Sixty Years of California Song

Margaret Blake Alverson

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• Publié par: atti
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 32
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sixty Years of California Song, by Margaret Blake-Alverson

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Title: Sixty Years of California Song

Author: Margaret Blake-Alverson

Release Date: October 12, 2006 [EBook #19528]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIXTY YEARS OF CALIFORNIA SONG ***

Produced by David Newman, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

SIXTY YEARS OF CALIFORNIA SONG

Margaret Blake-Alverson

M.B. ALVERSON 1913

CONTENTS

Transcriber's Note:typographical errors and Numerous misspellings (especially of non-English words and names) in the original text have been corrected in this e-text, where the correct spelling could be confirmed.

Address all correspondence to

MRS. MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON 1429 SECOND AVENUE OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Copyright 1913 by MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON All rights reserved

Man must reap and sow and sing; Trade and traffic and sing; Love and forgive and sing; Rear the young with tenderness and sing; Then silently step forth to meet whatever is—and sing.

TO MY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS BOOK.

IF AS A SINGER AND A TEACHER OF SINGING I HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE BETTERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, THEN HAS MY WORK BEEN WELL DONE AND I AM CONTENT.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA JANUARY, 1913

MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON

FOREWORD

This book has been written for friends and musical associates of more than half a century.

The author's life has been a busy one, often with events of public import, and so it may be that this volume has value as history. Those who should know have so affirmed.

It is hoped that old-time Californians will find the book good reading. The later generations of students and musicians will be interested in the story of one who helped to prepare the way for them.

The narrative tells somewhat of the Christian ministry of a noble father, of the writer's career as a public singer and of reminisce nces of many associated musicians, efficient factors in the development of music in California to the high place it holds today.

Some mention is made of distinguished divines and m en of note in the professions and in business. The part taken by the author in political campaigns and in the activities of the Grand Army of the Republic will appeal to patriots.

Some chapters on the singing voice and its cultivation are the fruitage of a wide experience of many years. A list of pupils for three decades is added.

The illustrations have been at once a labor of love and an extravagance of money cost, but it is believed that the reader will find in that feature alone justification for the publication.

THE TEXT

Antecedents and Childhood Our Trip to California via the Isthmus and Early Days There. First Church Choir in Stockton Stockton in the Fifties. Benicia Seminary. Genesis of Mills College. Distinguished Pioneers. Marriage

How I Made the First Bear Flag in California

1

13

33

43

Boston. Dedham Choir, 1858. The Civil War. Musicians. Return to California. Santa Cruz Music in Santa Cruz in the Sixties. Return to San Francisco. How and Why I Became a Dressmaker. Opera. Music in San Francisco in the Seventies

Lady of Lyons Given for the Fire Engine Fund, Santa Cruz. Flag-Raising at Gilroy Hot Springs. Visalia Concerts On the Road with Dick Kohler, Mr. Vivian, Walter Campbell, Mr. Wand and Charles Atkins Early Music and Music Houses. Musical Instrument Makers. Old-Time Singers

As a Church Choir Singer in Cincinnati, Stockton, Benicia, Dedham, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Bernardino and Oakland. Rev. Starr King, Howard Dow, Henry Clay Barnabee, Carl Zerrahn, J.C.D. Parker, Carlotta and Adelina Patti, Jenny Lind, Joe Maguire, Georgiana Leach, Sam Mayer, Harry Gates

Golden Jubilee of Song Service, June 12, 1896

Camilla Urso's Festival, 1873. Madame Anna Bishop, The Loring Club, Alfred Wilkie, Frank Gilder, D.P. Hughes, Ben Clark

St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, St. Ignatius' Cathedrals. Episcopal and Jewish Music. J.H. Dohrmann. The Bianchis

Great Musical Festival in Aid of the Mercantile Library, 1878. At Gilroy Springs Authors' Carnival, 1880, President Hayes and General Sherman Present Vacation Episodes at Deer Park, July 4, 1893

In Oakland. Sad Accident. With Brush and Easel. Kind Friends

Party at Dr. J.M. Shannon's Home in 1907

Lee Tung Foo

What I Know of the Voice and of Teaching Tremolo More About the Voice

Political Campaigning. Work as a Patriot on National Holidays and with the Grand Army of the Republic. Flag Raising at Monterey

Repertoire and Other Data. Distinguished Musicians and Singers of the Last Century

Reminiscences of Early California Musicians and Singers

Reminiscences of Later California Musicians and Singers

With My Pupils

A List of My Pupils

48

59

69

75

83

92

108

112

123

130

137 145 152 157

161 167 172 179

183

203

216 227 248 262

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Mrs. Margaret Blake-Alverson, 1912

Heirloom Jewel

Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh and Family, Stockton, 1852

Coat-of-Arms of the Blake Family

Steamer "American Eagle," Sacramento River, 1852. Home of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh, Stockton, 1853

First Presbyterian Church, Stockton, Built in 1849, the First Protestant Church in California

Pioneer Home of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh, Stockton, 1851

Associated Musicians and Singers, 1853 to 1879: Richard Condy, Mr. Schnable, Lizzie Fisher, Ellen Lloyd, Mary Jane Lloyd, Mrs. Anna Bowden Shattuck, Judge H.B. Underhill, Carrie Heinemann, Mrs. Taylor

Business Men of Stockton, 1852: Austin Sperry, James Harrold, Wm. H. Knight, Geo. Henry Sanderson

Reminiscent of Benicia in the Early Fifties: Benicia Young Ladies' Seminary, 1852; Benicia Courthouse, 1853; Prof. Jos. Trenkle, Prof. Schumacher, Prof. Beutler, Prof. Paul Pioda

Masonic Sheepskin, London, England, 1811. Capt. Chas. Blake

Major-General Benj. Lincoln, of the War of the Revolution

Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Mary Kroh-Trembly, Pioneer Organist, Stockton, 1852

First Graduating Class, Young Ladies' Seminary, Benicia, Founded 1852: Mary E. Woodbridge, Mary Ridell, Mary Hook, Mary E. Walsh; Principal, Mary Atkins; Teachers, Sallie Knox, Kate Sherman; Pupils, Mary O'Neill, Agnes Bell First California Bear Flag, Made by Mrs. Blake-Alverson in Stockton, 1852

faces Title faces page4 faces page 12

faces page 16 faces page 20 page 25 page 26

faces page 28

faces page 32 faces page 36 faces page 38 page 39 page 42

faces page 44

page 45 faces

Dedham, Mass., Church Choir, 1861, Men Singers

Dedham, Mass., Church Choir, 1861, Women Singers

Typical Concert Programme of the Early Sixties in San Francisco. Oratorio of Samson

Santa Cruz Choir, 1867: F.A. Anthony, Belle Peterson, Chas. A. Metti

Church of the Advent, San Francisco, 1880. Roman Catholic Church, San Bernardino, 1888. Calvary Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz, 1864. Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oakland, 1893

Associated Musicians and Singers of the Seventies and to Date: Sam'l D. Mayer, Mrs. Alfred Abbey, "Joe" Maguire, Frank Gilder, Walter C. Campbell, Mrs. Augusta Lowell-Garthwaite, H.S. Stedman, Mrs. Mollie Melvin-Dewing

Ministers with Whom Mrs. Blake-Alverson Has Been Associated: Rev. Dr. J.K. McLean, Rev. P.Y. Cool, Rev. V.M. Law, Rev. "Father" Akerly, Rev. Giles A. Easton

Wm. H. Keith, Baritone, Pupil of Mrs. Blake-Alverson, 1881

Music House of Kohler & Chase, 1851 and 1910. Andrew Kohler, Quincy A. Chase, S.J. Bruce

Heads of Pioneer Music Houses, San Francisco: William G. Badger, Matthias Gray, Julius R. Weber, C.H. McCurrie

Music House of Sherman, Clay & Co. C.C. Clay, Leander S. Sherman

First Church Choir in California, Stockton, 1852: Margaret R. Kroh, Sarah R. Kroh, Emma J. Kroh, Ann L. Kroh, Mary M. Kroh, Sir Geo. Henry Blake, James Holmes, Wm. W. Trembly, Wm. H. Knight

Henry Clay Barnabee, Opera Singer, Associate of Mrs. Blake- Alverson in Boston, Mass., in 1861

Organists of the Early Years in San Francisco: Richard T. Yarndley, Gustav A. Scott, Chas. H. Schultz, Frederick Katzenbach

Floral Tributes Presented Mrs. Blake-Alverson on Her Fiftieth Anniversary of Song Service, June 12, 1896

Pen Sketch of Mrs. Blake-Alverson, Made by Richard Partington.

page 48 faces page 52 page 56 faces page 60 faces page 64

faces page 68

faces page 76 faces page 80 faces page 84 faces page 86 faces page 90

faces page 92 faces page 96 faces page 100

faces page 108 page

Sixtieth Birthday, June 12, 1896

Mrs. Blake-Alverson on Her Fiftieth Anniversary as a Public Singer, Sixty Years of Age, Oakland, June 12, 1896

Mme. Anna Bishop, Prima Donna, Teacher and Associate of Mrs. Blake-Alverson

Associated Musicians, 1860-1913: Hugo Mansfeldt, Sir Henry Heyman, J.H. Dohrmann, Alfred Wilkie

Original Members Loring Club, San Francisco, 1873. French Horn Quartette, San Francisco, 1895: Geo. Fletcher, Wm. E. Blake, Nathaniel Page, Geo. Story

Organ St. Patrick's Church, San Francisco, 1875. J.H. Dohrmann, Organist and Choir Director

Eminent Divines for Whom Mrs. Blake-Alverson has sung: Rev. Dr. A.M. Anderson, Stockton, 1852; Rev. Dr. Eells, Rev. Dr. Scudder, Rev. Dr. A.L. Stone, the Right Rev. Ingraham Kip, Rev. John Hemphill, Rev. Dr. H.D. Lathrop

Musical Directors, May Festival, San Francisco, 1878: John P. Morgan, Carl Zerrahn, Rudolf Herold

Bouquet of Artists, May Festival, San Francisco, 1878

Authors' Carnival, San Francisco, 1880: Mrs. Blake-Alverson as Charity Pecksniff; H.G. Sturtevant as Pecksniff; Alice Van Winkle as Mercy Pecksniff; Dolly Sroufe, Italian Booth; Henry Van Winkle, Cervantes Booth

Mme. Bowers, Etelka Gerster, Julie Rivé-King, Associates and Friends of Mrs. Blake-Alverson

Deer Park Cabin, Lake Tahoe, Dedicated July 4, 1893. Col. Richard Parnell, Sole Survivor of the Battle of Balaklava

Mrs. Blake-Alverson in 1852, 1864, 1874, 1880, 1905

A Group of Friends, Distinguished Singers in the Seventies and Eighties: Mrs. Margaret C. Pierce, Mrs. Sarah Watkins-Little, Mrs. Blake-Alverson, Mrs. Helen Wetherbee, Mrs. Marriner-Campbell

Lee Tung Foo, Pupil in the Nineties

111 faces page 112 page 115 faces page 116

faces page 118

faces page 124

faces page 128

faces page 132

faces page 134

faces page 140

faces page 144

faces page 148

faces page 156

faces page 160

faces pages 164 and

Mrs. Blake-Alverson and Her Two Sons, Wm. Ellery Blake, George Lincoln Blake

Associated Musicians and Singers, 1854-1900: Frederick Zech, Henry Wetherbee, Adolph Klose, S. Arrillaga, William P. Melvin, John W. Metcalf, Wm. M'F. Greer

Trophies and Tributes Presented Mrs. Blake-Alverson

"Sam" Booth, Popular Political Poet and Campaign Singer in San Francisco in the Seventies

Mechanics' Institute Fair, 1879. Mrs. Blake-Alverson in Costume

Civil War Mailing Envelopes, 1861. Co. K, Seventh California Volunteers, Capt O.P. Sloat, from San Bernardino, 1898.

Stephen W. Leach, Musical Director, Buffo Singer, Actor in San Francisco in the Seventies and Eighties

Joran Quartette, 1883: Lulu, Pauline and Elsie Joran and Mrs. Blake- Alverson

PORTRAITS OF PUPILS

Akerly, Mrs.

Allison, George

Ames, Lucille E. Avan, Clara Bassford, Mrs. Mayme Beam, Edith Beam, Mary R.

Beretta, Chelice

Bishop, Biddle

Bisquer, Marceline

Blake, Mrs. William E.

FACES PAGE 240 244 268 224 236 196 204 208 196 272 212

166 faces page 172

faces page 176

faces page 180 page 184 faces page 188

faces page 192

faces page 228

faces page 246

Bonske, Hazel

Bouton, Cloy

Bradley, Dolores

Brainard, Birdie

Brainard, Carrie

Brainard, Mrs. Hattie

Bruce, Florence

Bruce-Schmidt, Mrs. Winona

Bruce-Wold, Mrs. Ruth

Bullington, Marie

Caldwell, Mrs. O.B.

Case, Mrs. J.R.

Caswell, Mabel

Champion, Rose

Christofferson, Jennie

Cianciarolo, Lucia

Collins, Dr. Addison

Collins, Mrs. Minnie M.

Cooke, Grace

Crandall, Harry Crew, Josie Crossett, Louisa

Culver, Susan

Cushing, Lillian

Davies, Alice

Deetkin, Marjorie

Derby, Hattie

Dickey, Lorena

Dobbins-Ames, Mrs. Grace E.

Dowdle, Everett S.

Dowling, Gertrude

Dowling, Leo

Drake, Mabel L. Faull, Rose Faull, Sophia

Ferguson, Dolores D.

272 208 256 196 196 196 240 244 240

272 240 220 208 236 236 268

208 208 260 236 212 212 220 224 256

268 224 244 220 212 252 260 244 196 196 244

Flick, George

Foo, Lee Tung

Garcia, Louisa

Gerrior, Maud

Glass, Mrs. Louis

Graves, Bessie

Graves, Gussie

Greer, Yvonne

Griswold, Geneva

Harrold, Elizabeth

Harrold, Mary

Hermansen, Christine

Hitchcock, Ruth A.

Hunt, Elsie Mae

Jackson, Geo.

Jones, Ethel Jones, Ilma Jory, Lilian

Keith, William H.

Kiel, Stella

Kimball, Lorena Koch, Ada Kroh, Blanche

Kroh-Rodan, Mrs. Mary

Krueckle, Anna

Lahre, Freda

Lanktree, Elizabeth

Lanktree-Kenney, Mrs. Sue

La Rue, Grace

Lessig, Mrs. Chas.

Louderback, Mrs. Caroline

Louderback, Jean

McMahan, Bernard

McMaul, Juliet

Monnet-Swalley, Mrs. Emma D.

Mulgrew, Margaret

240 164and166 240 256 204 196 204 272 256 204 204 260 260 236 256 212 260 208 80 252 244 220 256 252 252 240 236 240 212 212 252 244 244 244 224 272