Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-21
REMARKABLY EVENTUAL CAREER
His Early Musical Triu'nphs in
Europe Recalled.
TRT AIS AND TROUBLE


st. Matthew's Catholic Church, Washing
ton.
Although the deceased was most re-
narkahle man. being fellow of the Royal
Musical Society of England. doctor of
music, 2 Drudic bard. a 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 the composer of Kathleen
MavouInepn."
He w"s born in Warren street Fitzroy
Square. London, July 81, lSn3. 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 composer of instrumental music ami
one of the leading violonce.lsts at tn.
Royal Italian Opera, and his mother wa:
the daughter CT a celebrated London bar
riS,er. Counsellor Nichols
From ali. ost time immemoral the Crouch
family resided near Stonehonge on Sails
burr Plain. and nearly all of the NAL.
members for several genera tons, especially
during the sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turtles, Were faVorahly known as painters
OF historical and scrptural subjects. organ
lam Crouch, his grandfather was Il noted
orsanist and composer of church music.
whose works were highly valued during
IN" last quarter of the seventeenth cen
tury. and he was for d long period orSau!st
OF st. l.uke's Church, London.
His Early Career.
The sui ject of this sketch worked his
way through the world from the first ard
his early boyhood was as full of changes
W oil J.,
head in later years. At tine age of min
years he commenced his professional carer
at the Royal Coburg Theater, at salary
OF sb per week. The theater ii-"
miles from his home. ana his duty require
him to walk to it twice each day. Aft
leaving here he played with several trav-
cling troupeS. and when only about four
teen years old entered the merchant marin.
as Il common seaman. where he served
for two years.
Al the close of his seafaring life he OBJ
tanned position as violoncellist in thu
orchestra at Drury Lane Thcater. wh-r"
h" remained year after yea" working.
studying, and always advancing, until l!
last he was fortunate enough to reach the
principal desk. His fame as lnuSici,ia
led him to ar intimate social acquain tance
with many of the leading writers, artist
and actors of the day. While still ii
Drury Lane his services were frequently
in demand in Buckingham Palace and
Windsor Castle and the phenomenal abil-
ity there displayed by him led to his pro
motion gentleman OF Queen Adelaides
private band.
During the period of his engagement At
Drury Lane Theater he assisted in the
PRODUCTION of John Howard PAYNE
Home, Sweet Home" was sung for the
first time by Mrs Stephens subsequently
Countess of Essex.
At Dru"y Lane Crouch composed his frs
ballads: "Zephyrs of Love for Miss ANN.
Tree and The Swiss Song of Meeting for
the famods diva Madame Malihran His
high position as master musician and com
poser secured fer him the friendship o.
Dickens Thackeray. Mark Lemon. Doug
lass Jsrrold. Campbell, Rogers. Sheridan
Knowles, john Hewitt \. A Watts Mr.
iemans, Mrs. Norton, Miss Milford, an,
day.
On one occa5i on " bile Crouch was eAe-
cutting a di...cult solo before Rossni, Boch
ga, TIE conductor. was so amazed ar it,
perfection that he made him his pupil. ami
a. 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 a
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 Episcopa:
high church service and the works OF
Handel Finally. after a hard and exceed
irgy laborious exI erience, he became I.
student at the Royal Academy Of Music,
where his special line of study was con-
tinued under the immediate supervision of
a celebrat led Italian master.
His immortal Song.
Fame came to him on the meloGiot.s
echoes of kathleen Mavourneen.' a SOM
founded on a story written by Mrs. Craw-
ford. whose autobiography was then APP
pcaring il 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 pa hetic
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 SING at club of the literati Of thr
f.vD..:tS. and It's recep,svi. was so hearty a.
to lead to its 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 accept the
more lucrative editorship of the musical
publications of D'Almaine & Co., Soho
square this house contracting to take all
bis works for the ensuing seven years The
following list will show how active the
nos, of was be d paf, this psPqa
Songs of the Past Songs of the Olden
Times" Songs of Rambler songs Of
the Parish Wake" Songs of the Abbevs
and Cathedrals. Sketches of the Enera1I
Isle Hours of Idleness,' Roadside
Sketches. Songs of Shakespeare
.F'riendship's Offerings, Songs of a
Fcyager. "Waysde Melodies Songs of
The B2rds" and Beauties of Other Lands"
In 1s40 he was persuaded by Max Maret-
eek to-come to the United States and to
assist the latter in opening the season a.
the Aston 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. 1910.
After the conclusion of the season in
New York he made tour through the
eastern states. and everywhere met with
the most f1atterins success. At Portland,
Me-. he first produced Rossini's "Stahat
Mater" and other works of similar char
acter.
Seized With the Gold Fever.
The California excitement was at ito
height; 1t seized Crouch and he Started. ar
companied by his wife, for the gold fields
by way Of Baltimore. In Philadelphia his
wife became i'll, and while waiting for her
slow recovery he brought out Joseph and
His Brethren and Locke's music to Mac
beth" His means became much reduced
during his wife's protracted convalescence
and he accepted the position of musical d.
4