Sixty Years of California Song

Sixty Years of California Song, by

Margaret Blake-Alverson This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
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
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SIXTY YEARS OF CALIFORNIA SONG
Margaret Blake-Alverson
M.B. ALVERSON 1913
[Transcriber's Note: Numerous typographical errors and 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.]
[Illustration: "Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot?"
Margaret Blake-Alverson
Webster Photo, Oakland, 1912]
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.
MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA JANUARY, 1913

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 reminiscences 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 men 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 1
Our Trip to California via the Isthmus and Early Days There. First Church Choir in Stockton 13
Stockton in the Fifties. Benicia Seminary. Genesis of Mills College. Distinguished Pioneers. Marriage 33
How I Made the First Bear Flag in California 43
Boston. Dedham Choir, 1858. The Civil War. Musicians. Return to California. Santa Cruz 48
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 59
Lady of Lyons Given for the Fire Engine Fund, Santa Cruz. Flag-Raising at Gilroy Hot Springs. Visalia Concerts 69
On the Road with Dick Kohler, Mr. Vivian, Walter Campbell, Mr. Wand and Charles Atkins 75
Early Music and Music Houses. Musical Instrument Makers. Old-Time Singers 83
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 92
Golden Jubilee of Song Service, June 12, 1896 108
Camilla Urso's Festival, 1873. Madame Anna Bishop, The Loring Club, Alfred Wilkie, Frank Gilder, D.P. Hughes, Ben Clark 112
St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, St. Ignatius' Cathedrals. Episcopal and Jewish Music. J.H. Dohrmann. The Bianchis 123
Great Musical Festival in Aid of the Mercantile Library, 1878. At Gilroy Springs 130
Authors' Carnival, 1880, President Hayes and General Sherman Present 137
Vacation Episodes at Deer Park, July 4, 1893 145
In Oakland. Sad Accident. With Brush and Easel. Kind Friends 152
Party at Dr. J.M. Shannon's Home in 1907 157
Lee Tung Foo 161
What I Know of the Voice and of Teaching 167
Tremolo 172
More About the Voice 179
Political Campaigning. Work as a Patriot on National Holidays and with the Grand Army of the Republic. Flag Raising at Monterey 183
Repertoire and Other Data. Distinguished Musicians and Singers of the Last Century 203
Reminiscences of Early California Musicians and Singers 216
Reminiscences of Later California Musicians and Singers 227
With My Pupils 248
A List of My Pupils 262

THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Mrs. Margaret Blake-Alverson, 1912 faces Title
Heirloom Jewel faces page 4
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh and Family, Stockton, 1852