ANNALS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

Annals of Music in America

A CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF SIGNIFICANT
MUSICAL EVENTS, FROM 1640 TO THE PRESENT
DAY, WITH COMMENTS ON THE VARIOUS
PERIODS INTO WHICH THE WORK IS DIVIDED

BY

HENRY C. LAHEE

BOSTON
MARSHALL JONES COMPANY
MDCCCCXXII

COPYRIGHT, 1922
BY MARSHALL JONES COMPANY
PRINTED OCTOBER, 1922

THE PLIMPTON PRESS ·   NORWOOD ·   MASSACHUSETTS

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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PREFACE

The object of this book is to give as complete a record as possible ofthe beginning and progress of music in the United States of America.

The first things recorded are regarded as important. Hence such items asthe printing of the first book on music, the importation of the firstpipe organs, the establishment of the early musical societies arerecorded, while similar events of a more recent date are of no specialimportance.

The first performance of significant works—operas, oratorios,symphonies and other choral and orchestral works—are chronicled ascarefully as possible; also the first appearance in America of notedmusicians.

It has been practically impossible to find accurate data about the worksof the older composers,—Haydn, Mozart and others, for while there aremany programs in which their names are mentioned the work played isseldom specified (see Mr. O. G. Sonneck's "Early Concert-Life inAmerica"), and one must wait until the period arrives in which the workperformed is specified. Probably some of the works mentioned had earlierperformances by small organizations but the performances recorded hereare in all probability the first adequate ones.

Among the items recorded are some which cannot be regarded as marking[Pg vi]the musical progress of the country, and yet are items of musicalinterest;—the first performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and of"America" do not mark any progress and yet are historic events.

The establishment of Gilmore's Band and Sousa's Band are items ofinterest rather than of educational progress.

In compiling this work such newspapers as are available have beenconsulted, also the programs of the leading choral and orchestralsocieties. Valuable help has been gained from the excellent works of Mr.Oscar G. Sonneck, Mr. E. H. Krehbiel, Mr. Philip Goepp, Mr. George P.Upton, Allston Brown and other writers on the American stage, and aboveall from the admirable notes of Mr. Philip Hale in the programs of theBoston Symphony Orchestra. It would be ungracious to close this prefacewithout acknowledging with gratitude the valuable assistance of MissBarbara Duncan of the Boston Public Library.

HENRY C. LAHEE

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CONTENTS