Sixty Years of California SongAlverson, Margaret Blake
History
Sixty Years of California Song
Alverson, Margaret Blake
Music -- California -- History and criticism
The praises of this first concert were so many that we were obliged to
give another in Tremont Temple in Boston. From that time we gave a
concert each month to raise funds for the volunteers during the year
1861. The treasury was always supplied from the proceeds of these
concerts and the supply of money never failed, to my knowledge, during
my sojourn in Dedham. The excitement of the hour was intense--regiments
of volunteers passed daily on their way to the front. They were
greeted and cheered by the people; garlands and bouquets were thrown
from the windows as they passed. It was a scene that never will be
forgotten, when we reflect that not two-thirds of these splendid men
ever came back. Later on the choirs visited the hospitals and we found
many brave hearts, who had fought and were wounded for their country,
lying there. To them we brought supplies of fruit, flowers and
nourishing food and sang to them. So the good work went on from week
to week until the year 1861 was nearly over. We decided to return to
California, business was demoralized and uncertainty reigned and we
had been four years from home. During that time I had become a singer
and was able to take my place with other artists of repute. I had
during my study become acquainted with the foremost artists of that
time and sang with them on many occasions.
Among the famous organists of 1858 were:
W.R. Babcock
Charles J. Capen
G.W. Harris
H.W. Edes
Adolph Baumbach
J.H.B. Thayer
Howard M. Dow
I.D. Parker
W.B. Clark
Carl Zerrahn, _Leader_.
The men and women singers of Dedham Congregational Church Choir in
1858 were:
Adams, Louisa, Miss, _prima donna_
Adams, Henrietta, Miss, _contralto_
Blake, Margaret, Mrs., _mezzo-contralto_
Bates, Helen, Miss, _soprano_
Bullard, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Boyd, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Bickner, Clara, Miss, _soprano_
Covell, O.M., Miss, _contralto_
Draper, M.J. Mrs., _soprano_
Daniel, Olive, Mrs. _contralto_
Everett, Hattie, Miss, _soprano_
Fisher, Mattie E., Mrs., _contralto_
Guild, Hattie, Miss, _contralto_
Guild, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Kingsbury, Susan, Miss, _soprano_
Taft, Louisa, Miss, _soprano_
Williams, N.R., Mrs., _contralto_
Blake, Geo. H., _tenor_
Burgess, Dr. E.P., _bass_
Burgess, Edwin, _tenor_
Churchill, C.C., _bass_
Calder, Bert, _bass_
Danforth, C.B., _bass_
Eaton, J., _bass_
Everett, E., _bass_
Fisher, Alvin J., _bass_ (_former choir master_)
Hitchings, Henry, _bass_
Sherwin, Henry, _tenor_
Taft, J.G., _bass_
Wright, Geo., _tenor_
Wright, Charles, _bass_
Macbeth, G.W., _bass_
Capen, Chas. J., _organist_
Bruce, Edwin, _director_
Daniel, Ellery C., _choir master_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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