Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

196 KUTHEBFOED RYAN
works by Bach and other great eompoaers,
many of them for the first time. The list of
occasional concerts conducted by him is also
very large. In 1870 he undertook the department
of counterpoint and composition in
the Stern Conservatorium at Berlin, and in
1878 was appointed organist of the Thomaskirche,
Leipzig, and in 1880 succeeded E. F. E.
Kichter as Cantor of the Thoiriasschule. He
was connected with the Leipzig Baohgesellschaft
from 1850, and edited vols, v., vii., ix.-xxiii.
and XXV. His original works have reached op.
33, of which eight are for the PF. and the rest
for voices. [He died at Leipzig, May 2, 1892.
A biography appeared in the Musikal. Wochen-
Uatt for 1890.] a.
RUTHEEFOED, David, a Scotch music
publisher in London, who worked in St. Martin's
Court, near Leicester Fields, ' at the sign of the
Violin and German Flute,' about 1745. His
publications consist principally of minor works
for the violin, or flute, such as country dances,
minuets, and books of airs. He republished in
octavo William M 'Gibbon's ' Scotch Airs, ' and
issued song-sheets, etc. He was publisher, and
probably author, of several quaint instruction
books, as The Fiddle Tiew model' d, or a useful
introdiicHon for the iiioUn, exemplified with
familiar dialogues, circa 1750, 8vo, and The art
of playing on the violin, showing how to stop
every note exactly.
He was succeeded at the same address by
John Eutherford, who issued a similar class of
works, and who remained in business until
1783, or later. F. k.
EUY BLAS. A play by Victor Hugo, to
which Mendelssohn composed an Overture and
a Chorus for soprano voices and orchestra. The
Overture (op. 95) is in C minor, and the
Chorus (op. 77, No. 3) in A; Both pieces
were conceived, written, copied, rehearsed, and
executed in less than a week (see Letter, March
18, 1839). The first performance was Monday,
March 11, 1839. Mendelssohn brought it to
London in MS. in 1844, and it was tried at a
Philharmonic Eehearsal, but for some reason
was not performed till a concert of Mrs. Anderson's,
May 25, 1849 ; it is now in the library
at Buckingham Palace. The MS. differs in a
few passages from the published score, which
was not printed till after Mendelssohn's death
(No. 5 of the posth. works). G.
KYAN, Michael Desmond, dramatic and
musical critic, was bom at Kilkenny, March 3,
1816, son of Dr. Michael Ryan. On the completion
of his academical education at an early
age he entered the University of Edinburgh,
early in the year 1832, for the purpose of
studying medicine. He remained in Edinburgh
steadily pursuing his studies for some three
years, after which, being fairly well read, a
dabbler in literature, an enthusiastic admirer
of art, a good amateur musician, and a keen
follower of the stage, Eyan determined to quit
Edinburgh and try his fortune in London.
Here he arrived in 1836, by chance met with
J. W. Davison, and commenced an intimate
and lifelong friendship. Ryan now entered
upon his literary career in earnest, writing
articles and poems for Harrison's Miscellany,
etc., and producing verses for songs. A set of
twelve sacred songs, versified from the Old
Testament and set to music by Edward Loder
(D'Almaine), may also be mentioned. The
'
Songs of Ireland ' (D'Almaine), in which, in
conjunction with F. N. Crouch, new verses
were fitted to old melodies, is another example
of effective workmanship. In 1844 Eyan became
a contributor to The Musical World, and
two years later sub-editor, a post which he
filled as long as he lived. For years he was a
contributor to the Morning Post, Court Journal,
Morning Chronicle, and other periodicals, writing
criticisms on the di'ama and music, which
had the merit of being trenchant, sound, and
erudite. In 1849 he wrote the opera libretto
of 'Charles II.' for 6. A. Macfarren. The
subject was taken from a well-known comedy
by Howard Payne, rendered popular at Covent
Garden by Charles Kemble's acting some quarter
of a century before. A short time afterwards-
Eyan was commissioned by M. Jullien to provide
the libretto of a grand spectacular opera, on the
subject of Peter the Great—brought out at the
Eoyal Italian Opera on August 17, 1852, under
the title of 'Pietro il Grande.' With the late
Frank Mori, Eyan collaborated in an opera
called 'Lambert Simnel,' originally intended
for Sims Eeeves, but never performed. In
1857 he formed his first association with the
Morning Herald, and its satellite the Standard,
and became permanently connected with those
journals in 1862 as musical and dramatic
critic. Few temperaments, however, can sustain
the excitement and toil demanded in these
days of newspaper activity, and after a painful
and prolonged illness Ryan quitted this life on
Deo. 8, 1868, followed to the grave by the
regretful memories of those who had known
and esteemed his character. D. L. E.