I moved away from San Francisco twice and as my work was upon
different lines, I got out of touch. My music was confined to the
churches and concert halls and teaching in music and art and other
branches of industrial development for the young of our growing city.
I am indebted to my good musical friends of earlier days for much of
this knowledge.
When my earlier co-workers in music heard that I was to write about
our early days they were all interested and entered into the
proposition with unabated enthusiasm and not one has refused to give
me information to make this volume a souvenir of the days when we
began as factors in the development of music from the small beginnings
of 1850 to the solid foundations of today.
CHAPTER TEN
AS A CHURCH CHOIR SINGER. BARNABEE, ZERRAHN, PATTI, JENNY LIND, JOE
MAGUIRE, SAM MAYER, HARRY GATES
My career as a church singer dates as far back as my childhood. As
children our father pressed us into the service of the Sabbath school
and church services. There were seven girls and three boys. As soon as
we were old enough to do the work, our parts were assigned to us,
consequently singing the church service was part of my young life.
Before I could read the notes I was able to make an alto part to
almost any hymn. That is one reason why I do not read notes as readily
as others, for it was easier for me to make my own part than take the
trouble to read the music. But later on I was obliged to read my part,
if I sang in concert with others.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167