A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Festing, Michael

by William H. Husk

FESTING, Michael Christian, an eminent performer on, and composer for the violin, was the son of a flautist of the same names, who was a member of the orchestra of the King's Theatre in the Haymarket about 1727. Festing was at first a pupil of Richard Jones, leader of the band at Drury Lane, but subsequently studied under Geminiani. He first appeared in public about 1724. He became a member of the king's private band and first violin at an amateur association which met at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, under the name of the Philharmonic Society. On the opening of Ranelagh Gardens in 1742 he was appointed director of the music as well as leader of the band.

Festing was one of the originators of the Society of Musicians. Being seated one day at the window of the Orange Coffee-house in the Haymarket in company with Weidemann, the flautist, and Vincent, the oboist, they observed two very intelligent looking boys driving milch asses. On inquiry they found them to be the orphans of Kytch, an eminent but imprudent German oboist, who had settled in London and then recently died, literally in the streets, from sheer want. Shocked by this discovery Festing consulted with Dr. Greene, his intimate friend, and other eminent musicians, and the result was the establishment of the Society of Musicians for the support and maintenance of decayed musicians and their families. Festing for many years performed gratuitously the duties of secretary to this institution. He died July 24, 1752. In September of that year his goods, books, and instruments were sold at his house in Warwick Street, Golden Square. He left an only son, the Rev. Michael Festing, rector of Wyke Regis, Dorset, who married the only child of his father's friend, Dr. Greene. From this union sprang many descendants to perpetuate the name of Festing, and not many years since an Hertfordshire innkeeper, bearing the names of Maurice Greene Festing, was living. Festing's compositions consist of several sets of solos for the violin; sonatas, concertos and symphonies for stringed and other instruments; part of the 3rd chapter of Habakkuk, paraphrased; Addison's Ode for St. Cecilia's day; Milton's Song on May morning; an Ode on the return of the Duke of Cumberland from Scotland in 1745; an ode 'For thee how I do mourn'; and many cantatas and songs for Ranelagh. Sir John Hawkins says that 'as a performer on the violin Festing was inferior to many of his time, but as a composer, particularly of solos for that instrument, the nature and genius whereof he perfectly understood, he had but few equals.' Festing had a brother of the name of John, an oboist and teacher of the flute, whose success in his profession was such that he died in 1772 worth £8,000, acquired chiefly by teaching.

[ W. H. H. ]