National Republican., 1883-06-02
MISS MARY MURRAY,
The Famous Soprano Of the Olden Time, in
Washington.
Her "Reminiscences OF Departed singer'
and of Choirs That Arc No more'


music vases Of fragrant flowers, and several
choice paintings on the walls were witnesses
to the refined tastes of the occupant. That
occupant, slender, delicate lady, whose pale,
spiritual face and fragile hands bespoke the
invalid, was Miss Mary Murray, the famous
soprano Of the District quarter Of century
ago. The st. Cecilia Of Washington song,
the exquisite singer whose liquid voice
charmed people Of all faiths to st. Patricks
church, till the great auditorium of that
church used to be packed from chancel to en-
trance door, this lady had a magnetism Of or
gan that fascinated and enthralled all who
hoard it. Though an invalid for years, her
voice in speaking, at least, is still vibrant
with those liquid tones, those bird-like notes
that were the pride Of the Catholic choirs Of
this region few years ago. They still fall
on the ear as soft as snow on the sea, and
melt in the heart as instantly"
Miss Murray's was tho pioneer among
great voices in Washington church choirs.
Shy aud retiring as n child, with the kindest
heart and the gentlest courtesy to all, she
added to these rare qualities poetic imagina-
tion, on FIRE with love Of melody, and an en-
thusiastic devotion to music. She was welded
to her art, and no thought unfaithful to this
grand passion ever disturbed the quiet depths
of her soul. When she entered the choir Of
st. Matthew'S a mere child, singing as the
bird sings-because she could not help IL, be-
cause she loved 1.-THE freshness, the hexi-
bility, the unusual smoothness and liquidity
of her voice created furore among the people
of tho city. The diplomatists of Europe, IA
miliar with the trained choirs and the cul-
tured voices of the old-world cathedrals, were
captiyated at onee And still the little, shy,
modest girl never thought what great gift
was hers, and never realized that she was that
Tdra dpis-a great singer. When friends sug-
gested that she should seek the highest cul-
ture for her voice she adopted the suggestion
and in her love for music never imagined
that the organ she so assdulously cultivated
was one Of those infrequent legacies that ma
ture, in phenomenally good humor, sometimes
bestows upon favorite child of hers This
cultivation, however, combined with her ar
dent love of music and an unusual power of
developing the musical faculty in her pupils,
has made her very successful music teacher.
Thinking chapter out of Miss Murray's
"reminiscences of the choirs and singers of
antebellum times would be interesting, the
reporter asked her to so inform him.
I" i have been so identified with church and
choir music that am afraid cannot answer
the question as fully as you wish," said Miss
Murray.
when did you commence public singingp"
asked the reporter.
~ commenced my choir singing at
st. Matthew's when l was about IL.
do not remember the exact year, but
l have a gold cross presented to me
by friends of that choir, which bears
the date 1886 So 1t must have been prior to
that year that began. / am credited with
the honor Of opening that church with my
singing, but this is erroneous. The Mast
family opened the musical services with q
piano. Then there came some trouble, the
church was closed for a while, and then
choir was formed, SOME Of whom were very
fine singers" ~ N p 4gt
"Did you lead this first choir?"
mo; Joined afterward. Mrs. Anderson
was the leading soprano-a very good singer.
She is dead now. Her husband is in CALI
fornia, an editor, and prominent politician.
Mrs. Andrews, who afterward became Mrs.
Nicholas Callan, was alto. Miss Lizzie Len
man afterward Mrs. Drury, was also a So
prano. Mrs. Andersons daughter, Miss Kate
now Sister Cecilia in the convent on Con-
necticut avenue and teacher of vocal music
there, was another member. Senior Pedro
Daunas was the organist."
"a SpaniardP"
"Yes, Catalan from Barcelona, who fed
to this country from being concerned in
revolution there. Senior Daunas was highly
cultivated musician. He afterward became
professor of instrumental music in George
town college, married a Philadelphia lady,
and is buried in the college cemetery. Itwas
through Senor Daunas that Joined tho choir.
was young girl, had been taking lessons in
music from Mr. Platt an English gentleman,
and musical enthusiastgand one night accom-
panied his daughters to a choir rehearsal.
Senor Daunas, after hearing me sing, gave me
a solo to render and was pleased to compli-
ment my voice and insist on my joining the
choir. l did not need much insisting for
loved to sing; and l gladly accepted the in
vitation. There was at this time in the choir
really superior singer, Miss Martha Ander-
son, who afterward married Mr.. Young a
nnarnhant nf Erancicco ba
daughter of the Mrs. Anderson, who first led
the choir, and had a beautiful voice. You
may judge that was both young and enthu-
siastic when did not think it strange was
made leading soprano in u choir, which al
ready possessed such voice as Martha Ander-
sons. But lived in world of imagination,
whose genius was Song, and did not think
had lived day if it was not filled with
music"
And Miss Murray seemed looking backward
in that rosy-hued past of whose musical life
she had been so great part
You knew the commencement of the
Philharmonic society, Miss NJ urray ?"
o, yes. The st. Matthews choir was the
beginning of the Philharmonic Besides
those singers l have mentioned there were
Mrs. King Mrs. Burchell, Mr.. Kiechofer and
his daughters, one of whom married Robert
Palmer, or Heller, the magician Mr.. George
Il. French, who was our leading tenor and
Others whose names cannot now recall. The
Philharmonic society then was but small or
ganization compared with the grand society
il is now. Mr.. Palmer, who afterward be-
came the organist of st. Matthews, was a
highly cultivated and able musician"
But wasn't it at st. Patrick's that yon won
so high reputation as a singer?" bluntly
asked The REPUBLICAN.
81 didn't know had won so high repu-
tation as II singer" said the lady smilingly.
(" 1t was while at st. Matthew's that | was
offered an engagement in an opera company
My mother would not hear of it and the
matter was dropped, l sometimes wish now
that i had embraced the offer. But when
Father Byrne came to St. Matthew's | left
and became connected with St. Patriok's
Here a choir was formed, which was in every
way worthy of the senior Catholic church of
Washington. Mr.. Williams, who had been
organist for while at st. Matthews took a
similar position at st. Patrick's but didn't re-
main long Prof. John Caulfeld whom YOU
know very we'll, j presume, became organist
aud the choir, an octette, and all of them cul-
tivated musicians, sang Beethoven's music
There were. Mrs. Samuel V. Noyes, So
prano; Mrs. John Caulfeld and Mrs
Mary Newton, altos; Mr.. s. " Noyes and Prof
Thomas Caulfeld, tenors; and Edward Jones
and Thomas Cox, bassos. Mr. Jones
was basso profundo. He had q wonderful
voice Of vast volume and depth and full of
music. Mr.. Cox had a lighter voice, but still
very good one. He went south when the
war broke out entered the confederate SER
vice, and died only last summer"
what became of JonesW