The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07
Bk WROTE aka TuLEKN mAvouRNEKS.v
The Eventual Iifs OF william Crouch,
whose Fame was Won Fifty Years AGO.

In Warren street, Fitzroy square, London.
July 81. 1903 His father. William L. Crouch.
was composer Of instrumental music and
one Of the leading vloloncolists at tho Royal
Italian Opera. His mother was Anne Maria
Nichols. daughter OF Counsellor Nicholas n
celebrated London barristeE From inn
memorial timo the Crouch family resided
near Stonohengo on Salisbury Plain.
and nearly all OF tho malo NOM
bers for several generations. especially
during tho sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turtles. were favornby known as painters OF
| historical and scriptural subjects. organsts
| and composers Of sacred music; mon Of genius
| all and many OF thom renowned in their re-
| spectivo arts. rs shown by their works which
still exist in Exeter Cathedral and tho
churches In the western bishoprics Of Eng
| land. William Crouch his grandfather. was u
noted organist and composer Of church music.
whose works were highly valued during tho
last quarter OF tho seventeenth century. Ho
was for long period organist OF st. Lukcs
Church by Bedlam Madhouse. London.
| The subject OF this SIX ctch can boast TINT he
worked his way through tho world from the
first. He was an industrious and self-rclying
| boy, whose youth evinced no special promise
| OF the honorable ronown which would come to
him in future years Tho rule which he
adopted Mt a very carly period was. to study
hard and never waste his time or money" lilo
relates that tho first book purchased by his
own money was THE Seven Champions OF
Christendom." price four shillinss. and
from the knighty characters in this
work he laid tho foundation Of an
| earnest. conscientious lifc. which remained
untarnishcd through oil subsequent years
His early boyhood. however. was as full Of
| changeful vicissitudes Rs those which
| fell upon his venerable head in lator years.
| At tho ago OF o he commenced his professional
career ut tho Royal Cohurg Theatre on a
weekly salary OF "a shillinss. The theatre
was livo miles from his home. and his duty ro-
CURED him to walk TO it twice each day
| Leaving this place. ho united with the Down
| and FalEner troupe. playing in York shire and
tho provincial cities. He then drftcd into Scot
land. where he Joined lsyder's company at the
| Caledonia Theatre. Edinburgh, An unsuccess-
full season led to the disbnndment OF tho Ryder
company. and young Crouch wasagain thrown
upon his own resources. lilo entered tho NOR
chant service as common seaman. and was
employed during tho next two years on ves-
| sells plying between London and Leith. His
ncxt venture was to onter the service OF Evans
Mt his celebrated cider cellar In Covent GAR
den. during which period lie boarded with his
mother and. as fortune would have it. NOM
Der OF her household was William Watts
Secretary Of tho Philharmonic Society,
under whom he was enabled to resume his
| musical studies. Watts also obtained for
him position as violoncellist in tho
orchestra OF Drury Lane Theatre. then under
the management Of Stephen Price. Hero he
remained year after year working. studying
and always advancing. until Mt last no was
fortunate enough to reach the principal desk.
to which he was assigned by Henry II. Bishop
While at Drury Lane he assisted in the pro-
Maid n Milan" in .whith Home; Sweet
Stephens. SUBSTANTIALLY Countess Of EssseS. MISE
At Drury Lane Crouch composed his first
the famous diva, Nine. MaliLran. His high
ed o an sos
n fta Of the ,ay among whom were Dickens
HsStt 4 4 Watts Mrs. H"m M" Mrs H S@r
soiries On one one, occasion, while Crouch was
its ,per,eSa!ion ma that he made Ln, his
m"rkabIe. Indications ' Of vocal oSc ceII
had man[ested themselves that he was trans
s tsFFsa ia M% hla wfs s anasr Of hh So
En- and the sh1rser Gi the GhGpS k"S Under
vice and tho works Of iianJ. 1finaiiy after err a
hard and exceedingly aDoriOus life. no became
under tho mmeiate supervisl"n Of the {. eS 1s
Sterndnlc Bennett. Lucas Nude. Anna Rivers
anu others WHOSE So nnmes have long since be-
II h tne OF sS
| SO accurately mad he studio the rules " ca
d den, q and rhythmic classics q tho masters"
only English mu.icians who, ventursd to con-
tSSSt i,n With 4, him for tho palm Of SUPREMACY
Palace and Windsor Castle. and tho pIViome-
ton as "Genteman' OF Queen Adelaide pri-
yate band. His position rs a member Of the
ance at tho funeral ceremonies of William ~.
and the coronation Of Queen Victoria
| Crouch's II ne that he should have been actual
| ed by an 81 most uncomfortable propensity for
change ofsituutio ion honce he was iod to in
founded a, zinc furnace and rolling miii This us
nnmnsical venture proved q total failure. for
poet went troubadouring' into tho provinces
and allowed his manufacturing interests to
'as m S sst Of eatysardn Ms
ability no now pwoke on tho banks OF tho
@sh fa: Kason to hin
ten by Mrs. era wforh. whose autoblography
M Was tne r.; appearing in Capt. Murryars Nero
| and path ballad was ~ spontaneous us It
| was lasting. Gni 1t is said to have brought It's
| London publishers more money than the
whole of Crouch's other works combined it
| was first sung at n CLUB Of tie literati of the
| nobility and its reception was so hearty us to
| Lead to its being sung at all the leading socic-
ties. On one occasion whore it had been re-
cceived with perfect storm Of applause. an en-
! thuSiast!c nobleman sent tho composer and
singer check for 900. Following this sue
| c.ss was his appointment as musical editor Of
Marryat's Metropolitan Magazine. n which
man many OF MS slihseIpsnt were published.
llo resigned this position to accept the more
lucrative "dltorship Of tho musical puUllc:l-
house contracting for al his works during the
e ensul seven years The following list vii!
Eind during this period" Echoes Of The Past"
Bar'lie ltrInains." Songs OF the Past" songs
Songs Of the Parish Vase" Songs .! lilo
AA6heys and md ), Cathedrals;" "sketche.. q tho
sfts saESH,G9ssn .9t SnakSsp3&r