EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW.

QOTOBER 1822.

MEMOIR

OY

W. CROTCH, Mus. D.

PROFESSOR OF MUSIC IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

Dr. Crotch, the subject of the himself: for, the same evening, after present memoir, was born at Nor• her departure, the child cried and wich, July 5, 1775. His father, by was so peevish that his mother was trade a carpenter, an ingenious me- wholly upable to appease him. At chanic, and of good reputation, hav. length, passing through the dining; ing a passion for music, of which, room, he screamed and struggled however, he had no knowledge, un- violently to go to the organ, in dertook to build an organ, on which, which, when he was indulged, he as soon as it would speak, he learned eagerly bent down the keys with his to play two or three common tunes, little tists, as other children usually such as, God Save the Kiny; Let do, after finding themselves able to Ambition Fire thy Mind; and the produce a noise, which pleases them Easter Hymn; with which, and such more than the artificial performance chords as were pleasing to bis ear, of real melody or harmony by others. he used to try the perfection of his The next day, however, being left, instrument.

while his mother went out, in the About Christmas, 1776, when Mas- dining room with his brother, a ter Crotch was only a year and a half youth about fourteen years old, he old, he discovered a great inclination would not let him rest till he blew for music, by leaving even his food the bellows of the organ, while he to attend to it, when the organ was sat on his knee and bent down the playing ; and about Midsummer, keys, at first promiscuously, but pre1777, he would touch the key-note sently, with one hand, he played of his particular favourite tunes, in enough of God Save the King to order to persuade his father to play awaken the curiosity of his father, them. Soon after this, as he was who, being in a garret, which was unable to name these tunes, he would his workshop, hastened down stairs play the first two or three notes of to inform himself who was playing them, when he thought the key-note this tune upon the organ. When he did not sufficiently explain which he found it was the child, he could wished to have played. But accord- hardly believe what he heard and ing to his mother's account, it seems saw. At this time, he was exactly to have been in consequence of his two years and three weeks old, as having heard the superior perform- appears by the register, in the parish ance of Mrs. Lulman, a musical lady, of St. George, Colgate, Norwich. who came to try his father's organ, Although he shewed such a decided and who not only played on it, but inclination for music, he could no sung to her own accompanyment, more he prevailed on to play by per. that he first attempted to play a tune suasion than a bird to sings.

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When his mother returned, the which, being so much more powerfather, with a look that at once im- ful than that to which he was accusplied joy, wonder, and mystery, de- tomed at home, he was some time sired her to go up stairs with him, before he could hear, without disas he had something curious to shew covering pain, occasioned, perhaps, her. She obeyed, and was as much by the extreme delicacy of his ear, surprised as the father, on hearing and irritability of his nerves. the child play the first part of God Before he was four years olil, be Save the king. The next day he discovereri a genius and inclination made himself master of the treble for drawing, nearly as strong as for of the second part; and the day music; for, whenever he was not at after, he attempted the base, which an instrument, he usually employed he performed nearly correct in every himself in sketching, with his left particular, except the note immedi- land, houses, churches, ships, or ately before the close, which being animals, in his rude and wild manan octave below the preceding sónndner, 'with chalk, on the floor, or on was out of the reach of his little hand. whatever plain surface he was alIn the beginning of November, 1777, lowed to scrawl. he played both the treble and base The first voluntary he heard with of Let Ambition Fire thy Mind; an attention was performed at his father's old tune, now called, Hope, thou house by Mr. Mully, a music-master; Nurse of Young Desire.

and as soon as he was gone, the Upon the parents' relating this child seeming to play on the organ extraordinary circumstance to their in a wild and different manner from neighbours, they were laughed at, wliat his mother was accustomed to and advised not to mention it, as hear, she asked him, what he was such a marvellous account would doing? And he replied, “I am playonly expose them to ridicule. How- ing the gentleman's fine things;": ever, a few days afterwards, Mr. but she was unable to judge of the Crotch being ill, and unable to go resemblance. However, when Mr. out to work; Mr. Paul, a master. Mully came a few days after, and weaver, by whom he was employed, was asked, whether the child had passing accidentally by the door, remembered any of the passages in and hearing the organ, fancied that his voluntary, he replied in the he had been deceived, and that Crotch atlirmitive. This happened when he bad stayed at home, in order to di- was only two years and four months vert himself on his favourite instru- old. About this time, such was the nient. Fully prepossessed with this rapid progress bie had made in judga idea, he entered the house, and, sud. ing of the agreement of sounds, that denly opening the dining-room door, he played the Easter Hymn with full saw the child playing on the organ, harmony; and in the last two or while his brother was blowing the three bars of Hallelujah, where the bellows. Mr. Paul thought the pere same sound is sustained, lie played formance so extraordinary, that he chords with both hands, by which immediately brought two or three the parts were multiplied to six, of the neighbours to hear it, who which be had great difficulty in propagating the news, a crowd of reaching, on account of the shortnearly a hundred persons came the ness of his tinyers. Fruin, this penext day to hear the young per- riod his memory was very accurate former; and, on the followin: Jays, in retaining any tune triat pleased a still greater punber tocked to the him; and being present iti concert, house from all quarters of the city; where a band of gentlemen para till, at length, the child's parents formers played the overture in Rowere obliged to limit his exhibition delinda, he was so delighted with to certain days and hours, in order the minuet, that the next morning to lessen his fatigue, and exeinpt he hummed part of it in bed; and themselves from the inconvenience by noon, without any further assista of constant attendance on the curi: ance, played the whole on the organ. ous multitude.

-At four years old, his ear for mi. When the father first carried him sic was so astonishing, that he conil to the Cathedral, he used to cry the distinguish at a great distance from instant he heard the lord organ, any instruinent, and out of sight of

the keys, any note that was struck, he still continues to benefit society. whether A. B. C., &c. In this, Dr. He went to Oxford in 1788, and in Burney used repeatedly to try him, 1790, was elected Organist to Christ and never once found him mistaken, Church; in 1797, he was honoured even in the half notes: a circum- with the Professorship of Music; stance the more extraordinary, as and in the same year succeeded Dr. many practitioners, and good per- Hayes, as Organist to St. John Colformers, are unable to distinguish lege and University Chureh. Darby the ear, at the Opera or elsewhere, ing his residence in this city, he in what key any air or piece is exe- married Miss Bliss, the daughter of cuted. At this early age, when he a respectable bookseller there; by was tired of playing on an instru. whom he has living one son, who is ment, and his musical faculties ap- now a fellow of New College; and peared wholly blanted, he could be two daughters, who are twin sisters, provoked to attention, even thongh and are both unmarried. Dr. Crotch engaged in any new amusement, by left the University of Oxford, and a wrong note being struck in the came to London in 1805, since which melody of any well-known tune; period, he has every season deliverand, if he stood by the instrument vered lectures on music, either at when such a note was designedly the Royal - Institution in Albemarle struck, he would instantly put down Street, or at the Surrey Institution the right, in whatever key the air near Westminster Bridge, with the was playing.

exception of one season, during Before he was six years old, this which, he lectured at the London infant prodigy taught himself to Institution. play on the violin, which he used to Among the friends of Dr. Crotch, hold as a violincello; he could also we must not omit to mention the play on the common flute and stic. late celebrated Dr. Burney, and cado pastorello. At three years old Charles Cooper Esq., Dr. Jowett, of he played on the organ in King's Cambridge, and the late Rev. John College Chapel, Cambridge, while Owen, Secretary to the Bible Socisitting on his mother's knee; and ety. The Rev. A. C. Schomberg, at this time a print of him playing on fellow of Magdalen College, Oxthe organ was engraved by Sanders, ** ford, was his earliest and best at Norwich.

patrop. As a painter in oil colours, Dr. Among the numerous musical comCrotch possesses very considerable positions, published by Dr. Croteh, talents, although he exercises them we cannot help mentioning two only for amusement. A picture, which more particularly advanced painted by him as a companion of his reputation; "Palestine, a Sacred one by Salvator Rosa, which was in Oratorio;” and “s Specimens of Vathe possession of the late Charles rious kinds of Music," in 3 vols. Cowper Esq., of the Albany, fully folio.. He is also author of a work cvinced his talents; it was so ex- on the Elements of Musical Comcellent in colouring, harmony, and position. effect, that, although entirely dif- The early age, at which Dr. Crotch terent in the snbject, no one stand.' discovered a most astonishing musiing in the middle of the room coulel cal genius, is without a parellel in toll which picture was painted by the history of eminent musicians : Salvator Rosa, unless he had been and perhaps none come so near his previously informed. Dr. Crotch precosity of musical talent, as the also drew, anı etrhedin soît ground, two Westleys and Mozart. The twelve views taken froin the envi. Westleys discovered, during early rons of Oxford, which are acknow. infancy, very uncommon faculties ledged to be very picturesque and for the practice of music. CHARLES, spirited performances

the eldest, at two years and threeThe extraordinary musical talent, quarters old, surprised his father by exhihited hy Dr. Crotch in intancy, playing 'a tune on the harpsichord was matured hy study and practise, readily, and in just time; soon after so as afterwards he was enabled to he played several, whatever his moaitain the highest rank in his pro- ther sang, or wiratever he heard in fession; and, is it professor of music, the street. SAJUEL, the youngest,

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though he was three years old be oratorios, which he retained in mefore he aimed at a tune, yet, by con- mory till he was eight years old, stantly hearing his brother practice, and then wrote them down. and being accustomed to good mu. Here the difference of education sic and masterly execution, before appeared; young CROTCH, left to he was six years old, arrived at such nature, was not only without ina knowledge in music, that his ex- structions, but good models of imtempore performances on keyed in- itation; while Mozart and SAMUEL struments, like Mozart's, was so Westley, on the contrary, may be masterly in point of invention, mo- said to have been nursed in good dulation, and accuracy of execution, music; for as the latter had his as to surpass in many particulars, brother's excellent performances to the attainments of most professors stimulate attention, and feed his at any period of their lives.

ear with harmony; the German inIndeed, Mozart, when a little fant, living in the house of his famore than four years old, is said to ther, an eminent professor, and an have been not only capable of ex- elder sister, a neat player on the ecuting lessons on his favourite in- harpsichord, and constantly practisstrument, the harpsichord, but to ing compositions of the first class have composed some in an easy style for that instrument, had every adand taste, which were much ap- vantage of situation and culture, proved; and SAMUEL Westley, be joined to the profusion of natural fore he could write was a composer, endowments. and mentally set the airs of several

THE RECLUSE.

1.
'Twas not the wild fancy of youth's giddy day,

Nor the pangs of fond hopes once betrayed;
Nor the frenzy of zealots which oft leads astray,

That first led to the vows that I've made.
Oh, no! 'Twas the choice,--the fond choice of my heart,

In those cloisters to fix my abode,
Where my soul may her transports of feeling impart,

Link'd in love (yet in fear) with her God.

II.“
At midnight's still hour, when all nature's at rest,

When all motion, all life make a pause;
Save Night's silver Queen, who, from East to the West,

In her course still proclaims a First Cause.
Ah! then, while the moon's sober beams chace the gloom

From my cell, be my heart not less pure :
Till my soul, wing'd with hopes for choice blessings to come,
Takes her flight, no more ills to endure.

J.P.

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BRITISH ANTIQUITIES.

No. I.

As the study of Antiquities illus- 66 Tumulum tamen nuper Varianis trates the page' of History, a few legionibus structum-dispecerant." gleanings, from the extensive field

They destroyed the monument which of British Antiquities, will have a had lately been raised for the troops tendency to elucidate some obscure of Varius. portion of the History of our own country.

For the same purpose has the Among the Antiquities of our Tumulus generally been raised in native land, the Tumulus is not the our own country. It is by some, least attracting. In various parts called a Barrow; and when comof the country, the eye of the tra- posed of loose stones, a Cairn; veller is arrested by its solitary ap- which is common in the northern pearance. And the person unac- parts of the island ; and whose bulk quainted with it is doubtful whe- has been increased by the passenger, ther the protuberance be natural or who manifested his respect for the artificial,' In Derbyshire and Wilt- dead, by adding his stone to the shire, Tumuli of various shapes and number. dimensions present themselves to The Tumulus or Barrow is of our view. That which is commonly ancient date, and extensive use. In termed Silbury Hill, near Marl. the early ages of Egypt and Greece, borough, is of a gigantic size, being they were piled to commemorate the 560 feet in diameter at the base; names and actions of the illustrious 170 feet in perpendicular height, dead; and were the magnificeut and 105 feet in diameter at the top. Pyramid in embryo. They are found The smallest of them are about 12 in the wilds of America, as well as feet in diameter at the base. Those in the formerly wealthy kingdoms upon the Yorkshire Wolds, which of Asia, and civilized states of will be described in a future paper, Europe. Of the manner of their are of the latter size.

'formation by the ancients, we have The word T'umulus is purely an account in the Iliad. Latin, and signifies

a heap of earth.” When more than one is - Where yet the embers glow, meant, the Latin plural Tumuli, is Wide o'er the pile, the sable wine used. The word more frequently they throw; denotes a sepulchre, and is used in

And deep subsides the ashy heap this sense by the Roman Poets and

below. Historians.

Next, the white bones, his sad com

panious place, “Hostilem ad tumulum Trojae sub moen.

With tears, collected in a golden vase. ibus altis.

The sacred relics to the tent they bore; Jussa mori."

The arn, a veil of linen cover'd o'er. Æn. III, 322.

That done, they bid the sepulchre

aspire, Compelled to die at the enemies And cast the deep foundations round tomb under the lofty walls of Troy.

High in the midst they heap the swel“ Tumulo-condar."

ing bed Ovid. Met. xiv. Of rising earth, memorial of the dead." I shall be buried in the grave.

Book xxiii. 310. Tacitus, in his Annals, Lib. II. 7.

In a future 'number will be desuses it to signify the burying place cribed the different kinds of Toeof those who fell in battle:

the pyre;,