Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Barthelemon, F

Barthelemon, F. HIPPOLITE, a celebrated violinist and composer, was born at Bourdeaux, in France, in 1741, and lived some time in Paris, in which capital he composed, among other music, an opera called "Le Fleuve Scamandre," for the Italian Theatre. In the year 1765, he went to England, and in the following season produced a serious opera for the king's theatre, entitled "Pelopida," which was received with so much applause, that Garrick was induced to pay the author a visit for the purpose of asking him if he thought he could set English words to music. On Barthelemon's replying affirmatively, Garrick asked for pen, ink, and paper, and wrote the words of a song to be introduced in the play of "The Country Girl." Whilst thus engaged, Barthelemon, looking over Garrick's shoulder, actually wrote down music, in parts, to the song, as fast as the other penned the words. Garrick then turning round, and handing Barthelemon the words, said, "There, sir, is my song ; " to which the other answered, "And there, sir, is my music for it." Astonished and delighted at this unexpected exertion of talent, Garrick invited the composer to dine that day with him, in company with Dr. Johnson. The song proved so successful that it was encored every time it was sung ; and Garrick, in the fulness of his heart, promised to make Barthelemon's fortune. As a beginning of encouragement, he employed him to set to music the operatic farce of "A Peep behind the Curtain." The little burletta of Orpheus, in the second act, was so much admired, that this farce was per-formed a hundred and eight nights in one year. Garrick thus cleared by it several thousand pounds, and rewarded Barthelemon with the sum of forty guineas instead of fifty, which he had originally promised him, alleging, as an excuse, that the dancing cows had cost him so much money that he really could not afford to pay him any more. Barthelemon has composed the music to several other petit pieces for the theatres ; particularly to General Burgoyne's dramatic entertainment, "The Maid of the Oaks," which was first acted at Drury Lane, about the year 1774. At length, however, disgusted with the conduct of managers, he declined writing any thing more for the stage ; and, about the year 1794, was engaged with his family at the Rotunda in Dublin. Mrs. Barthelemon and her daughter were both musical, and had also a taste for composition. The former published a Net of hymns and anthems for the Asylum and Magdalen Chapels. We should have observed that, whilst in England, Barthelemon led for several seasons the opera band. As a violinist, his adagios were much admired : he also particularly excelled as a solo performer of Corelli's music. He died in London, at an advanced age, in the year 1808.