Early German music in PhiladelphiaDrummond, Robert Rutherford
History
Early German music in Philadelphia
Drummond, Robert Rutherford
Music -- Germany -- History and criticism; Music -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- History and criticism
From these manuscripts it will be seen that Hopkinson was familiar with
many of the best composers of the world. He was evidently especially
fond of Italian and English composers, but we may judge that he
liked Händel’s music best of all. In the list directly above there
are mentioned the following Germans: Händel, Abel, Stamitz, Schmidt;
also the Englishman, Stanley, was a particular friend of Händel, and
his music, as was all music of England at that time, must have been
modeled after Händel’s; then there is Lord Kelley who studied music in
Germany. We believe that the greater part of this music was brought to
Hopkinson’s attention by the music-masters from London, and if that is
so, it naturally follows that others of their pupils became acquainted
with standard composers. We may be sure, too, that Händel, who was
almost idolized in England during this century, had impressed these
English American music-masters with his importance, and they would not
keep to themselves their knowledge of him and his works. Händel, says
one writer:
“For nearly a century ... stood to the English school as a model
of everything that was good and great, to such an extent that very
little of original value was accomplished in that country, and when,
by lapse of time and a deeper self-consciousness on the part of
English musicians, this influence had begun to wane, a new German
composer came in the person of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who, in
turn, became a popular idol, and for many years a barrier to original
effort.”[163]
To turn again to Hopkinson we find that he not only had manuscript
books of music, but also printed works such as:
“Six Sonatas for the Piano Forte or Harpsichord, Composed by Frederick
Theodor Schumann, Opera 5th _London_.[162]
“Händel’s Songs selected from the Oratorios.”[162]
Then there were books by Italian composers, with which we are not
concerned.[164]
From the evidence already presented, it will probably be granted that,
the German concert music which was found in Philadelphia in the early
18th century, was brought in rather by the English musicians than by
the Germans. We find the taste for music in London reflected by the
various music teachers, and by the actors who came to Philadelphia from
London during the sixth and seventh decades. This English influence
lasted until the War of the Revolution during which there was a period
of quiescence. After peace was restored, the English, Germans, and
French--the latter exiles and victims of the French Revolution--all
aided in the continuance of high class music.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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