Antony, "Parson" of Burgh in Westmoreland. So, in Wales, The Bowens and Ap-Rices Keep fiddles with their benefices — "where he died in the winter-time, an. 1694."Wood. Whom have we next? 3. No less a personage than "Kenelm Digby, Fellow of All SOULS," who ought to have been "MEDIOCRITER DOCTUS," according to the Statutes, "in plano Cantu." "He was afterwards," proceeds Antony, "LL. D. and dying in the said college, Nov. 5, 1688, was buried in the chapel there. He was a violinist, and the two former, violists." -Wood. We may imagine tenor-violins. The Fellows of ALL SOULS, as if resolved to be no longer "Mediocriter Docti in arte Musicâ," are here again! 4. "Will. Bull, M. A. Batchelor of Physick, and Fellow of ALL SOULS, for the violin - and viol." Wood. Hear, oh Chicheley! thy degenerate sons! "He died the 15th July, 1661, aged 28, and was buried in the chapel there."-Wood. Another Fellow of the same college! 5. "John Vincent, M. A. Fellow of the said college! a VIOList. He went afterwards to the Inns of Court, and was a barrister."-Wood. 6. "Sylvanus Taylor, sometime Commoner of Wadham college; afterwards Fellow of All Souls! violist and songster!"-Wood. Another Fellow of that college wherein the bene nati were required to be only mediocriter docti in music, a singer into the bargain! "He went afterwards to Ireland, and died at Dublin in the beginning of November 1672." Wood. "Lugete, veneres, cupidinesque," we might say, if he were composer of the "Irish Melodies”* of the day, which we have no means of ascertaining. "His elder brother, Captain Silas Taylor, was a composer of music, playd and sung his parts, and, when his occasions brought him to Oxon, he would play and sing his part there." 7. "Henry Langley, M.A. and Gentleman Commoner of Wadham college, a violist and songster. He was afterwards a worthy knight, lived at Abbey Foriat, near Shrewsbury, where he died in 1680." 8. "Samuel Woodford, a Commoner of the said college, a violist. He was afterwards a celebrated poet, beneficed in Hampshire, and Prebendary of Winchester."-Wood. I here pause, and request indulgence, having mentioned these musical gentlemen of Wadham, to relate a circumstance in my own musical career in the same University. I was then scholar of Trinity, every resident in the inner quadrangle of which college practised on some instrument. Four-and-twenty fiddles, nineteen clarionets, and flutes out of number, rung * Let it not be thought that I undervalue, by this remark, those affecting and beautiful strains by my friend Thomas Moore. + This "celebrated poet" was, like Churchill's bard, "Of special merit but of little note." through the quadrangle from morning till night, after lectures, chapel, &c. were over. 66 Playing my part," (as Antony says,) I was seated, humbly attempting a quartett of Haydn, on a beautiful morning in summer. The leader was the celebrated Mahon, the second my poor friend, now no more, Dr. Lee, afterwards head of the college, and Vice-Chancellor,-when, suddenly, the leader started from his chair, dropped the bow, placed his hands on both ears, and exclaimed, “Merciful Heaven! I thought I had heard every hideous sound upon earth-but-what is that ?" A window opposite was thrown open-the neck of an instrument protruded-a distorted visage seen, and we heard, in dismay, that this was a young gentleman, named Boulter, first attempting "Shepherds, I have lost my Love," on the BASSOON! I know not whether he is alive or dead, but if alive, and should he ever read this, he may smile. I hope he still plays the bassoon, as one of the oblectamina of the evening of life, when he made so promising a beginning! We had no hope of stopping this interesting solo, so all instruments were laid down; but the circumstance caused a grand revolution, for orders were given out by the President, Dr. Chapman, that no person should touch any instrument till one o'clock. This injunction only served, exactly as the clock struck one, to increase the noise : Let those PLAY now, who never play'd before, The quadrangle, from its braying, at a particular hour, "with all sorts of instruments," was familiarly called Nebuchadnezzar's Quadrangle. The garden of Trinity fronts Wadham, the college of Antony Wood's two last musicians. In consequence of the fervent harmonies at one o'clock, the Warden of Wadham earnestly requested the President of Trinity to put a stop to the music entirely, as the students of his college, not having such good ears as the young gentlemen of Trinity, could not proceed with their studies in consequence of the noise of their collegiate neighbours ! I could hardly refrain giving this narrative of Oxford music, being on the subject of Antony Wood's academical harmonists, and we now proceed with his illustrious list. 9." Francis Parry, M. A. Fellow of Corpus Christi college, a violist and songster. He was afterwards a traveller," (in what line we are not informed,) but "he belonged to the Excise Office!" 10. "Christopher Coward, M. A. Fellow of Corpus Christi college, was afterwards Rector of Dicheat, in his native county of Somersetshire, proceeded D. D. at Oxon 1694." "Violist and division-violist," in the margin. What is meant by division-violist I know not. 11. "Charles Bridgeman, M.A. of Queen's college, of kin to SIR ORLANDO BRIDGEMAN. He was afterwards Archdeacon of Richmond. He died Nov. 26, 1678, and was buried in the chapel belonging to that college." 12. "Nathaniel Crewe, M. A. Fellow of Lincoln college, a violinist and violist, but always played out of tune, as having no good ear. wards, through several preferments, Durham." He was after Bishop of Salve Crewe, ornatissime !-Though your 66 eare is bad," your munificent charity at Bamborough Castle, which first excited the youthful Oxonian to "sing," "Ye Holy Towers, that shade the wave-worn steep," &c.* makes ample amends. And albeit "you always play out of tune," who can forget the institution at Oxford of the Creweian commemoration of University Benefactors, and the Theatre, resounding from year to year, since thou didst "play out of tune"-with the finest strains of choral music. 13. "Matthew Hutton, M. A. Fellow of Brazennose, an excellent violist, afterwards Rector of Aynoe, in Northamptonshire." 14. But who comes next? Per Musas et Apollinem, KENNIUS NOSTER! "Thomas Ken, of New college, a junior. He would be sometimes among them, and sing HIS PART."-Wood. 15. "Christopher Jeffries, a junior student of Christ Church, excellent at the organ, or virginals, or harpsichord, having been trained up to those * Sonnets by the Author. |