renewed his engagement with the manager of Covent Garden Theatre; but another difference of a pecuniary nature arising, he entirely relinquished that situation, and devoted his time to other musical pursuits. His residence in Italy, though short, was followed by the most important results to him, as a musical critic and writer on the principles of the art, for it removed many prejudices at that time not uncommon among English musicians, and furnished him with abundant materials for thinking, of which his active and intelligent mind made the best possible use. But it is quite erroneous to state that as a composer he derived much advantage from this tour: his two best operas, namely, "Rosina" and "The Poor Soldier," were produced several years anterior to his Italian journey. In these he displayed that genius for melody, which no study, no intercourse with even the greatest of foreign artists, could have imparted, or in any considerable degree have improved ; and melody was his forte. Of the advantages gained from his Italian journey he gave no mean proof, a few years afterwards, by the publication of his well-known "Introduction to Harmony." The principal object of this work is to facilitate the acquisition of a practical knowledge of harmony, by simplifying its laws, and divesting the science of that forbidding complexity which deters so many from venturing into its precincts. -- In 1809 Mr. Shield printed a volume of Ballads, Rounds, Glees, Duets, Terzettos, &c. under the title of A CENTO; but being published by subscription, its circulation was rather limited, and very little of its contents,-we may almost venture to say, not a single piece, is now known, except to a small number of those who never allow any work of merit to escape their notice. It affords, however, many specimens, in addition to those extant, of a genius that so long charmed, and still continues to delight, every unsophisticated admirer of genuine song. A second edition of his "Introduction to Harmony" appeared in 1817, dedicated to his present Majesty, then Prince Regent. In this he says, "Those who have been fortunate enough to obliging it to carry me up and down so many precipices; and as I saw women walk it, I was resolved to do the same, for I was then in possession of the temper of the animal which I led, and would not yield to the entreaties of my fellowtravellers to remount. I was so much exhausted when I arrived at Laneburg, that I threw myself upon the bed: soon after which, dinner was served up in the same room; but my appetite had entirely left me through fatigue: my heart was good, but my strength failed me. However, after waiting for two hours for some very indifferent tea, it revived me a little, and I got into the coach, and was entirely recovered by the time we reached Turin. A man needs no common share of that inestimable quality which you so eminently possess (fortitude), to travel through the south of France and Savoy, with only a dozen words of the language. I thought change of scene would prove the best medicine for me, and I seem to have been right in my prognostications, for I find myself in the full possession of my faculties, and am determined to exert myself in my profession. A very accomplished Russian is my chief companion. But the greatest original of our voiture party is a Chinese, of a small stature, but of a capacious memory he speaks the French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Russian, and Latin languages, so as to astonish the natives and students of the above. His character is so uncommon that were you to draw him for the English stage he must reside in London before the audience would acknowledge your character to be natural: most people like him; for the only indignity he has yet met with is his being taken for my valet, from his attention to me. "Yours truly, " WILLIAM SHIELD. "P. S. I cannot view the beautiful scenes which at present surround me, without recollecting the strokes of Milton's pencil in his sublime picture of Paradise Lost." On his return to England, in the autumn of 1792, Mr. Shield renewed his engagement with the manager of Covent Garden Theatre; but another difference of a pecuniary nature arising, he entirely relinquished that situation, and devoted his time to other musical pursuits. His residence in Italy, though short, was followed by the most important results to him, as a musical critic and writer on the principles of the art, for it removed many prejudices at that time not uncommon among English musicians, and furnished him with abundant materials for thinking, of which his active and intelligent mind made the best possible use. But it is quite erroneous to state that as a composer he derived much advantage from this tour: his two best operas, namely, "Rosina" and "The Poor Soldier," were produced several years anterior to his Italian journey. In these he displayed that genius for melody, which no study, no intercourse with even the greatest of foreign artists, could have imparted, or in or in any considerable degree have improved; and melody was his forte. Of the advantages gained from his Italian journey he gave no mean proof, a few years afterwards, by the publication of his well-known "Introduction to Harmony." The principal object of this work is to facilitate the acquisition of a practical knowledge of harmony, by simplifying its laws, and divesting the science of that forbidding complexity which deters so many from venturing into its precincts. In 1809 Mr. Shield printed a volume of Ballads, Rounds, Glees, Duets, Terzettos, &c. under the title of A CENTO; but being published by subscription, its circulation was rather limited, and very little of its contents,-we may almost venture to say, not a single piece, — is now known, except to a small number of those who never allow any work of merit to escape their notice. It affords, however, many specimens, in`addition to those extant, of a genius that so long charmed, and still continues to delight, every unsophisticated admirer of genuine song. A second edition of his "Introduction to Harmony" appeared in 1817, dedicated to his present Majesty, then Prince Regent. In this he says, "Those who have been fortunate enough to able to the feelings of the illustrious personage who bestowed it, as to the professional and general character of him on whom it was conferred. The Prince, who had long known Mr. Shield's value, both as a musician and as a member of society, seized the first opportunity that presented itself of serving a distinguished artist and a man whom he esteemed, without waiting for even the slightest request; and when Mr. Shield attended at the Pavilion to express his gratitude, his Royal Highness interrupted him in the midst of his acknowledgments, by the flattering words, "My dear Shield, the place is your due; your merits, independently of my regard, entitle you to it." - At the late coronation, he, in his robes of office, conducted the musical part of that ceremony in Westminster Abbey ; but as the performance of an ode at St. James's Palace on the King's birth-day and New Year's day never was called for during the time he held the appointment of master of the band, he had no opportunity of showing his zeal in the execution of this, the most important part of the duty that used to attach to the office. He enjoyed his two hundred and fifty pounds per annum, rather as the reward of past services, than as a retaining fee for services never, perhaps, intended to be required. Mr. Shield was one of the original members of that body which has wrought so remarkable a change in the musical taste of this country, the Philharmonic Society, though he never took any active share in its management. Indeed he began to feel the infirmities of age rather earlier than usual. He was naturally disposed to corpulency, the tendency to which was not diminished by the sedentary habits that grew on him. During the few latter years of his life, his health and strength visibly declined, and in the beginning of the winter of 1828, symptoms of water on the chest assumed too decided a character to be mistaken. The disease made rapid progress, and on the 25th of January, 1829, he expired at his house in Berner's Street, where he had long resided, leaving a widow, but no children, to lament his loss. The remains of this eminent musician and most amiable man, were removed from his residence on Wednesday, the 4th of February, and deposited in the south cloister of Westminster Abbey, amongst other men of genius who have done honour to their country. The procession was of the most simple and unostentatious kind, like the estimable composer himself, and consisted merely of a plain hearse and two mourning coaches, containing a few of Mr. Shield's most intimate friends, followed by the private carriages of some of his other acquaintances. The mourners were Mr. Thomas Broadwood (the executor), Colonel Crosdil, Mr. J. B. Cramer, Mr. V. Novello, Mr. Blake, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Parkinson, and Mr. Cahusac. The body was received at the door of the Abbey (where it arrived about twelve o'clock) by the gentlemen of the choirs, of whom there was a most numerous attendance, and the musical part of the service began. It consisted of the admirable service in G minor, by Dr. Croft. On the entrance of the coffin into the choir, and after the mourners had taken their places in the stalls, the fine funeral chant by Thomas Purcell was performed. This was followed by Dr. Greene's masterly anthem in A minor, "Lord, let me know mine end," in which the fine processional bass, stalking throughout the movement, had a most charming effect. The coffin was now removed towards the cloisters, during the progress to which was performed the inimitably fine verse composed by Purcell, to the words, "Lord, thou knowest the secrets of our hearts;" which Croft, who composed all the rest of the service, would not even attempt to reset, as he despaired of producing anything at all to compare with this exquisite specimen of Purcell's deep feeling and pathetic expression. On the body's being lowered into the grave, (which is quite close to that of his old friend, Mr. Salomon, and not very far from his still more intimate friend, Mr. Bartleman — who lies in the west cloister, by his master Dr. Cooke), the remainder of the service was concluded in the most solemn and affecting manner, by the voices alone, which contrasted most powerfully with the preceding movements that were accompa→ |