"The entertainments at Parker Memorial Hall on Sunday evenings in no wise lessen in interest and numbers. One evening, listening to Gounod's 'Ave Maria' by the famous Germania Orchestra, we felt that the worship of the Virgin, of which was born such heavenly strains, if for no other reason, was not without its use in the world even now. Another evening Mr. Jamieson awoke the echoes of the piano in a manner to do credit to a Liszt and Chopin." [Illustration: SAMUEL W. JAMIESON.] Thus, a year or two ago, spoke one of Boston's first writers and musical critics, when, in an article published in "The Commonwealth," alluding to the accomplished pianist, Samuel W. Jamieson. In the comparison here made, so highly complimentary to our subject, this writer does not stand alone; for the remarkably fine execution of Mr. Jamieson has often drawn from other piano-students praise none the less flattering; while his mastery of so many of the difficulties that are connected with piano-forte playing, and his fine general musical talents, entitle him to a prominent place in books far more pretentious than this one. He has, in fact, attained to such brilliant proficiency (although quite a young man) as to cause him to be already ranked with the first pianists of the country. Mr. Jamieson was born in Washington, D.C., in the year 1855. He began the study of music, taking lessons on the piano-forte, when about eleven years of age. Since then he has been under the instruction of some of the best masters of Boston, such as James M. Tracy, and Fred. K. Boscovitz, the celebrated Hungarian pianist. He has been a pupil of the Boston Conservatory; from which classical institution he graduated in honor in 1876, receiving its valuable diploma. While a student at the Boston Conservatory, he was nearly always chosen by the director, Mr. Julius Eichberg, to represent at the quarterly concerts the fine progress made by its pupils. At such times his performances of numbers, requiring rapidity of reading and execution, together with a good knowledge of piano _technique_, drew from the press the most favorable comments, and made him the favorite piano pupil at the institution mentioned. The following, as an instance of these comments, is taken from "The Boston Journal:"-- ... "But the best thing in the piano line was the rendering of Chopin's 'Polonaise,' in E flat, by Mr. Samuel W. Jamieson. The 'Hungarian Rhapsodie,' No. 2, of Liszt, was most particularly characterized by a delicate touch, and a clear conception of the subject in hand. "It is but just to say that this gentleman is an advanced scholar." And this from "The Folio," referring to another like occasion:-- "Mr. Samuel Jamieson, pupil of the Boston Conservatory, but directly under the instruction of Mr. Tracy, carried off a good share of the honors of the recent _matinee_ of that very successful school."