A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Masson, Elizabeth

by Alexis Chitty

MASSON, Elizabeth, born 1806, was taught singing by Mrs. Henry Smart, sen., and in Italy by Mme. Pasta. She made her first appearance in public at Ella's second subscription concert, in the Argyll Rooms, March 11, 1831, and sang afterwards at the Antient Concerts, March 16, 1831, and at the Philharmonic, March 11, 1833; she sang frequently at those Societies' concerts during a public career of about twelve years, and revived there forgotten airs of Handel, Purcell, Pergolesi, Gluck, Mozart, etc. She was in great request at private concerts, since she possessed, apart from her musical attainments, great talents and accomplishments, and was an excellent linguist. She sang occasionally in oratorio, viz. at the festival in Westminster Abbey, 1834, and at the Sacred Harmonic, where she took the parts of Solomon, Nov. 22, 1839, and Storge on the revival of Jephtha, April 7, 1841. She afterwards devoted herself to teaching and composition. She wrote many songs to the words of Scott, Byron, Adelaide Procter, etc., and edited a series of 'Original Jacobite songs' (Lonsdale, 1839), and 'Songs for the Classical Vocalist' (Leader & Cock, 1st series of twelve songs, 1845; a 2nd series 1860), which enjoyed a well-deserved popularity. She founded the Royal Society of Female Musicians in 1839, and was its k n - treasurer until her death, Jan. 9, 1865. On its amalgamation with the Royal Society of Musicians in 1866, the late Mr. F. J. Masson, her brother, gave a donation of 200 guineas to the latter society in remembrance of her. 'As a singer this lady was never rated as high as she deserved to be, because her voice, which was a mezzo-soprano, had no remarkable power nor charm. But it had been thoroughly trained under the example and influence of Madame Pasta, and its owner's reading of music, intelligence, expression, and finish, were thoroughly appreciated by all those select connoisseurs who valued style and understanding beyond greater natural powers than hers turned to poor account. As a professor Miss Masson was widely and deservedly in request. Apart from her profession, she was at once conscientious, energetic, and refined, and had withal that racy originality of character which will make her long remembered and missed. In brief, she was a good artist, in part because she was a good woman and a gentlewoman.'^[1]

[ A. C. ]

1. Athenæum, Jan. 14, 1865.