Queries.
OLD MUSIC.
I feel thankful to Dr. Rimbault for the "Old Concert Bill" which you have printed in Vol. v., p. 556., and wish it may lead to more contributions towards what does not exist, but is much to be wished for, a history of instrumental music in this country. Having had this subject in my mind a good while, and having had occasion to observe how defective and erroneous the supposed sources of information are, I have from time to time made memoranda, which would be at the service of anybody who would undertake such a
work as the correction of the Dictionary of Musicians, or the compilation of a more complete work. My notes indeed are not of much importance, but it is the kind of case in which every little helps. In this concert bill, for instance, relating to a first-rate performance, we have five names, Grano, Dieupart, Pippo, Vebar, and Baston, which are not in the Dictionary. As to the first, I only know him by a set of solos for a violin or flute, which I have; of the next three, I know nothing; and of the last, I did not know that he performed Woodcock's music, or indeed that he performed at all, though I knew him as a composer. And in a volume now lying before me, "XII Concertos" by Woodcock are followed by "Six Concertos in Six Parts for Violins and Flutes, viz.: a Fifth, Sixth, and Concert Flute: the proper Flute being nam'd to each Concerto; composed by Mr. John Baston," and printed for Walsh. He is not, however, named either as a composer or performer in the Dictionary. It may be said that these are obscure persons; but that is the very reason why some slight, plain notice of them should exist somewhere; for the history of an art is not well written, or well understood, if there is not some easy way of learning more or less about the obscure persons who are every now and then coming on the stage.
To this note, may I be allowed to add a couple of Queries which perhaps some musical reader may be able and willing to answer.
1. Who was "Joseph Jackson, Batchelor in Music, late of St. John's College, Oxford;" and did he compose anything beside six sonatas for two violins and a violoncello, which were "printed for the widow by Thompson and Son in St. Paul's Churchyard," I suppose (from some other "just published" music advertised on the title-page) about a century ago?
2. I have also—
"Six Trio pour deux Violons et Alto Viola ou Basse obligé. Composés par Mr. Bach; mis au jour par Mr. Huberty de l'Academie Royale de Musique, gravés par Me son Epouse. Œuvre II."
Which Bach was the composer? I do not pretend to know by the style, being only—
An Amateur.