Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-23
FREDERICK ARCHER,
THE GREAT ORGANISE,
DIED YESTERDAY.


not before enjoyed. His last recital
took place June Goth, last, the END of
the season. The last number was the
Tampa" by Herold. During the sl&
seasons which mark the lifetime OF The
/ institute so TAR, Mr.. Archer missed but
/ two recitals scheduled. He played to
an aggregate attendance o. 100000.
| The number of compositions played eX-
i ceeded 1900. This season was the
first that ever his place was ,aAen by
another, and Mr.. Napier took it at his
request. The two recltals missed wee
because of injuries he received by fall
ing from a. street car.
One piece of music which appeared to
be favorite with Mr.. Archer, one that
he invariably gave as an encire, was
1.-The Pilgrim Star of Hope" 1t was
sweet tune that became familiar with
everybody who attended the recitals.
Every Saturday evening and Sunday
afternoon he played, and steadily as
the years went by did the size of his
audiences increase. He seemed, by his
playing. to make the audience hear the
music as he heard 1t, and he taught the
audience to love the composition that
he loved, so that the people were never
satisfied until at last he played 1t.
Since his fame as probably the great
est organist in the world was acknowl-
edged it was but natural that he should
be in great demand when new organs
were to be dedicated, and so 1t came
to pass that he Travelled much, giving
many magnificent organs their baptism
of melody. In this way his fame was
not only widespread. but inhabitants or
most of the large cities of the country
have, at some time or another, heard
him play.
He held a unique place among the
great musicians of the world. lie com
manded the homage due his musical
genius and extraordinary mus ca. alb
ity In England his career showed
succession of musical achievements and
they were followed by others not less
notable in this country. During the
twenty years he lived in this country
he held responsible positions in New
York, Boston, Chicago and this city,
and he has had residences in each. II
work as a conductor OF choral societies
was most successful. One of the be
remembered and most successful was
one in Boston when Gounods Re
demption' was sung.
He was a composer of high rank and
in the field of transcription be stood
absolutely alone. His rapid reading OF
orchestral scores, his ready insight into
the ideas of the composer, his own FER
tile musical conceptions, gave his tran
scriptions the merit of original eompo-
sitions. He wrote more than thous-
and of these prescriptions for the or
gan and for the p ano, an mos OF them
are still in manuscript.
As a feature of the season of organ
reeitals Mr.. Archer yearly delivered
series of six lectures, telling of the his
tory of the organ and dealing with gem
eral musical culture.
One Of his plans, and one not carried
out for lack of material, was selected
choir of twenty-four voices for training
in the vocal musical works of all ages
and nationalities.
Directors of the American expo
sition recognized his ability when they
called upon him to play the great or
gan on the opening night. Delay in
completing the organ caused the can
celnng of the date, but he played later
in the season.
Among the personal friends of Mr.
Archer were Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir
julius Benedict, Louis Reeves, Jenny
Lind, Joseph Joachim, Charles Halle,
Sir Michael Costa, Joseph Barn by,
George Henschel, Gounod and others.
His library contains very many lu-
able manuscript works, includ ng Gou-
mods Funeral March" which was
played for the first time in England I'M
der Mr.. Archers direction.