The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-02
THE FRYs.
A Family That Contained the First
 American Composer of Grand

A newspaper admirer of De Koven
 the clever musical composer of "Maic
 Marian" writes of him as "the first
 American that has shown some of the
 did in Robin Hood." It is by nc
 means of certain whether this enconium
 was not passed upon De Koven in for
 getfulness of a Philadelphian whose
 friends were wont to insist that he, to-
 gether with his brother as collab-
 orateur, was the earliest example of
 American talent in the composition and
 production of an ambitiously written
 opera. But in journalism at least,
 there ought to be some remembrance,
 even if only among it's traditions, of the
 gifts and the enthusiasms of William
 H. Fry. At a time when it was consid-
 cred hardly short of ridiculous for an
 American to venture into the higher
 field of musical creation, he was brave
 enough to make an attempt, such as
 probably no one before him in this
 country had essayed on a. large scale, to
 turn the thoughts of his countrymen
 to the native production of grand opera.
 Had he lived a generation later, 1t is
 not improbable that opportunities might
 have come to him for a more success
 ful or more popular exercise of his am- bition. But perhaps no other man of his time labored with more zeal to raise the standard of taste, or enjoyed more reputation as critic, even among those who were unwilling to accord him
 
 He was hardly more than a boy when some of his overtures were performed by the old Philharmonic Society It
 was in this period that the American
 ear was captivated by the melihuous
 music of Bellini. the centenary of whose
 birth the Italians are now reported to
 be making preparations to celebrate next year with joyous commemorations
 in Catana. Frye became zone of the
 worshippers of the melodic genius from
 which had sprung "Sonnambula," Nor
 ma" and the "Puritani." In the sea- son at the Chestnut Street theater of 1S4o-41, when he was only 25 years of age and while he was an editor of his fathers paper he produced Norma for the first time in Philadelphia. His brother, Joseph Reese Fry, translated the libretto into English.
 The Fryes, who had taken the whole burden of the production upon their shoulders, were rewarded with a popu- lar success and the opera had a run of nearly three weeks. Indeed, the public became Norma" crazy. Such was the interest 1t aroused among the musical amateurs in society that Pierce Butler, in the augmented orchestra, had a place there as player on the flute, and other members of the Phila- delphia club took part in the chorus. During the winter the lovely melodies of Bellini were said to have been sung and whistled all over the city. But the enterprise of the brothers had not escaped the watchful' eye of Billy Burton, who not long before had begun to manage the National Theater at Ninth and Chestnut streets as rival of the Chestnut. Ie, too. had deter mined to take advantage of the furor which Norma had le$used abroad. Ac- cordingly he produced, version of the opera at the Nati5fial with Mime. Anna Sutton in the title role, supported by Miss Inverarity afterward Mrs. Mar tyn. and MT. Thorne.. But the company and the whole production, 1t was gen orally agreed by those competent to judge, were inferior to the Frys' Bur ton, however, had the satisfaction of the other production fnan- cially. and the brothers, as was the case with most of the subsequent efforts as reaped more glory than profit from the memora ble venture.
 To digress for moment, 1t may ba ! well to say here that Joseph Reese Fry, who had many of the tastes of h's | brother and whose identity is some ] times confused with his. was skilled ! lngust and translator. who sometimes i wrote verses and was owner of the [ Worth American when the elder Me | Michael and Robert T. Conrad were it's | leading spirits. Besides preparing the |
 brett for his brothers operas, he l the text of several standard i operas in his amateur diversions, He 1 afterward became well known banker )n Third street and in the Civil War vas generous and enthusiastic up- holder of the republican party. It was finder his direction as chairman of the committee on enlistments in the Un'on League that the regiments known as he Union League Brigade were first ormed and the way opened for the or ,anization of the 15,G00 troops which the eague put into the field There was ,lso another brother, Edward r. Fry, vho engaged in Philadelphia the Ital- an Opera company. He imported from Europe Max Maretzek who was first lere as leader of the orchestra.
 After the elder Fry's National Ga ette disappeared from journalism. William H. Fry was associated at va ious times with the Ledger and the Jun of this city. A medal which he lad won from the Philharmonic Society or his overtures had inspired him with he hope that he could win reputation S a copser. Young as he was and in he face of much discoura cement from ,hat known as the Italian clique" he urned his thoughts to the composition f a grand opera along Italian lines and 1ethods. The theme chosen was the tory of "The Lady of Lyons,' there ,as no spoken dialogue, the recitatives -, 8 well as the solos and chorus, being ct to orchestral accompaniment, and he piece was mounted with all the ele- ance of scenery and costumes which ne operatc and dramatic art in Phila- elphia, could then supply. It has often cen said by musicians that this work, , which Fry gave the name of "I,eon-