Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Addison, John

Addison, John. The son of an ingenious mechanic, born in England near the close of the last century.

Addison first discovered a propensity to music when at school ; where, beginning with the flageolet, and proceeding to the flute, bassoon, and violin, he soon made a conspicuous figure in his village choir. About this time a Miss Willems, (niece to the celebrated Reinhold,) being left almost destitute by the loss of her parents, and knowing the intimacy that had exited between the families, claimed the protection of Mr, and Mrs. Addison. She possessed a fine voice and considerable taste, which soon captivated J. Addison, and first made him conceive the idea of pursuing music as a profession, particularly as it would afford him the opportunity of cultivating her talent ; they were married, and she soon after sang at Vauxhall, with great success.

After this she was engaged to perform at the private theatre in Dublin.

The interval between the closing of Vauxhall and the opening of the Dublin Theatre was filled up by an engagement with Mr. Francis Aickin, at Liverpool: here it was that Addison first stepped into the profession.

Addison next went to Dublin, where he was appointed director and superintendent of the orchestra, which was then composed of amateurs, among whom were the Earl of Westmeath, Colonel Lambert Walpole, Counsellor Curran, &c. Here he had an opportunity of studying counter-point ; and was soon employed to compose the orchestra accompaniments to the musical pieces which were performed there.

The ensuing summer, he and his wife returned to Liverpool, where they were engaged at both the theatre and the concerts. Being now anxious to try his ability as a composer of an original melody, he caused Mrs. Addison to sing one of his songs at a rehearsal, giving it out as a manuscript by Shield ; it pleased so much, that he was requested to let it be performed at the next concert : he consented ; but his vanity would not permit him longer to conceal the real composer, which he was flattered by finding did not lessen the success of the ballad.

From Liverpool, Mr. and Mrs. Addison re-turned to Dublin, on an engagement for two sea-sons, at a very liberal salary. His attention was now chiefly devoted to Mrs. Addison's improvement, in which he succeeded so well, that she maintained a high rank as a vocal performer, notwithstanding such powerful opponents at the other theatre as Miss Pool, late Mrs. Dickens, and Mrs. Second.

The following summer, his father's affairs called Addison to London, whither he carried his wife, and introduced her to Mr. Harris, of Covent Garden, who heard her, was pleased, and instantly engaged her for as long as she could remain before her Dublin engagement.

They next returned to Dublin; where, besides his theatrical engagement, Addison now became in great request as a singing master, and taught m several noblemen's families. Among his pupils he had the honor of reckoning Lady Charlotte Packenham, afterwards Duchess of Wellington.

Thinking that still more might be done for Mrs. Addison's improvement, he passed part of the next summer and autumn in Bath, and placed her under the celebrated Rauzzini, who was very much pleased with her, and spoke in such hand-some terms of her tuition, that Addison declared himself her master, and that he had a double motive for bringing her to him, as he expected to receive much benefit himself, by witnessing his manner of instructing ; this was pleasantly received, and an attendance on him for some months gratified all parties.

From Bath they returned to Dublin, where they remained three years at the public theatre, under the management of Mr. Jones, who had become the patentee ; the summers were passed in excursions to different parts of the country, in the manner of the London theatrical meteors.

About this time Bellamy, with whom Addison was on the closest terms of friendship, became a joint proprietor of the Manchester Theatre with Mr. Ward ; and with him Addison made an engagement for himself and wife, as also for the concerts at the same place, and those at Liver-pool. After some months' residence at Manchester, domestic events induced Mr. Addison to give up the musical profession ; and he sought a per-son who was conversant with the cotton trade, collected the property he had, and commenced manufacturer. In this he might have succeeded hi other times but no sooner had he turned the chief of his capital into goods, than the war re-commenced, and his stock was deteriorated full twenty per cent. in value. He now consulted his friends, who gave him hopes that affairs would mend; but these were delusive, for they gradually declined ; till despairing of a change for the better, he called his creditors together, and found no difficulty in persuading them to take charge of the goods, convert them into cash, pay them-selves, and remit the balance, if any, to him in London.

Previously to quitting Manchester, he remained, however, a short time, and composed the music of a pantomime; soon after he went to Chester with Bellamy, and composed an opera, written by a lady of that place.

On his arrival in London, he called on his friend Kelly, who had for some time opened his musical saloon. The want of a scientific person, as well as a man of business, to conduct it, had long been felt, and proposals of a present salary, with a prospect of eventually becoming a partner, were made to Addison, and accepted. He was also engaged for the ensuing season, to play the double bass at the Italian opera, at the Ancient, and at the Vocal Concerts, which situations he held for several years.

In the following year, Kelly was employed to compose the music of the "Sleeping Beauty," written by Mr. Skeffington, for Drury Lane. Be-fore beginning the music, however, Mrs. Crouch was taken so ill that she was obliged to be re-moved into the country ; her illness gaining ground afflicted Kelly so much that he could not fix his mind to composition ; still, the poetry having been sent, Addison could not resist the desire of trying his ability, and composed several songs for the piece, which he showed to Mr. Skeffington;

After this, Addison was engaged to compose a piece for Henry Siddons ; but the unfortunate conflagration of Drury Lane Theatre destroyed the manuscript, and his hopes for the present ; however, Mr. Arnold, shortly after opening the Lyceum as an English Opera House, agreed with H. Siddons for the piece ; which he, having just then taken the Edinburgh Theatre, put together hastily, and handed to Mr. Arnold, who brought it out, having made first such additions and alterations as he thought best adapted to his company. It was the second opera produced on those boards, "Up at Night" being the first. Phillips, the eminent singer, who had made a most successful debut in the first opera, was not less approved in the second ; his song of "The Young and Charming Bride" never having been sung without an encore. The whole of the music, indeed, pleased very much ; and it has often been regretted that a difference between Mr. Arnold and the author, about some further claim in the event of the opera's exceeding fifteen nights, stopped its career.

Addison has composed other pieces for the same theatre, viz., "My Uncle," "My Aunt," "Two Words, or Silent, not Dumb," "Free and Easy," &c.

For Covent Garden he has composed the music of "Robinet the Bandit," and arranged Boieldieu's music, as well as composed some pieces in "Rose d' Amour."

When Sir George Smart first had the oratorios at Drury Lane, Addison adapted some selections, from Winter's favorite operas, to the sacred drama of "Elijah," written by T. W. Moncrieffe, Esq., which was successfully repeated several times during the season.

These, with several single songs, duets, glees, &c., are the chief items of his composition. It should be remembered, that he was entirely self-taught in composition, and is a proof of what assiduity, with a persevering mind, may accomplish.