer. He has received no instruction, but is most emphatically a natural-born musician.”

Louisville, Ky., shows its appreciation of music by organizing a society devoted to the latter, numbering over a hundred persons. This fact has attracted the attention of Brainard's ”Musical World,” which journal, in the number for October, 1877, alludes to it as a bright evidence of the dawn of better times in the South.

In St. Louis[17] live _Mrs. Georgetta c.o.x_ and _Miss Nellie Banks_,--two ladies who have won golden opinions for their exhibition of fine musical qualities. They are both excellent vocalists and pianists.

[Footnote 17: St. Louis is placed in this section of the record because the latter is devoted to such localities as before the war were within slave territory.]

_Mr. L.W. Henderson_ as a vocalist, _Mr. Alfred White_ and _Mr. Samuel Butler_ as vocalists and instrumentalists, all possess artistic abilities of a fine order.

_Miss Johnson_ has attracted the attention and won the high praise of competent judges for her proficiency in piano-forte performance.

_Mr. James P. Thomas_ is a finished violinist.

With such artists as the above mentioned, and others whose names I have not learned, it will be seen that the city of St. Louis is not behind in musical culture.

Helena, Ark., is fortunate in numbering among its citizens _George H.W. Stewart_,--a gentleman of rare musical and general culture. He was, I think, educated in Indiana, and received a diploma as a graduate from a college of music located at Indianapolis. Mr.

Stewart's specialty as a performer is the piano, with which instrument he finely interprets the best music of the masters. He has also a soft yet powerful baritone-voice; and, as a singer, he has often delighted private and public audiences.

_Miss Annie S. Wright_ of Memphis, Tenn., has few equals in that State as a ready reader of music, or in the feeling and expression with which she awakes the echoes of the piano-forte.

In Memphis there are several others possessing good ability as instrumentalists.

No fears need be entertained that Nashville, Tenn., will not keep pace with the advance of other cities in musical culture. The famous Jubilee Singers of Fisk University, located near Nashville, may well be mentioned here as n.o.ble representatives of that city, and as those whose splendid example and achievements as singers will always serve as a stimulus to the cultivation of music by their towns-people.

I mention here with much pleasure the _Lord family_ of Charleston, S.C. The father was a musician of good ability, a pleasing performer on the cornet and (I think) one or two other instruments, and was leader of an orchestra. He early gave his two daughters instruction in music.

I recall with much interest a visit I made this accomplished family early in 1865, when the regiment with which I was connected lay encamped near Charleston. On this occasion, after our indulgence in conversation touching the war, &c., I begged that I might be favored with some music. The request was readily complied with, the father and daughters uniting in a performance of several very pleasing selections.

Other members of my regiment, I know, also retain very pleasant recollections of the Lord family, not only on account of the charming musical qualities of the latter, but also on account of their winning courtesy to the Union soldiers. One of these was so far captivated (it could not have been by the music alone) by the elder daughter, as to invite her to adorn as his bride a home of his own. Our gallant Sergeant White was accepted; and the lady has since shared with him the enjoyment of many honors which his fine abilities have won for him in the ”sunny South.”

Mr. Lord died a few years ago. His example in inculcating in his children a love for the elevating art of music cannot be too strongly recommended for the imitation of all heads of families who desire to form at their firesides such sources of interest, refinement, and pleasure, as will cause their children to prefer them, as they ever should, to all places not comprised in the sacred name of ”home.”

In making this brief survey, another locality of the South is now approached, which is so rich in musical culture as to occasion (at least to the writer) delightful surprise, and warrant special mention of the circ.u.mstances connected with the same. I refer to the city of New Orleans, which will be treated in the next chapter.

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