Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-21
His Early Musical TduInphs in
Europe Recalled.
TRIALS AND TROUBLE

Musical Society of England. doctor of
music. 2 Druidic bard, Mason, an ex-
president of the Maryland Historical Broth
crhood master of arts of seven different
universities and the author OF more than
two thousand songs. yet he was known to
fame only as the composer of kathleen
Mavoulneen."
He Was born in Warren street, Fitzroy
Square, London, July 81, 1903, and was
consequently in his eighty-ninth year at
the tine of his death, which was entirely
unlocked for, his health was so good on
his birthday. less than three weeks ago,
that he celebrated the event with a grand
musicale
The father of Frederick William Crouch
was a composer of instrumental music ami
one of the leading violoncellists at tn.
Royal Italian Opera, and his mother wa:
the daughter CT a celebrated London bar
riSter. Counsellor Nichols.
From all ost time immemorial the Crouch
family resided near Storehenge. on Sails
bury Plain. and nearly all of the NAL.
members for several generations. especially
during the sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turtles Were favorahly known as painters
OF historical and scriptural subjects, organ
lists and composers of sacred music Will
lam Crouch his grandfather. was noted
orsanist and composer of church music.
whose works were highly valued during
the last quarter of the seventeenth cen
fury. and he was for a long period orSan!st
of St Luke's Church. London.
His Early Career.
The sui jet of this sketch worked his
Way through the world from the first, ard
his early boyhood was as full of changes
as those which fell upon his venerabi"
head in later years. At the age of min"
years he commenced his professional career
at the Royal Coburg Theater, at salary
of SIS per week. The theater was iiy'.
miles from his home. ana his duty reuGir.-,i
him to walk to it twice each day. After
leaving here he played with several tray
cling troupeS. and when only about four
teen years old entered the merchant marin
as common seaman, where he served
for two years.
At the close of his seafariGs life he Oh
tanned "a position as violoncellist in the
orchestra at Drury Lane Theater. wh-r..
h" remained year after year. working.
studying. and always advancing, until a;
last he was fortunate enough to reach the
principal desk. His fame as musiciaa
led him to ar intimate social acquain tame.
and actors of the day. While still ii
Drury Lane his services We're frequently
in demand in Buckingham Palace and
Windsor Castle. and the phenomenal abil-
ity there displayed by him led to his pro
motion as gentleman of Queen Adelaide's
private band.
During the period of his engagement At
Drury Lane Theater he assisted in the
production of John Howard Payne
CLARA. the Maid of Milan,' in which
Home. Sweet Home. was sung for the
first time by Mrs Stephens, subsequently,
Countess of Essex.
At Drury Lane Crouch composed his iir.;t
ballads: ''Zephyrs of Love" for Miss Annie
Tree and The Swiss Song of Meeting" for
the famous diva, Madame Malibran. His
high position master musician and com
poser secured fer him the friendship OF
Dickens. Thackeray. Mark Lemon. Doug
lass Jsrrold, Campbell, Rogers. SheridGA
Knowles. John Hewitt, y. a. Watts. Mr..
Hemans Mrs. Norton, Miss Milford, an
scores of others equally noted in their
day.
On one occasion " nile Crouch was eNe-
cutting d,.icuit solo before Rossini, Roch-
ga, tie conductor, was so amazed at its
perfection that he made him his pupil, ana
al the age of twenty such remarkable in
dications of vocal excellence had manifest
ed themselves that he was transferred to
William HAYES. then master of music al
St. Paul's Cathedral. Westminster Abbey,
and the chorister of the Chapel Royal.
Under this master Crouch devoted his
whole time to the study of the Episcopal
high church service and the works OF
Handel Finally, after a hard and exceed
irgly laborious ext eritnce, he became {.
student at the Royal Academy OF Music,
where his special line of study was con-
tinued under the immediate supervision of
a celebrated Italian master
His Immortal Song.
Fame came to him on the mcl0GiotS
echoes of kathleen Mavourneen." a song
founded on a story written by Mrs. Craw-
ford. whose autobiography was then ap
pearing in Capt. Marryatts Metropolitan
Magazine. Prof. Crouch said the strain
came to him one day while riding along the
banks of the Thames. He FASTENED home
and. with the aid Of his violin, completed
the melody.
The success Of this tender and pathetic
ballad was as spontaneous as it was las
..H. and it is said to have brought its Lon
den publishers more money than the whole
Of Crouchs other works combined. 1t was
first sung AT club of the h+crati Of tho
i,oD:.:sS. and It's fecep,,vi, was so hearty az
to lead to it's being sung at all the leading
societies. Following this success was his
appointment as mystical editor of Marry
ats Metropolitan Magazine, in which many
OF his subsequent works were published
He resigned this position to accent the
more lucrative editorship of the musical
publications of D'Almaine & Co.. Soho
Square. this house contracting to take all
his works for the ensuing seven years The
following list will show how active the
young poet was during this period:
Echoes of the Past" "Bardie Remains :,
Songs of the Past Songs of the Ojden
Times Songs of Rambler" Songs Of
and Cathedrals." Sketches of the Emerald
Isle" Hours of Idleness," Roadside
Sketches Songs of Shakespeare"
Friendships Offerings" Songs of a
Noyagcr, ''Wayside Melodies" Songs or
the Bards" and Beauties of Other Lands y
In fS49 he was persuaded by Max Maret
eek to.come to the United States and to
assist the latter in opening the season n.
the Astor Opera House. New York. The
offer was so tempting that he renowned
his London engagements and took passage
to New York. where he landed November
10. 1919.
After the conclusion of the season in
New York he made tour through the
eastern states, and everywhere met with
the most flattering success. At Portland
Me. he first produced Rossini's "Stahat
Mater" and other works of similar char
Gcter
Seized With the Gold Fever.
The California excitement was at ;+s
height; 1t seized Crouch and he started ac-
companied by his wife, for the gold folds
by way of Baltimore. In Philade]phia hi.
wife became Ill. and while waiting for her
slow recovery he brought out Joseph and
His Brethren and Locke's music tn ",I.c-
BETH His means became much rednced
during his wife's protracted conyalescence
ana he accepted the position of musical di
rector of the choir of ST. Matthew's Church
of this city, and. with the assistance of HE
friend Heller, conducted the Philharmonic
Society.
After remaining in WASHINGTON for
number Of years he journeyed southwark
and upon reaching Richmond, Va, his pro-