The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
PERSONAL SKETCHES.

whe Career of One of the Best Known
Musicians of Indianapolis.
One Of the most amiable old gentlemen that
axer drew horsehair across catgut il Henry ID.
Beissenherz. whose musical friends commonly
shorten the name to Betsy" He was born in
the little town of Sachsenberg. in the principal
Sly of Waldeck. on March d, 1928 His father
and brothers were musicians. and as early as
five years old der kleine Heinrich" began to
play upon the piccolo. His father instructed him.
and at the age Of nine or ten, when his fingers
had growz long enough. finite was placed
IN his hands. When fourteen years old, little
Beissy was apprenticed to Herr Langenbach,
musical director in Westphalia. The musical
profession over there was a close guild, and no
once could enter unless he had duly served as
an apprentice and graduated as journeyman
musician. He served four years, wholly with
out pay, as the custom-his parents fur
nishing him clothing and pocket money, the APP
prentice getting nothing but board and lodging
OF his master. The son Of Mr.. BeisseH
here's old master was a pupil of Spohr
and is now in charge of the orchestra at the ope-
rahouse in Alberfeld 1t has sixty pieces, and
the director, who is celebrated, travels all over
Europe, giving musical entertainments.
When the revolution of 1S48 broke out, the one
that sent SO many Germans to this country all
the Sheaters closed and the musicians occupa-
ton was for the time at an end; so Mr.
Beissenherz. then twenty-one years old, emf
grated to the United States, landing IN New
York. While serving as an apprentice he was
taught to play half a dozen different
instruments, but his preference and that he u.s.
ually played, was the flute. After remaining a
while in New York, and finding it difficult to OBJ
tain employment in his profession, he went to
Hartford, Conn, where he was given a place in an
orchestra, and also played in Baptist Church.
In the winter he travelled with concert COM
panies and played solos on the flute, upon which
instrument he was considered virtuoso, the
flute then being held in high estimation and be-
Ing exceedingly popular. In 1852 he married
Miss Anna Hathaway. a well-known actress, and
In 1854 removed to New York. In 1885 he went
to Baltimore, where he was prompter in the the
ater in which Joseph jefferson then held the
place Of stage manager and Edwin Adams that
OF juvenile About this time he determined to
stick to the violin and become leader. His first
experience in this line was with W. Fleming in
Springfield, Mass, then in Worcester, with the
Thorn family. In 1858 Lingard : &S Fox
took the old Bowery Theater and Mr..
Beissenherz became leader of their orchestra.
Taking up his guild ideas, he became presiding
officer Of the Musical Protective Union, which
brought him into disfavor He then went to Mrs
'Conway's Park Theater as leader of the orches-
ira and was afterward until 1866 with George
Wood, husband of Eliza Logan He next went
to ST. Louis, where, until 1868, he was stage
manager of what is the present Grand Opera
house on Market street Becoming tired of his
nomadic life, for the cities mentioned
here are not caetenth of those he visited
Ia pursuing his vocation. he tried to settle down
permanently at Lincoln. ILL.,, where he was given
q musical professorship in the college. Three
years was all he could stand of this quiet lfe
and he returned to ST. Louis and the opera
house. In 1874 he came to this city and took
charge of the orchestra at the old Metropolitan
TLeater, then managed by Simon Mccarthy and
from that time until this he has lived in this
city. He was leader of the orchestra
at English's until recently when
he made up his mind to devote his whole time
to teaching and writing music. He is now
busily engaged arranging the score for the opera
Of "The Little Tycoon" which is soon to be per-
formed here by local talent Mr. Beissenherz
is known all over the West. and was even De-
fore coming here. as a writer and arranger of
band and orchestral music, his work in this line
going back to the time the "Black Crook" was
put upen the stage by Charles Barras with all
Its wonderful scenery and music.
Mr. Beissenhsrz is of fresh, rosy complex
Ion. always In good humor, in appearance
much like Governor Porter, for whom he has
been frequently mistaken, an inveterate smoker,
and about the best-kn0wn musician in the
city.