A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Waltz, Gustavus

by George Grove

WALTZ, Gustavus, a German, who seems to have acted as Handel's cook, and after some time to have come out as a singer. He made his first attempt on the boards as Polyphemus in Handel's 'Acis and Galatea,' when it was performed as an 'English Pastoral Opera' under Arne, at the 'new English theatre in the Haymarket,' May 17, 1832 [App. p.815 "1732"], showing that his voice was a large bass. Seven years later (1739) he and Reinhold sang 'The Lord is a man of war' at the performance of 'Israel in Egypt,' their names being pencilled by Handel over the duet. He also sang Abinoam in 'Deborah,' Abner in 'Athaliah,' and Saul, on the production of those oratorios. His portrait was painted by Hauck, and engraved by Müller. He is seated with a cello, a pipe, and a pot of beer on the table beside him. It now belongs to Mr. J. W. Taphouse, of Oxford, and is exhibited in the Loan Collection of the Inventions Exhibition, 1885.

Handel on one occasion, speaking to Mrs. Gibber, said of Gluck, 'He knows no more of contrapunto than my cook Waltz.' This very impolite speech is often ^[1]misquoted, and given as if Handel had said 'no more music'; but its force as uttered is very much altered when we recollect that Gluck was no contrapuntist, and that Waltz must have been a considerable musician to take such parts as he did at Handel's own choice.

[ G. ]

1. As, for instance, by Berlioz in his 'Autobiography,' chap. xx.