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From The Examiner.

Musical and Personal Recollections during
Half a Century. By Henry Phillips. In
Two Volumes. Skeet.

the

isfaction, he was retained to sing in that part for five shillings a night, and in the next season he was retained at Drury Lane to sing for the same salary in the music of Macbeth, whenever he was wanted. The boy received a little occupation of this sort and some snatches of musical 'instruction, being apprenticed to Mr. John Reeve, son of the composer of a glee then popular. But when verging upon sixteen, his voice broke, and his clear and high soprano disappeared. Then he tried to earn money by sketching, and having made a parcel of sketches, took them with no profitable result to a shop in Piccadilly:

ing produced as a singing Roscius? So he was duly announced for one evening only, sung after the play "The Bay of Biscay," was applauded loudly, and received the kisses of AN old friend of the public, Mr. Henry the ladies. A successful concert at York, Phillips the singer, here gives to the world a where the boy sung Arne's "Hymn of Eve," budget of the recollections of his life. He "The Bay of Biscay," and another song, tells his story very pleasantly and well, is helped the unlucky family upon its way to not diffuse, rambling, or blindly egotistical, London. After many vain attempts to bring but speaks very simply and honestly about out the singing Roscius, young Henry Philhimself, while he attempts to tell the public lips found his first opening when a singing no more than it cares to hear. Mr. Phillips's boy was wanted at the old Haymarket Thefather was, we are told, a gentleman by atre to play the robber's boy in "The Iron birth, and admitted a barrister, with the ad- Chest." His first attempt having given satvantage of a private fortune to support him on the up-hill way of his profession. But he was stage-struck and suffered accordingly; threw up his profession and became the Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello of a country circuit. At Weymouth, the Ophelia to his Hamlet was Miss Barnett, a bright-eyed lady of German and Jewish extraction, who, at age of nine, had been a singer at Vauxhall, and had been apprenticed to Dr. Hook, the father of Theodore. As she never fairly cultivated the natural gifts of her voice, she had fallen into the post of first singer at country theatres. At Weymouth, her singing took the fancy of George III., who then frequently visited that watering-place, and she took altogether the fancy of Mr. Richard Phillips, still a man of worldly means, whose wife she became, and to whose dramatic circuits she was joined. Of these parents, Mr. Henry Phillips was born at Bath, in the first year of the present century. Thereupon Mr. Richard Phillips, the father, turned manager and bought a circuit of his own in Wales, which in a very short time devoured all his property, even to some rows of houses in the Euston Road, London. The 'Adam and Eve' and a number of dwellings on each side would, but for this mishap, have belonged to me (until of late years they bore our name), but now the once rich heir was a houseless child."

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"The next day I started early on the same errand, till, having exhausted all the localities I knew anything of, I again returned home, having resolved to convert our parlor window into a shop, and so exhibit my drawings. All being arranged to my satisfaction, by tapes drawn across, I pinned my pictures to them, with the prices marked; and, I assure you, very respectable and business-like the window looked, bearing, at the same time, evidence that mine was not an extravagant establishment, as the highest price was one shilling, which graduated down to a penny.

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I soon sold some, and my spirits rose rapidly. Not many days elapsed ere my shop attracted the attention of a person connected with Ackerman's repository, in the Strand, who offered me employment to color engravings, such as were then the rage, viz., When his son Henry was eight years old, long strips of subjects drawn out of a tube, his father took a short summer engagement like a moving panorama. One was, A trip for himself only, at Harrogate, where the to Paris,' others, A trip to Holland,' Edson's education consisted in being made to inburgh, etc., etc. This I cheerfully accepread and declaim Sterne and Milton, and to ted, and prophesied a flourishing trade at hand. What with my employment and my learn the rudiments of Latin. But even be- shop, a commercial importance grew upon fore he could speak plainly, he had sung me. At this coloring, I labored eight and many songs taught him by his mother. Could ten hours a day for nearly two years, and he not help the fortunes of his house by be- frequently earned from thirty shillings to

two pounds a week, which not only contrib- the usual routine of city dinners; and havuted much to the comfort and support of my ing learned all the glees then usually perfamily, but also enabled me to purchase formed, I received from my first engagement cheap copies of the songs of Handel, Haydn, and Mozart, from which I commenced my study of the great masters. The difficulty was, how to practise them; for I had no in

strument.

three guineas, one pound eleven shillings and sixpence of which was to be mine. I cannot express the joy I felt when I placed that sum in the Russell Savings-Bank, Bloomsbury, neither can I express the pride with which I strutted home, conscious of having some money in the bank.

"My voice now began gradually to develop itself, and I could sing tolerably down to A, and with some efforts and uncertainty up to

pass, chiefly by Shield, such as the Sapling Oak,' As burns the Charger,' The Wolf," 'Who deeply drinks of Wine,' Now Phoebus sinketh in the West.' My great song was, however, The Sapling Oak.""

"Fortune, however, still favored me; for, having made a really elaborate drawing of a laundress's drying-ground, and placed it as the centre of attraction in my window, it was observed by a lady living opposite, who took in washing, kept a mangle, and had a piano-E. I learned many songs within this comforte. She speedily made my acquaintance, and asked me to tea, which invitation I eagerly accepted. She was a little person, with a dash of manner rather above her calling, and though elderly, skipped about sometimes like a young girl. Our conversation referring to her younger days, it appeared she had been a dancer and chorus-singer at some of the London theatres. Finding that I also had found employment in that honorable branch of the profession, she was overjoyed, told me to come and drink tea as often as I liked, and added that I might practise on her piano from morning till night, every day in the week."

The voice came again; the young vocalist, ambitious for a bass, found himself possessed of a light baritone, and he received two pounds a week from Mr. Arnold, then lessee of the lyceum, for singing in the choruses, or any other service of which he proved capable. Thereupon he closed his small repository of art, and fairly began his career as a vocalist, articled to Mr. Broadhurst, then very popular as a singer of Irish and Scotch melodies, a popular teacher, with an engage ment at the Lyceum, or English Opera House, and the musical direction of most of the City Halls, the city connection bringing him a large number of pupils. After his own first season as a Lyceum chorus-singer, Mr. Phillips writes,-

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Presently, Mr. Broadhurst took an engagement with Charles Kemble, at Covent Garden, and it was urged on him by the young singer's friends that he should get Charles Phillips heard there :

"An opportunity for this presented itself in an opera (The Law of Java') which Sir Henry Bishop was composing, and which was to be opened with a glee, or chorus, as most of Sir Henry's operas were. An additional bass being required, it was arranged that a glee should be written for Mr. Goulden, alto; Mr. Pyne, tenor; and myself: and this was no other than the celebrated trio and chorus, Mynheer Vandunk.' Dressed as Dutchmen, and seated at a round table, on which were bottles and glasses, the curtain rose after the overture, and our glee began. Its effect was nothing, and we usually walked The understanding with Mr. Broadhurst was, off the stage without a round of applause. that I was to sing for a few nights gratuitously, and, if approved, might be offered an engagement. Thus I continued for five or six nights; but no notice was taken of me. I continually looked at the side wings, to see if the manager was standing there with a proposal; but no, all was still, and as I went "The summer over, I pursued my studies on the stage, so I was suffered to go off. daily at Mr. Broadhurst's house in Leigh This became very tiring, especially as on Street, Burton Crescent; and my family many occasions it prevented my accepting having moved into lodgings near Covent other engagements. I urged Mr. BroadGarden, my peregrinations were very differ- hurst to ask the manager's opinion and inent from my former walk to Edmonton. Mr. tention; but no, he said, try it a little longer. Broadhurst had an excellent grand piano- I did; the result was the same. So at last, forte, and all Handel's works. At last, then, I was in my glory. First rapidly, and then studiously, I went through all the oratorios, until I literally knew everything almost by rote.

"The spring of the following year brought

losing all patience, I resolved to settle the question myself, and set the matter at rest, The next morning, I went to the theatre, and desired to speak with Mr. Charles Kemble. The theatrical Gold-Stick-in-Waiting delivered my message, and after a due lapse of

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"Stop!' hallooed Kemble; you'll sing the glee to-night?'

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"No! If I do, I'm what you induced me to represent myself,- -a Dutchman!' Away I hastened from the building, and never beheld his face again, until a few years had passed, when he sought my services at forty pounds per week."

An opportunity having been taken by Mr. Broadhurst to introduce a couple of songs by Henry Phillips between play and farce at the Bath Theatre, where John Loder led the orchestra, Loder, usually hard to please, received young Phillips so graciously that he obtained and accepted the offer of an engageIn that sea

ment for the next Bath season.

son Madame Ronzi de Begnis was the soprano, and he had assigned to him such parts as Don Bsailio in the " Barbreie," and the Poet in "Il Turco in Italia." His success at the Bath Theatre induce Mr. Loder to engage the young vocalist for one of his grand concerts at the Assembly Rooms, where Braham, who was among the singers, complimented him :

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"He then, in the kindest manner, took me aside, and imparted to me the theory and secret of musical declamation, which, I need scarcely say, I never forgot. Amongst other things he said, Observe what I tell you; as you advance, you will have twenty blunderbusses continually levelled at your head. Every means and every artifice will be used to destroy your reputation, and depress your talent, but have no fear, pursue your path with vigor and with courage, and your enemies will fly before you.'

"I marvelled, and could scarcely credit what he said; but, indeed, afterwards I found his words only too true, and have frequently repeated the caution to my younger brethren when they came, in after-life, under my guidance.

"I had reached now a higher position than I could have hoped for in so short a time, and was generally acknowledged as a rising artiste, when Mr. Loder informed me that a new church, of Clifton, Bristol, was about to be opened with a grand performance of the Messiah,' which Sir George Smart was to conduct, and that he should try to place me as the principal bass.

"This was rare news indeed; he promised to write immediately to Sir George, and endeavor to obtain his consent. Sir George objected, on the ground that I must be a very young man, and the risk was too great to run upon such an occasion.

"This threw a sad gloom over me. Mr. Loder still persevered; and it was arranged that as Sir George was coming to Bath, he should hear me, and that the bills should not be issued until after our interview.

"These preliminaries settled, and the morning appointed for the interview, Mr. Loder begged me to bring half a guinea, and present it after the hearing, as in consideration of a lesson. This I tremblingly obeyed, for that sum to me was one of vast amount, and I well knew what I should have to suffer evading so positive a command, and accordwhen it was gone. However, there was no ingly I, with my half-guinea, went to Mr. Loder's house of business in Milson Street, prepared for the worst in every way.'

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Sir George received me in a large empty music-room, on the first floor, over the shop, where stood a grand pianoforte.'

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to take upon yourself the task of singing ‘So, sir,' said he, • you are bold enough through the "Messiah," eh?"

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I answered that I was.

"Well, let me hear you; here is a copy. Do you think you can see over my shoulder? "

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Certainly,' I said.

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"And through it I went with equal truth. I observed a smile upon his countenance every now and then, when coming to the chromatic passages, evidently thinking I should trip; but, no, nothing could move me from my path.

"Perhaps, sir,' he continued, you could first night, forced into success the music of oblige me with the next song, "The People Caspar, sung by him as a companion huntsthat walketh in Darkness," in the same man, while an actor who could not sing perway?' formed the part; passing over also the concert engagements with Mr. Loder, and the representation at Bath of "Tom and Jerry," in which Mr. Phillips represented nine characters, and made the chief hit by singing as a watchman," Past two o'clock, and a cloudy morning," we come through a period of strengthening voice and fast-growing reputation with the public, to the evening, in March, 1855, on which Mr. Phillips, after the death of Bartleman, was among others tried by an engagement for one night before the awful tribunal of the "Ancient Concerts." The result was his immediate engagement for the whole series at ten guineas a night. Of the sort of discipline maintained

"When I had finished, he said, That's enough; I'm quite satisfied. And, now, let me ask you, do you know anything of the tenor songs?'

"Yes, sir, all.'
"And the soprano ? '

"All.'

"And the contralto?"

"All.'

"And possibly the choruses?'

"Yes, sir, every one.'

"I then offered him the fee, neatly done at these concerts here is an anecdote :—

up in white paper.

"What's this?' said he.
"Your fee, sir. Allow me to consider

this as a lesson.'

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Nothing of the kind,' said Sir George, 'put it in your pocket ;' and placing his hand on my shoulder, he continued, I have been much pleased and surprised, and will be your friend as long as I live."

wont) said, very quietly, A cadenza, my lord! Oh!' said his lordship; and the concert proceeded with its usual solemnity."

"Mrs. Salmon, who generally was a most strict Handelian, one evening forgot herself, and, I suppose, fancying she was singing to some ordinary audience, at the termination of From Mighty Kings,' made a cadenza, which she had no sooner commenced than Greatorex opened the full organ upon her, with the final chord. For an instant all was confusion, the lady sat down, and became For that first appearance as principal singer fearfully red, while the noble director rose to in an oratorio the fortunate youth had not inquire the cause, when Greatorex turned the necessary suit of black. He walked fif-round, and (twiddling his thumbs, as he was teen miles to buy some black cloth at a bargain, and made his own waistcoat and trousers out of it; but the coat being beyond him, he mortgaged his engagement to a tailor, and thus got over his last perplexity. After his success in this undertaking, Sir George Smart promised to introduce Mr. Phillips at the Lenten oratorios in London, and did so. But the new singer failed for want of physical power, until he made a special success with a recitative and air, "The Snares of Death," in Sir John Stevenson's oratorio called "The Thanksgiving." His success in this induced Mr. Kemble to offer him an engagement at Covent Garden, to play Artabanes in "Artaxerxes," with Miss Paton, Madame Vestris, and Mr. Braham. The friends of the principal baritone of the theatre considered this a casus belli, and the interloper, with his voice still weak and impaired by nervousness, was on the first night heartily groaned at and hissed. Passing over the production of "Der Frieschutz" at the Lyceum, in which Mr. Phillips, though hissed on the

Mr. Phillips has some pleasant recollections of Lindley and his faithful friend Dragonetti, of the unequalled double bass with his small harem of dolls, and a black doll for its queen. Of Paganini's first performance in London, and his ghostly way of appearing and disappearing at the places where he was engaged, there are some good recollections; there are anecdotes, too, of not a few old-fashioned practical jokes upon Bochsa and others, which make pleasant reading. Very amusing is the account of the trial upon the subject of copyright in the music of the Old English Gentleman," a piece which followed "Oh, no, we never mention her," and "Farewell to the Mountain," in the list of Mr. Phillips's particular successes in creating the 66 The next was The celebrity of songs. Light of other Days," which brought credit to Mr. Phillips when singing under Mr. Maid of Bunn's management in Balfe's

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Artois," an opera written for Malibran, who | career. Staudigl afterwards took that part greatly desired to get that air transferred of Polyphemus, and in that piece Mr. Sims into her part. Then there was the setting Reeves, with his career before him, sung as of Barry Cornwall's song of the "The Sea, one of the Sicilian Shepherds, "Come if ye the Sea, the open Sea," written for Mr. dare! It was he who sung in the subsePhillipe by the Chevalier Neukomm, who, quent reproductions of Dryden and Purcell's resenting his refusal to sing a piece called "King Arthur." Here we must break off. "Napoleon's Review," had for some time re- Enough has been said to indicate the amusfused to write for him. Upon which soon ing character of a book in which the narrafollowed the popularity of " When Time hath tive, which has a hard word for nobody, is bereft thee," a ballad inserted for Mr. Phil- fairly brought down to the date of Mr. Phillips in Mr. Bunn's version of Auber's "Gus- lips's Farewell Concert on the 25th of Febtavus." ruary, 1863. The absence of petty jealousy, the ready recognition of the merit of those singers who occupy his place before the public, and the frequent candor with which Mr. Phillips records any occasional shortcomings of his own, will make Mr. Phillips's book popular within the profession as well as with the public. He does not seem to have corrected the press himself. Staudigl's name is throughout printed Stndgl, and we have Sphor Mocheles, etc. But this is a small mechanical defect, easily removed in any new edition."

The declining fortunes of English opera induced John Wilson to pass from operatic singing to his Scottish entertainment, which he was on the point of abandoning as a failure when success flowed in upon him. Mr. Phillips was tempted to follow his example, but did so with small success. But the interest again touches on English opera, when Mr. Phillips (who played Polyphemus) tells of Mr. Macready's famous production in 1842 of Handel's "Acis and Galatea," which he accounts the greatest event in his musical

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