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The British Musical Biography

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REEVES.
52389:
Johnson. He then studied as a tenor, under
52390:
Hobbs, and T. Cooke, and appeared in minor
52391:
parts in " King Arthur," " Der Freischiltz,"
52392:
and other operas, at Drury Lane, 1842-3.
52393:
For further study he went to Paris, and had
52394:
lessons from Bordogni, and at Milan, from
52395:
Mazzucato. At La Scala, Milan, he appeared
52396:
in 1846, as Edgardo in " Lucia di Lammer-
52397:
moor," with Catherine Hayes in the title-
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part. Reapi^eared at Drury Lane, December
52399:
6, 1847, in the same part, and achieved the
52400:
greatest success witnessed for many years.
52401:
Then for the first time called Mr. Sims
52402:
Reeves. On the 20th of the same month he
52403:
appeared in his first original part, as Lyonnel
52404:
in Balfe's " Maid of Honour," also at Drury
52405:
Lane. On May 20, 1848, he made his first
52406:
appearance in Italian opera, at Her Majesty's,
52407:
taking the part of Carlo in " Linda." His
52408:
operatic career extended over many years,
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and he was equally great in works of all
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kinds, down to the simple ballad-opera. He
52411:
sang in " Rob Roy," at Edinburgh, so late
52412:
as July, 1887. In oratorio he achieved a
52413:
great success at tlie Worcester and Norwich
52414:
Festivals of 1848, and at the Sacred Har-
52415:
monic Society's performance of the" Messiah,"
52416:
November 24, of that year He was engaged
52417:
for the Birmingham Festivals from 1849 to
52418:
1873, and it was for him that Costa wrote the
52419:
tenor parts in "Eli," and "Naaman." He
52420:
sang at the Crystal Palace Handel Festivals,
52421:
1857-74, his last festival performance being in
52422:
" Israel in Egypt," June 26, 1874. In the
52423:
concert room he reigned supreme, and was
52424:
nratchless in his rendering of the artistic
52425:
song, and the Dibdin ballad. From 1881 his
52426:
public appearances were less frequent ; and
52427:
in 1890 he commenced a farewell tour at
52428:
Sonthsea, in August; and gave his final con-
52429:
cert at the Albert Hall, May 11, 1891. lie
52430:
commenced teaching about this time, and
52431:
was on the staff of the Guildhall School of
52432:
Music. Reverses and misfortune compelled
52433:
a return to public life, and after singing at
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Covent Garden Promenade Concerts, Queen's
52435:
Hall, and other places, 1893-5, he appeared
52436:
at the Empire Theatre, November 4, 1895,
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and made a round of the provincial Variety
52438:
theatres during the winter following. Sailed
52439:
for South Africa, July 25, 1896, and had a
52440:
most successful tour, returning -in October.
52441:
In 1888 he published his " Life and Recol-
52442:
lections," London, Simpkin, Marshall.
52443:
52444:
His wife, born Emma Lucombe, was tlie
52445:
daughter of Thomas Lucombe, a clever am-
52446:
ateur actor, who died February 13, 1855. She
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was a pupil of Mrs. Biaue Hunt, and first
52448:
appeared at a concert of the Sacred Harmonic
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Society, in Handel's "Josiiua," June 19,
52450:
1839 ; and sang in London and the provinces
52451:
up to 1845, when she went to study in Italy ;
52452:
sang in opera in Milan, and made her cUhut

REID.
52458:
on the English stage at Covent Garden, Nov-
52459:
ember 4, 1848, in the titular part of Auber's
52460:
"Haydee." Appeared at the Pliilharmonic.
52461:
concerts, April 16, 1849, singing a duet with
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Sims Reeves, to whom she was married, at
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North Cray Church, November 3, 1850. For
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some time she continued to sing in public,,
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and then gave her attention to teaching. She.
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died at Upper Norwood, June 10, 1895, in
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her 75th year. Herbert Sims Reeves, their
52468:
son, educated by his father, and at Milan,
52469:
made his dibut at W. Ganz's concert, St.
52470:
James's Hall, Juno 12, 1880; sang with suc-
52471:
cess at the Crystal Palace, February 12, 1881,
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and in the provinces. Made his first appear--
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ance on the stage at Brighton, in " Guy
52474:
Mannering," February 13, 1884. Has sung
52475:
in " The Waterman," and taken other parts
52476:
made famous by his father. He has also
52477:
sung in comic opera, " Palka," etc. He has
52478:
published one or two songs. His sister,
52479:
Constance Sims Reeves, made her debut on
52480:
the stage in " Guy Mannering," with her
52481:
brother, singing under the name of Miss-
52482:
Lester. She appeared at the Strand Theatre
52483:
in July, 1884; sang in "The Waterman" at
52484:
the Crystal Palace, 1892 ; and has been
52485:
heard at various concerts. Mr. Sims Reeves-
52486:
married again in 1895, his second wife, INIiss
52487:
Maud Rene, having been his pupil. She
52488:
sang with him at the Queen's Hall, Christmas
52489:
Day, 1895 ; accompanied him on his pro-
52490:
vincial tour, 1895-6.; and also on his visit to
52491:
Africa. Edwin Reeves, a brother, was a
52492:
member of the Seguin troujie in their Amer-
52493:
ican tour, 1848-9 ; and sometime professor of
52494:
singing at the V^iceregal Court, Dublin. He
52495:
died an Liverpool, in IMay, 1882.
died an Liverpool, in May, 1882.
52496:
52497:
Reid, Alan Stewart Bell 340-R-39
Reid, A!an Stewart Bell, comijoser and
Reid, Alan Stewart Bell, composer and
52498:
editor, born at Arbroath, Forfarshire, Feb-
52499:
ruary 6, 1853. Brought up at Forfar, and
52500:
originally apprenticed to a cabinet-maker.
52501:
His talent for music showed itself early, and
52502:
he is entirely self-taught. Elected choir-
52503:
master in the Barclay Church, Edinburgh,
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in 1877, which appointment he still holds;
52505:
also instructor in singing in three Board
52506:
Schools in that city. He has composed
52507:
many educational works for schools, operet-
52508:
tas, cantatas (Round the Clock; The School ■
tas, cantatas (Round the Clock; The School
52509:
Holiday ; Red, White, and ]:)lue, etc.), and
52510:
action songs ; Ruth, a sacred cantata (1882) ;
52511:
Friendship's Circle, a Sco'tish cantata; and.
52512:
lyrics and melodies in " Scots Minstrelsie."
52513:
A volume entitled "Music for Pupil Teachers "
52514:
was recently completed, and he has a poetical
52515:
anthology, " The Bards of Angus and tlie
52516:
Mearns," in course of preparation. He is,
52517:
further, editor of the National Choir, a
52518:
monthly publication of glees and harmonised
52519:
songs, and author of various poetical works.
52520:
52521:
Reid, General John 340-R-62
Reid, General John (born Robertson),
52522:
musician, and founder of the Edinburgh


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