CHAPTER NINETEEN
Samuel WISE, gentleman, of Beastmarket hill, a
musical composer of local eminence, and organist at St. Mary’s church during
the long period of forty-six years, died on the 9th of November,
1802. William MATTHEWS, born at Ilkeston, January 28th, 1760, died
at Nottingham on the 29th of September, 1831. He composed some good
anthems, also several very superior metrical tunes, including “Christians
Awake,” “Pierrepont,” “Tranquillity,” &c. John NEWTON has published several
volumes of sacred music which have been widely circulated. John FARMER, a
popular glee singer, has, for a long series of years, been a favorite in
Nottingham and the midland counties, and by his fellow-townsmen he is thought
to excel RUSSELL in RUSSELL’s style. His son, Henry FARMER, is decidedly the
first musician in Nottingham at the present time. His compositions are
numerous, and chiefly secular. His first effort was accomplished at a very
early age, and he has poured forth in rapid profusion compositions which have
gained for their author a national celebrity. As a conductor of oratorios he is
probably unsurpassed, and as a violinist he excels. Thomas SMITH, the organist
at Sneinton parish church, is a young musician of promise who has already
produced several compositions, the popularity of which indicates that
possession of talent which may yet raise to a high rank among the musicians of
his native town. J.M. WILSON, a native of Nottingham, has produced many compositions
of excellence.
Among the best violinist of the present day,
we have F. MYERS, W. REDGATE, WINROW, and SHIMMELS. Frederick MARRIOTT, a very
superior singer, has been removed from his native town to St. George’s,
Windsor. Among the musical worthies of the locality we out not to forget the
names of Arthur LOWE, Esq.; of MAXFIELD; of H. BOND, the blind organist of St.
James’s; of RICHARDSON, the blind organist of St. Nicholas’s; SHELMERDINE, the
organist at the Derby road chapel, and the Mechanics Institution; HOPKINS;,
TURPIN, organist at the Roman Catholic church; Mrs. T. STEVENSON, who has set
to music a very touching song from the pen of the young townsman, Mr. Thomas
WHITEHEAD, now of the “Liverpool Albion;” Miss SWANWICK, the best female singer
in Nottingham; Marmaduke MILLER, the author of “Grace Darling,” and other
oratorios, which were produced with great success in Nottingham; and also the
Misses MILLER.
The Harmonic, the Choral society, the
Anacreontic, the Glee club, and the Vocal class at the Mechanics Institution,
are at present in active and useful operation.
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