In a short time I
became a member of Dr. Burgess' choir, composed of men and women of
the first families in Dedham. Mr. Blake and myself were the only two
persons who ever sang with them that had not been born and bred there.
They had sung together for over sixteen years, some of the members had
grown old in the service. They were instructed each week by Edwin
Bruce, who came from Boston each Tuesday and drilled and taught us in
the best music of the day. He was a most competent leader and teacher.
With our choir he directed and drilled three more choirs. His soloists
were the best that could be procured and our concerts were looked
forward to by the people who filled Tremont Temple to years of
study I associated with and heard singers of all nations and had an
opportunity to study the music of oratorios, church and concert work.
The Handel and Haydn society had over 500 members, Carl Zerrahn,
leader, Howard Dow, organist. With our choir and the other three
choirs I have spoken of, we lived in an atmosphere of music
continually for four years.
[Illustration:
Geo. M. Wight
Henry Sherwin
C. Churchill
G.W. Macbeth
Charles Wight
H. Hitchings
J. Eaton
Adelbert Calder
Edwin Bruce
Chas. J. Capen
E.M.Everett
Geo. H. Blake
Dr. Burgess
J.G. Taft
C.B. Danforth
Dr. Edwin Burgess
Alvin Fisher
Mr. Black
Ellery C. Daniells
MEN SINGERS, DEDHAM, MASS., 1861
Congregational Church Choir]
In the first part of 1861 war was declared and a state of great
excitement prevailed.
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