George W. Morgan Concert: Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Irving Hall

Conductor(s):
Henry Christian Timm

Price: $1; $1.50 reserved seat

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
21 June 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

15 May 1865, 8:00 PM

Program Details

The Quintette Club is comprised of Allen T. Dodworth, T. J. Dodworth, H. B. Dodworth, John F Stratton, and George W. Morgan. Mr. Farley substituted for Mr. Perring, because of his absence.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Hummel
Participants:  Quintette Club
4)
Composer(s): Mills
Participants:  Sebastian Bach Mills
5)
Composer(s): Unknown composer

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 12 May 1865, 7.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 13 May 1865, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 15 May 1865, 7.

     “The Quintette Club, whose performances in private have elicited so much applause, will play for the first time in public a Grand Trio, by Hummel, and the Fourth Trio by Reissiger, originally written for piano and stringed instruments, and now arranged for piano and brass instruments.”

4)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 15 May 1865, 4.

     “The testimonial concert to Mr. G. W. Morgan, takes place this evening at Irving Hall.  This concert is given to Mr. Morgan by a large and influential circle of friends and admirers, who recognize in him not only the first organist of the country, but a thorough musician, a pianist of excellent power, and a gentleman everywhere and every way to be respected.  The programme is one of great interest, containing some novelties which the public will be delighted to listen to.  We refer our readers to the advertisement for particulars, simply observing that from the artists therein mentioned, a very, very interesting and charming performance is certain to result.”

5)
Announcement: New-York Times, 16 May 1865, 4.

     “Mr. G.W. Morgan, the well-known organist, will be the recipient of a testimonial concert to-night at Irving Hall.  The programme is extremely interesting, and will be interpreted by the following artists: Mrs. Jennie Kempton, Mr. Perring, Mr. Chase, Mr. S.B. Mills, and a young lady amateur, of whose extraordinary powers the wildest rumors are afloat.  A novel feature will be the performance of the Allan Dodworth Quintette Club—a strictly private organization well known in musical circles.  The pieces are the grand trio by Hummel, and the fourth trio by Reissieger [sic], originally written for piano and stringed instruments, and now arranged for piano and brass instruments.”

COMMENT: The NYT erroneously announces that the concert will take place on May 16, 1865; however, the concert was given on May 15, 1865.

6)
Review: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 17 May 1865, 114.

     Very well attended event.  The young female dilettante gave her debut and delighted with an unusually beautiful voice.

7)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 May 1865, 5.

     “This well-deserved testimonial to an eminent musician was given at Irving Hall before a brilliant audience.  There were many vacant reserved seats, but they were all sold, the owners being prevented by circumstances from attending, which was their loss.  We understand that the pecuniary result was very large, equaling the most sanguine expectations of the promoters of the testimonial.  Mr. George W. Morgan’s paramount reputation is that of an organist, in which department he outranks all in this country who make that noble instrument their specialty.  It is admitted that he ranks among the first living organists of the world.  There being no organ in Irving Hall his friends were denied the pleasure of hearing him in his distinguished specialty, but he won just and high encomiums for his piano playing on this occasion, a facility for which he possesses in a larger degree than is usually found among organists. 

     The leading instrumental feature of the concert was the performance of the Quintette Club, consisting of Morgan, pianist, Allen Dodworth, corno primo, G. J. [sic] Dodworth, corno secondo, H. B. Dodworth, tenor, J.F. Stratton, baritone.  This club, of which D. R. Stanford, esq., a well-known merchant of this city, and a musical amateur of rare taste, judgment and liberality, is President, have met together for several years, at the piano ware-rooms of Stodart & Morris, for the practice and enjoyment of the highest class of music.  They adapt the stringed and piano quartettes and quintettes of Beethoven, Hummel, Fesca, Reissiger and others to their peculiar instruments, preserving all the points intact, with only such changes as the registers and capacities of the instruments render necessary.  There is a peculiar charm in this novel combination, and in the andantes, especially, the effects are extremely beautiful.  The selections on this occasion were the allegro and andante from the grand trio by Hummel, and the four movements of Reissiger’s fourth trio.  These were admirably played, Mr. Morgan exhibiting fluency, certainty and excellent taste as pianist, and the Messrs. Dodworth and Stratton proving that the old reputation of the Dodworth family was not only something beyond the hear-say of tradition, but that to-day they could compete successfully with any players on their instruments, albeit they no longer indulge in public performances.  Allen Dodworth’s tone, execution, and expression are as perfect as possible, and each member in his department is an accomplished and admirable performer.  Both selections were well received, but for a miscellaneous audience the second selection was very much too long.  Mr. S. B. Mills, beside playing his clever fantasie of themes from ‘Faust,’ which we never heard him play so well, performed a duet with Mr. Morgan, which would have been more effective had the pianos been in perfect unison.

     The vocal excitement of the evening was the first appearance of a young lady amateur, a pupil of Signor Bassini, one of the finest formers of the voice in the country.  The young lady is petite but very interesting in appearance.  She has a voice of rare beauty, fresh, melodious and telling, and charming in its sympathetic quality.  Her style is somewhat exaggerated, but she has much dramatic feeling and seems to have a very comprehensive idea of effect.  She made an undeniable success; both her songs were encored, the second receiving a unanimous double encore.

     Mrs. Jenny Kempton has very much improved, both in style and voice.  She sings in a spirited and effective manner, and throws a large amount of passion into her ballads.  She was of course unanimously encored in everything, and won the generous suffrages of the audience.  Mr. Chase and Mr. Farley, substitute for Mr. E. Perring, who makes a point of never appearing when announced, sang with good effect and added to the enjoyment of the evening.  Mr. Morgan played and accompanied everything, and did everything well.  He worked hard enough, but his success must have made his labor light.”