Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/174

162 Musical Instruments.—Our grandfathers and grandmothers were content with their harps and harpsichords, their big and little fiddles, with trumpets and drums, horns, oboes, bassoons, and pipes. Clarionets were not introduced into the Festival bands until 1778; the double-bass kettle drums came in 1784; trombones in 1790; flutes, with six or more keys, were not known until 1802; serpents appeared in 1820; flageolets in 1823; theophicleide was brought in 1829, and the monster specimens in 1834, which year also saw the introduction of the piccolo; the bombardon not coming until 1843. Pianofortes were first known in England in 1767, but when first played in Birmingham is uncertain; the first time the instrument is named in a Festival programme was 1808, but the loan of a grand by Mr. Tomkinson, a London maker, in 1817, was an event thought deserving of a special vote of thanks.

Musical Notabilities of the highest calibre have been frequent visitors here, at the Festivals and at the Theatres, though the native-born sons of song who have attained high rank in the profession number but few. Under "Musical Festivals" appear the names of all the leading artistes who have taken part in those world-known performances, the dates of their first appearances being only given, and in like manner in the notice of our "Theatres" and "Theatrical Celebrities" will be chronicled the advents of many celebrated "stars" who have trod our local boards. Considering the position he long held in the musical world, the introduction of Sir Michael Costa to Birmingham has sufficient interest to be here noted. Signor Costa had been sent by his friend Zingarelli to conduct his "Cantata Sacra" at the Festival of 1829. The managers, however, thought so very little of the young gentleman's appearance (he was but nineteen) that they absolutely refused him permission to do so, only allowing his expenses on condition that he went among the singers. It was of no use his telling them that he was a conductor and not a singer, and he had nervously to take the part assigned him. On returning to London, he quickly "made his mark," and fell into his right place of honour and credit.

Musical Services.—The first of a series of week-night musical services for the people took place at St. Luke's Church, September 10, 1877, the instruments used being the organ, two kettle-drums, two trumpets, and two trombones. This was by no means an original idea, for the followers of Swedenborg had similar services as well in their Chapel in Paradise Street (on site of Queen's College), as in New-hall Street and Summer Lane.

Mysteries of Past History.—It was believed that a quantity of arms were provided here by certain gentle-men favourable to the Pretender's cause in 1745, and that on the rebels failing to reach Birmingham, the said arms were buried on the premises of a certain manufacturer, who for the good of his health fled to Portugal. The fact of the weapons being hidden came to the knowledge of the Government some sixty years after, and a search for them was intended, but though the name of the manufacturer was found in the rate books of the period, and down to 1750, the site of his premises could not be ascertained, the street addresses not being inserted, only the quarter of the town thus: "T. S. — — Digbeth quarter." The swords, &.c., have remained undiscovered to the present day.— M 10, 1864, while excavations were being made in the old "Castle Yard," in High Street the skeletons of three human beings were found in a huddled position about 2½ft. from the surface.—The Old Inkleys were noted for the peculiar character (or want thereof) of its inhabitants, though why they buried their dead beneath their cellar floors must remain a mystery. On October