| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
STORIES OF
every "word y o u utter distinctly and clearly. Unintelligibility and slovenliness in speech are the curse of the profession." By-and-by Mr. Russell went to Italy to study, and was so lucky as to obtain some gratis lessons in counter-point, harmony, and orchestration from Bellini, the composer. He afterwards found employ-ment as a pianist and chorus-master, and travelled a good deal in company with Balfe, who was then singing in opera. Returning to England he was for a time chorus-master at Her Majesty's under Lumley; then, his pro-spects appearing to be vague, if not cloudy, he decided to seek his fortunes in the New World. He went to Canada, opening at Toronto, where his first concert resulted in a pecuniary loss. At Rochester, N. Y., he was offered, and ac-cepted, an organistship at £60 a year. At this place he happened to hear the famous Henry Clay deliver an oration, and the incident proved to be the turning-point of his life.
" If Henry Clay could create such an impres-sion by his distinct enunciation of every word, should it not be possible for me to make music the vehicle for grand thoughts and noble senti-ments, to speak to the world through the power of poetry and song ? The idea gained upon me. I became more and more fascinated by the
212 |
||