At the early age of six years, Frederick evinced a surprising fondness for music; but it was not until he was eleven years old that he began its real study. This he did under his mother's direction, taking lessons on the piano-forte. At this time he found the study of music difficult, and the acquirement of its scientific rudiments was to him dry work. In one year, however, its charming beauties began to open before his young mind; and after this he rapidly developed a talent for music, felt the inspiration of the beautiful art, and became ambitious to excel.
After studying for some time the piano, and becoming, for one of his years, quite proficient as a performer, he began to take lessons on the organ under the direction of Miss R.M. Washington, an accomplished teacher of that instrument, of the piano-forte, and of harmony. The organ for some time quite absorbed his attention. This grand and most comprehensive of instruments, with its great scope and capacity for the production of harmonic beauties, so delighted, indeed so charmed, our young enthusiast,—for such he had now become,—as to leave him with scarcely any inclination or time for other studies. He resolved then to learn all that it was possible to know about the organ, not only in awaking to life its tones of grandest harmony, but also, and in order to better accomplish the same, to study its wonderful mechanism.
With this latter purpose in view, he visited the extensive and celebrated organ manufactory of the Messrs. E. and G.G. Hook & Hastings, located at what was then called Roxbury, Mass., now a part of the city of Boston. These gentlemen were so pleased with his ambitious spirit, that they kindly gave him permission to visit at will their factory, and to examine into every thing connected with organ-making. After a while, this firm, discovering the ability of young Lewis as a performer, invited him, in the presence of, and at times in conjunction with, some of the most skilful organists of Boston, to test their organs before the same were offered for sale. Besides, he sometimes offered suggestions in regard to their construction before the organs were completed, some of which suggestions were adopted by the firm. It will thus be seen that our student was quite fortunate in having, in the first place, an excellent teacher, and afterwards such beneficial opportunities as those allowed him by the Messrs. Hook. No wonder, then, that with his natural abilities, his ambitious, art-loving spirit, industrious habits, and such facilities, he quite early became a proficient organist.
With his acquisition of skill as a performer on the piano-forte and organ already attained, as well as with his prospects for attaining to great distinction as a player of either of them, our artist might well have been content. But with these he was not satisfied: he longed to roam over the whole field of instrumental music, to evoke and to enjoy the harmonic beauties of the many other instruments. He had, in fine, become an enthusiast in music; and yearned to become a real connoisseur, theoretically and practically.
Mr. Lewis, therefore, next took up for study the violin, without other teachers than the best instruction-books treating on that instrument. Becoming enamoured of the tones of that sweet and soul-expressing instrument, using in his work only music of the highest kind (he never, indeed, had a taste for any other), choosing for his models—when not guided alone by his own ideas of fine expression—the most classical performers, he rapidly advanced as a pleasing and scholarly violinist, and made his first public appearance as a soloist at New Bedford, Mass., in 1861. About this time, having attained to a fine degree of general proficiency in music, and having overcome to some extent a certain shyness and timidity which had hitherto characterized him, he accepted invitations to appear in the best musical circles in Boston, and to take part occasionally in public performances there. This served to increase his desire to learn even other instruments, and caused him to study successively many of the pieces that are comprised in the formation of a large orchestra or a military band. He made, however, the cornet his principal study. Having at this time become quite partial to stringed instruments, he soon gave most of his time to the study and practice alternately of the viola, violoncello, double-bass, and the guitar. As a performer on all of these instruments, except perhaps the guitar (an instrument which he never much liked), he has on important public occasions appeared, eliciting at such times the favorable comments of the press.
Leaving for a while the instruments just mentioned, he turned his attention to the clarinet and flute. To the former he is at present much devoted, playing upon it with much taste and skill.
Being asked why he so much enlarged his field of instrumental performance, and why he did not confine his studies to not more than one or two instruments, he said that it was in order that he might be the better able to arrange and write music for an orchestra or military band; and in this ambitious endeavor he has attained to a fine degree of success.
I should have mentioned before this, that, at the age of fifteen, our subject was considered quite a competent performer on the piano-forte, the organ, and the violin; and that at that early age he began to teach the playing of these instruments.
Although his talent and acquirements are displayed more particularly as an instrumentalist, Mr. Lewis is also a fair vocalist, understands thoroughly its theory, and teaches singing. He is a valued member of several musical clubs of Boston and vicinity composed of artists of the highest culture, such as the Haydn and Mozart Clubs of Chelsea, Mass. He, besides, meets with a select few in Boston, in a circle of studious amateurs where none but the finest and most classical music is performed. He is a member of the "Boston Musicians' Union," which comprises in its membership most of the best musicians of the city; such as, for instance, Julius Eichberg, P.S. Gilmore, C.N. Allen, Messrs. Listemann, Lothian, &c.
In the Haydn and Mozart Clubs Mr. Lewis has played the part for first violin; and on several occasions, in the absence of the directors of those bodies, he has assumed acceptably the conductorship. His general musical accomplishments, and his acquaintance with each instrument used in these clubs, make him really the most useful and valued member; for, if a member fails to appear at a performance, he need not be much missed, since Mr. Lewis, if present, can take his instrument, whatever it may be, while his own regular place may be taken by the next first violinist in rank.