Evidently he did not prosper according to his expectations in New York, since the same year he established himself in Philadelphia. He at once became identified with the musical life of this city, and in conjunction with H. Capron, W. Brown and A. Juhan, Reinagle continued the “City Concerts” instituted in 1783.[193] The first programme played in that year will give some idea of the taste of the people of that epoch.
FIRST CONCERT, OCT. 19, 1786.
| Act I. | |
| Favorite Symphonie | Vanhall |
| Song, Mr. Capron | Gretrey |
| Sonata, Piano Forte | Haydn and Reinagle |
| Act II. | |
| Concerto Flute | Windling |
| A Favorite Ronde. | |
| Solo Violoncello | Tilliere |
| Act. III. | |
| Concerto Violin | Cramer |
| New Symphony | Haydn[194] |
| Miscellaneous Concerto. | |
It will be seen by this programme that German music had its share of importance, and in later concerts the compositions of Mozart, Haydn, Händel, Bach, Pleyel, Abel, Stamitz, Schmittbauer, Heimberger, etc., were given. Undoubtedly the high grade of these concerts and the predominance of the works of German composers, was due to the musical taste of Reinagle.
It is not our intention here to give all the programs which were performed in Philadelphia during this period. Our intention is, however, to give new material which has hitherto not been published. The “City Concerts” Sonneck has traced through the year 1788, and then he adds that “apparently the City Concert was then discontinued as no further reference to it is made until the attempted revival in 1792.”[195]
Although no records have as yet been found, still it seems very probable that these concerts were continued without interruption through 1789-90. For the year 1791 there is a complete file of the programs given. The opening announcement is as follows:
“The first Concert will be held on Saturday the 22d instant, at the New-Rooms in Chestnut street, where they will be continued every other Saturday during the Season.”
PLAN OF THE FIRST CONCERT.
| Act I. | |
| 1. Grand Overture of Haydn, Opera 51 | |
| 2. Song, by a young Lady, composed by Dr. Boyce | |
| 3. Solo on the Clarinet, | Mr. Wolff |
| 4. Quartet of | Pleyel |
| 5. Concerto on the Grand Piano Forte | Miss Moller |
| Act II. | |
| 1. New Overture of | Haydn |
| 2. Song, by a young Lady, composed by | A. Reinagle |
| 3. Concerto Violin | Master Duport |
| 4. Duett, Grand Piano Forte and Violoncello, | Mr. Moller and Amateur |
| 5. Finale of | Dalisac[196] |
SECOND CONCERT, FEB. 5.