The Strand Magazine/Volume 4/Issue 19/Popular Composers

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Popular Composers.

Signor Tosti.

Signor Tosti.
From a Photograph.

IGNOR TOSTI was born at Ortona al Mare, in the province of Abbruzzi, Italy, and commenced his studies in the Conservatoire at Naples. At that time the violin was his chosen instrument, and he succeeded in gaining first prize for it, which entitled him to a free scholarship in the Conservatoire. He continued studying until the age of twenty, singing and harmony being his chief objects. His first songs were "Non M'ama Piu" and "Lamento d'Amore." Curiously enough, both of these songs were refused by three Italian publishers, but eventually became his most popular Italian songs, and Riccordi, one of the Italian publishers who refused to buy them or publish them, paid a large sum for them a year after. Ever since this transaction Riccordi has continued to publish his Italian songs. In consequence of the success of his songs in Italy, he was appointed teacher to Queen Marguerite. In the year 1876 Signor Tosti first came to London, and with his very first song caught the public's fancy with "For Ever and for Ever." His most popular songs are "For Ever and for Ever" and "Good-bye"; of the later ones "Beauties' Eyes," "Venetian Song," and "My Heart's Delight." Like many other composers, the melodies he himself liked best failed to become popular. In Signor Tosti's opinion, the real success of a popular song lies sometimes in the prelude, sometimes in a happy interval, or a happy cadence, but always in having something that reminds the ear of something else. His rich passionate Southern melodies have won their way to our English hearts, and Tosti is a name that has long since shed its foreign garb, and has become to our music-loving folk a household word. Signor Tosti intends to remain in England for many years to come, it being, as he remarks, "his second home."

Frank Lewis Moir.

Frank L. Moir.
From a Photo. by Barraud.

Mr. Moir was born at Market Harborough, and, having lost his father, who was an artist, before he was three years old, received his first musical teaching from his mother, but was educated at the South Kensington School of Art to follow the profession of his father. But the boy was a born musician, and, having in 1880 gained an open scholarship at the National Training School of Music over the heads of forty competitors, he decided to pursue the course to which his natural genius clearly summoned him, and to follow music as a profession. His work brought him under the notice of Mr. John Boosey, by whom he was engaged for a term of years to write only for his firm. Among the songs written during that period was "Only Once More," one of the most popular songs ever produced by any composer. To mention his later songs would be superfluous; there are works amongst them which are household words in every home where music is loved. Our readers need not be reminded of Mr. Moir's song, "The Winding Walk," which appeared in our No. of December last.

Lawrence Kellie.

Lawrence Kellie.
From a Photo. by Window & Grove.

Mr. Lawrence Kellie was born in the neighbourhood of Maida Vale. He was articled as a solicitor's clerk for five years, but after the expiration of two, he abandoned law for music, which he felt was the true bent of his future career. At the early age of four, he used to extemporise, and at fifteen published his first piece, a gavotte for the piano, under a nom de plume. One year after giving up the law he entered into a contract with Metzler & Co. to write for them for three years. This agreement was renewed for another three years, and terminated last Christmas. During that period he has attained well-deserved popularity with several compositions—"Douglas Gordon," "Sleeping Tide," "You ask me why I love," "An Autumn Story," and "A Winter Love Song," being his chief successes. He creates all his own songs in the series of recitals which he gives in London and the provinces. Mr. Kellie has a select school of followers, and his recitals at Steinway Hall are always attended by a fashionable throng; his compositions have a very marked individuality, and in his rendering of a song he very happily defines the kinship between recitation and singing.

Walter Slaughter.

Walter Slaughter.
From a Photo. by J. H. Soper, Battersea.

Mr. Walter Slaughter was born in the year 1860, in the neighbourhood of Fitzroy-square. His career began as a chorister in St. Andrew's, Wells-street, at the age of eleven, where he sang for two years. One or two other people who have since become famous were there, amongst them Thurley Beale, Oliver King, and Edward Lloyd, the celebrated tenor. His father was far from musical; as Mr. Slaughter quaintly puts it, "he knew when 'God Save the Queen' was played because people stood up, and that helped him to recognise it, but that was his full musical knowledge." At the age of thirteen he left the choir, and finished his education at the City of London School, after which he spent a little time in a wine-merchant's office, and then was employed in the music-publishing firm of Metzler. While there, he studied under Cellier and Mr. Jacobi, working hard at orchestration, and soon making a reputation as a writer of dramatic music, which continued to increase until the very successful opera of "Marjorie" put the climax to his fame. As a song writer, he has scored a decided success with "Dear Homeland" and "Gondola Dreams." His latest song is "I Surrender," published at Cramer & Co.'s, Regent-street.

Signor Tito Mattei.

Signor Tito Mattei.
From a Photo. by Walery.

This celebrated pianist and composer was born on May 24, 1841, in Campobasso, near Naples. He commenced to study at the early age of four, under his father, whose musical instrument was the flute, and profession that of a solicitor. After his father, his master was the great teacher Thalberg. All his studies were conducted at home, his teachers in harmony being Signors Parisi, Ruta, Conti, and Raimondi. Amidst great success, he gave his first large public concert at Naples on September 28, 1846; he was then only five years old. Nearly all the notable musicians were present, amongst them such people as Mercadante, the director of the Naples Conservatoire, and the famous Lablache, who, being very stout, bought two seats to accommodate himself. From then up to the year 1851 he studied, and gave concerts near Naples and in Palermo and Messina. In 1852 he made his début in Rome, with so much success that he was presented with a special diploma, and had the honour of a professorship conferred on him by the Accademia di Santa Cecilia at Florence. He was admitted to the Societa Filarmonica. In the same year he went to Florence, where he met Rossini, who called him his colleague, and gave him eventually a host of letters with special recommendation to the leading musicians and patrons of music in Paris and London. It was also in this year that he had the honour of playing at the Court of Victor Emanuel; and, after the performance, the present King, who was then about the same age as Mattei—eleven—came forward bearing a large tray of sweets, and presented it to him, saying, "This is for you and your friends." During his stay in Turin the Marchioness of Barolo offered to adopt him, and the Duke of Litta offered to do likewise; but the boy's father refused to part with him.

It was in the year 1853 that he first came to London. His first appearance here was at Mr. Ella's Musical Union.

His first piece published was a waltz called "Mattei's Waltz," which was the means of establishing his fame as a composer far and wide, being very popular throughout all Europe. After this came his celebrated "Non è ver," then "Non Torno," "Oh, oh, hear the wild winds blow!" and a very great number of pianoforte pieces and songs.

Among his later productions are "Dear Heart," "Kiss and Good-bye," "Chit-Chat," the opera "La Prima Donna," produced at the Avenue, and the following songs:— "Only Mine," "What will you do without me?" "Beside Me," and his latest song, a bolero, "Carita."

Isidore De Lara.

Isidore de Lara.
From a Photograph.

Mr. De Lara was born in London on the 9th of August, 1858. He commenced to study the piano at the age of ten, under Mr. Aguilar; at thirteen he made his first appearance before the public, and continued to play in many recitals. At fifteen he went to Milan, where he studied at the Conservatoire of Music under Signor Mazzucato for composition, and Signor Lamperti for singing. He remained in Italy for three years, taking the grand prize for composition. On his return to England, he commenced to make use of his voice and talent for composing. His first song of note was one named "Only a Song," written about 1882. He next produced a comic opera, "The Royal Word," libretto by Mr. Henry Hersee. His next compositions of note were a choral work, "Song of Orval," poem by Lord Lytton, and a cycle of melodies, "To the Palms," words by Lord Lytton. Of songs he has written about 150, out of which the most popular are "Mine To-day," "All of my All," "How will it Be?" "The Beginning of the Story," "After Silent Years," and "The Garden of Sleep." Mr. De Lara owes a fair share of his fame to his public recitals, of which he has given over two hundred during the last ten years. Nature has endowed him with a good voice, and that, together with his undoubted ability as a composer, has brought Mr. De Lara to the position he now holds in the musical world. His last work is an opera, viz., "The Light of Asia." This was originally a sacred cantata, written for concert work, but, at Mr. Maurel's suggestion, it was converted into an opera, and was produced by Sir Augustus Harris last month. Mr. De Lara is now writing an opera, with Sir Augustus Harris's libretto, the first act of which is finished. The subject is "Kenilworth."

Milton Wellings.

Mr. Milton Wellings was born in 1851, in the county of Stafford. His father, Mr. Joseph Wellings, being an amateur musician, and perceiving his son's love of music, determined to take his musical education into his own hands. The first song Mr. Wellings published was entitled "In the Twilight," which did not attract any special notice; a later one, however, became fairly successful, named "At the Ferry," and at length, amongst many others, he published the song that was destined to make his name popular wherever the English tongue was spoken or sung: the name of this song was "Some Day." There is a little incident in connection with this song which illustrates once more how craftily Dame Fortune leads her favoured ones through a maze of circumstances to fame. Mr. Milton Wellings' wife had embarked on board a yacht, which had met with an accident. The news of the accident had been conveyed to Mr. Wellings, and it was during his nervous pacing up and down the room that his eyes lighted on a poem, half open on the table, by Hugh Conway. To try and chase his fears away regarding his wife he abstractedly took it up, and by some strange chance the first line actually painted his feelings of distress at that moment. With his attention now riveted on the poems, he read them through, and unconsciously the melody of "Some Day" sprang into life.

Milton Wellings.
From a Photo. by Debenham & Gould, Bournemouth.

Emboldened by the success of his song, Mr. Wellings is now engaged on a novel bearing the same title, let us hope with as favourable a termination in its plot as the foregoing episode, as Mrs. Wellings escaped from all injury. Mr. Wellings is busy on several orchestral works, which are nearly ready to submit to the public.

Berthold Tours.

Berthold Tours.
From a Photo. by E. Rissz, Berlin.

Mr. Berthold Tours was born December 17, 1838, at Rotterdam. His father was the organist at St. Lawrence Church there, and gave him his first instruction in music, particularly in the violin. He studied also under Verhulst, who was the intimate friend of Mendelssohn and Schumann. At seventeen he was sent to Leipsic, where, as one of the high-class violin pupils, he was allowed the distinction of playing in the world-famed Gewand-haus concerts. Among his fellow students at the Conservatoire was Arthur Sullivan. After leaving Leipsic he accepted an offer to become a member of the private string quartette of Prince George Galitzin, the son of Prince Nicholas Galitzin. He came to London in 1861 at the request of Prince Galitzin, who was then residing in England. Like many others his efforts to succeed in London were very trying, but at length he arrested the attention of Mr. Joseph Barnby, then musical adviser to Messrs. Novello, Ewer & Co., by a couple of anthems, and the interest aroused in Mr. Barnby resulted in the publication of many works which Mr. Tours had previously written. The anthems alluded to above were "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house," and "To Thee, O Lord." Since then Mr. Tours has established his popularity as a song-writer, having published about a hundred songs. Among the best known are "Stars of the Summer Night," "The Angel at the Window," "The Three Singers," "Because of Thee," "Two Dreams," and "The New Kingdom," and a setting of "Our Enemies are Fallen," from "The Princess," for the Tennyson collection of songs.

Signor Denza.

Signor Denza.
From a Photo. by Walery.

Signor Denza was born in Castellamare di Stabia, near Naples, on February 24, 1846. His talent for music was discovered at the age of seven. He commenced his studies at the Conservatoire of Naples, where in a year he gained a free scholarship. His first popular work was a Neapolitan song named "T' Allicuorde," after which followed several French and Italian songs, notably "Giulia," "Si tu m'aimais," but the best adapted to the public taste proved to be "Se." These productions were very successful early efforts. It was in the year 1879 that Signor Denza first came to London. His first songs here were "Come to Me," "Call me Back," "Marguerite," and "River of Rest." In the year 1883 he was appointed Professor of Singing at the London Academy of Music under Dr. Wild. On the death of Dr. Wild he was appointed a director, which post he now holds. Signor Denza has received the decoration of honour for music from Queen Marguerite. His latest songs are "Hush-a-Bye," "The Sweetest Song,' "No More," "Flower of my Soul," "Light of the Day," and "Recalled," words by George Arthur Binnie.

Alfred Scott Gatty.

Alfred Scott Gatty.
From a Photo. by W. & D. Downey.

Mr. Alfred Scott Gatty is the second surviving son of the Rev. Alfred Gatty, D.D., Vicar of Ecclesfield, in the county of From a Photo York, and Sub-Dean of York Cathedral. He was born at the Vicarage, Ecclesfield, on the 26th of April, 1847. His mother, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, was a well-known writer in her time, being the authoress of "Parables from Nature," &c., and founder and for many years editor of the magazine for children called Aunt Judy's Magazine.

Mr. Scott Gatty was educated at Cambridge, where he devoted all his energies to music, and where he conducted and wrote for an Amateur Orchestral Society entirely composed of undergraduates.

In 1866 Mr. Gatty commenced writing songs for children in his mother's magazine, the outcome of which is three handsome volumes entitled "Little Songs for Little Voices." published by Messrs. Metzler & Co., and which are very popular in both drawing-room and national school. Mr. Gatty wrote most of the lyrics of these little ditties as well as the music.

In 1868 appeared two of the most popular songs Mr. Scott Gatty has ever written, viz., "O Fair Dove, O Fond Dove," and "True till Death." Others to the number of over 200 have appeared from time to time. The best known perhaps are "Gallants of England," "One Morning, oh, so Early, "Rothesay Bay," "In a Quaint Old Village," "The Hay is i' the Mow," "Winter," "When Harvest Came Again," "When Love was a Little Boy." humorous songs have also been very popular, such as "Three Little Pigs," "Camomile Tea," "Dear Aunt Jane," "Who do you Think were There?" and also the well-known plantation songs. Amongst his latest songs are "The Waves Answer" and "Love Built his Nest," published by Moccatta, Berners-street, words by George Arthur Binnie.

In 1880 Mr. Scott Gatty was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms of the College of Arms, and in 1886 was advanced to the office of York Herald, which appointment he still holds.

Alfred James Caldicott.

Alfred James Caldicott.
From a Photo. by Sarony, N.Y.

Mr. Caldicott was born in 1842, in the city of Worcester. At the age of ten he became a chorister in the Cathedral choir. After five years he became assistant organist at the Cathedral. In 1863 he left Worcester to go to Leipsic, to complete his studies; his masters in piano playing were Plaidy and Moscheles; in composition his tutors were Carl Reinecke and Hauptmann. He remained there for two years, returning to Worcester in 1865, and was appointed honorary organist to the Corporation. During his appointment he established the Worcester Musical Society. About this period he took the degree of Bachelor of Music at Cambridge. His first important composition was the oratorio, "The Widow of Nain," which was performed at the Worcester Triennial Festival in the year 1878, under his direction, in the Cathedral where he first received his musical education.

His first serious attempt to win the favour of a London audience occurred about 1880, by an operetta at German Reed's, entitled "Treasure Trove," which was so successful that up to the present day he has composed no less than thirteen operettas for the same place of entertainment.

The late Carl Rosa commissioned Mr. Caldicott to write two operettas, viz., "All Abroad," and "John Smith," which were produced and run successfully at the Prince of Wales's Theatre during 1889 and 1890. Just previous to his death, he had received from Mr. Carl Rosa a more important commission for Miss Agnes Huntington.

He now holds the post of music director at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, under the management of Mr. Horace Sedger. He has written about 100 songs and partsongs, the most popular of which are "Unless," and the humorous one, "Two Spoons." He has also written several cantatas for ladies' voices, the best known being "The Queen of the May," and "The Rhine Legend."

No list of popular composers would be complete without the names of Mr. Maybrick (Stephen Adams), Jacques Blumenthal, Frederick Hymen Cowen, and Miss Maude Valerie White; but as portraits of the first two of these have already appeared among our "Celebrities at Different Ages," while those of the two latter will do so shortly, we do not give them here.