Evening star., 1940-12-15

known as the Concert Hall Build
ings. In 1850 he was still following
this occupation, his home being on
the north side of G street, between
Fourth and Fifth streets NV.
Mr.. Ernest H. Daniel, well-known
Washingtonian and grandson of
the old music teacher. once told the
writer that Prof. Daniel after COM
ing to Washington began his musical
studies. and that his progress was so
rapid that it was not long before
he was himself a teacher of singing
with a very large class of pupils, and
it was not long before he became
the leader of one of the largest
chorus choirs of that period. This
was of the cid Foundry M. E.
Church, which stood for many years
on the northeast corner of G and
Fourteenth streets, where now
stands the Colorado Building.
Oratorio Singers.
THE rendition of the great and
old oratorios like Elijah by that
noted old body of singers, under his
direction" according to the grand
son, became famous as one Of the
outstanding features of the Ma
tion's Capital. So much so, the Wis
itors to Washington made 1t one of
the things to hear and remember
In those days music was made &
more popular part of the arts and
graces of the education of the
youth by those parents who coul6
afford it. Then, too, there was bus
little of refined entertainment. so
that church choir musical enter
tainments and oratorio singing were
popular diversions and well patron
izeG. Prof. Daniels name as con-
ductor of such affairs insured large
audiences and finished classical per-
formances. His striking figure in
front of his large group of singers
was a picture to please. There were
no church organs then, but the
leader gave the pitch with a tuning
fork.
"The popularity of music after a
while brought forth demand for
musical instruction in the public
schools. Prof. Daniel, being the out
standing figure in the music of the
city, was called upon to inaugurate
the teaching of the fundamentals of
music and singing to the school chill
dren. He began this work in 1856
with the pupils of the old Second
School District, then located about
the Judiciary Square. His compen-
sation was on per-pupil basis. The
popularity of the course became so
great that Prof. Daniel was given
charge of the musical instruction
of all the schools, and as the school
system grew, more and more assist
ants were given him until finally he
had corps of music instructors un-
der his direction, despite the ever-in-
creasing responsibility"
First Daniel Post.
The first school in which Prof.
Daniel taught music, as already
stated, was located in Judiciary
Square. This building was provided
by the City Council on December 6,
1874, and the act in general terms
called for the erection of a good
and substatial schoolhouse, for not
less than $50 pupils, on judiciary
Square, at a cost limited to $4,000.
Prof. Daniel then lived in G street,
close by, but by 1860 had moved to
378 Fifth street (now IT'S Fifth street
NW), which is still standing and in
fairly good condition. He was mar
ried three times. His first wife was
Ann c. Tabler; the second, Mary
Wheeler, and the third,
Emily R. Werden.
Prof. Joseph H. Daniel died on
February 4, 1897, in his 81st year,
and was buried in Glenwood Gene
terry. About three weeks before his
death he had been taken i'll with a
cold that finally developed into
and . few days before
his death hs became unconscious.