Music in Boston: 1863

 

I found this bit of Boston musical ephemera yesterday. I don't usually bother with Boston, because that once important musical and theatrical centre seems -- in direct contrast to California -- to be shy about sharing its newspaper archives with those of us who live on the other side of the world. But, sometimes ..

So, what's special about this? Carl Zerrahn (b Malchow, Mecklenburg 28 July 1826; d Boston 29 December 1909) was a leading figure in Massachusetts music for half a century.

Whatever there is to say (and there is a great deal) about him has already been said.

[Maria] Teresa Carreño García de Sena (b Caracas, Venezuela 22 December 1853; d New York 12 June 1917) and her long and shining career (and colourful private life) have also been well documented. The interesting thing, however, is that our document is from the very earliest weeks of her career ..

She was but nine years old, and had made her official public debut only in the preceding November.

Which leaves Mrs Celia Houston Ford. Who? Unlike her two companions, Mrs Ford has left little mark on the history of music in Boston. And, yes, this was her 'debut' performance.

Lucelia A HOUSTON was born in Boston in 1841, one of the children of carpenter William Peterson Houston and his wife, Lucinda née Roberts. She was taught singing by local musician Augusto Bendelari (ex-of Naples) (1825-1903), and married 14 May 1862 Erastus H Ford, a young builder. Erastus would have been around to witness his wife's first public performance, but he died in South Boston, aged 30, 31 December 1864.

I can't find any notices of this concert. And, of course, Celia was wholly incidental to the 'one night only' performance of the cure little pianist ...  and the only other bill on which I spot her is for John K Paine's organ concert at Central Church, Portland 22 April 1863. She 'received great applause for her perfoermances which were rendered in a charming manner ... a sweet voice, of great compass .. accompanied by Kotzschmar ..'. Mr Paine, I see, was 'musical instructor at Harvard University'.

After the death of her husband, Celia set out for Europe 'to study with Garcia'. She may have, but she died 'of consumption' in Milan 27 October 1866.

Well, now we know. And it is a nice piece of musical ephemera ...