“By particular Desire. On Tuesday next, the 25th instant, at the Assembly Room, in Lodge Alley will be performed a Concert of Music, under the direction of Mr. John Palma,[149] to begin exactly at Six o’clock. Tickets to be had at the London Coffee House, at one Dollar each, and no Person to be admitted without a ticket.”[150]
Another concert was given March 25th, of this same year.[151] This year, too, a man appears in musical circles, who undoubtedly exercised more influence upon musical affairs in Philadelphia than any one man before or since. This is no other than Frances Hopkinson, statesman, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Lawyer, Writer, Inventor, Composer of Music, etc., etc. His contributions to the music and musical taste of this country is little known, but when we say that the evidence points to him as the first native composer in America, although Jas. Lyon of this city may have been—they both wrote music as early as 1759[152]—this fact makes him a man of the greatest importance in musical circles. We wish to correct here a statement made by various writers on American music, that William Billings was the first American composer. This is absolutely false, since Hopkinson and Lyon composed music at least ten years before Billings did, while the latter was yet a child.
It will not be out of place here to give a short account of Frances Hopkinson, laying particular stress upon his musical labors, especially as regards German music.
Frances Hopkinson was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 21, 1737, the son of Thomas and Mary Hopkinson. He must have been keen, active, and studious, since, while yet a boy of twenty, he received his degree with the first class ever graduated from the College of Philadelphia. From now on he advanced in knowledge and in favor with the world. In 1760 he received the degree of Master of Arts from his Alma Mater, and in 1763 received the same degree from the College of New Jersey. In 1790 his own college conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
His public life was too active to give more than the briefest sketch. His first public office was that of secretary to the governor in a conference between the latter and the Lehigh Indians. From now on, he held many offices, as secretary of the Library Company in 1759; 1772 Collector of the Port of New Castle; 1774 held a seat in Provincial Council of New Jersey; 1776 delegate to the Continental Congress; signer of the Declaration of Independence; 1779 Judge of the Admiralty from Pennsylvania; 1778 Trustee of the College of Philadelphia. Besides this, he wrote many political pieces of which “The Battle of the Kegs,” 1778, was the most popular. He was also for a time organist in Christ Church, instructor in psalmody, a pillar of the church, and an inventor of improvements for the harpsichord.[153]
Our first knowledge that Hopkinson studied music is a notice in the magazine containing his “Ode on Music,” which remarks:
“Written at Philadelphia by a young Gentleman of 17, on his beginning to learn the Harpsichord.”[154]
The only professional music master at that time was John Beals,[155] but, later, 1757, came John Palma[156] and in 1763 James Bremner.[157] Hopkinson may have taken lessons from any or all of these men for all we know to the contrary; but it is certain that he was a pupil of Jas. Bremner, a Scotch musician of some note.[158]
Hopkinson made his first public appearance as a musician probably in 1757 when the “Masque of Alfred”—words by Thompson-Mallett; music by Dr. Arne—was given at the College of Philadelphia as an exercise in oratory.[159] He may have been accompanist for this performance.
It is interesting to note with what music Hopkinson was acquainted at this time and for this purpose I shall quote from Sonneck’s exhaustive work: