Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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Beggarmy
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REED REED 43
pipe are sounded by single reeds of a most
rudimentary character. It is possible to replace
the double reed of the oboe and bassoon by a
single reed of the clarinet type fitted to a small
mouthpiece. The old dolcino or alto-fagotto
was so played in the band of the Coldstream
Guards by the late Mr. Henry Lazarus when a
boy. The idea has been revived of late years
as a novelty, but neither the oboe nor the
bassoon is capable of improvement in this way,
although the saxophone, also a conical tube, is
well adapted to the single reed, being an instrument
of wider calibre.] w. H. s. ; with additions
by D. J. B.
REED, Thomas Gbkman, born at Bristol,
June 27, 1817. His father was a musician,
and the son first appeared, at the age of ten,
at the Bath Concerts as a PF. player with
John Loder and Lindley, and also sang at the
Concerts and at the Bath Theatre. Shortly
after, he appeared at the Haymarket Theatre,
London, where his father was conductor, as
PF. player, singer, and actor of juvenile parts.
Ifi 1832 the family moved to London, and
the father became leader of the band at the
Garriok Theatre. His son was his deputy,
and also organist to the Catholic Chapel,
Sloane Stieet. German Reed now entered
eagerly into the musical life of London, was
an early member of the Society of British
Musicians, studied hard at harmony, counterpoint,
and PF. playing, composed much, gave
many lessons, and took part in all the good
music he met with. His work at the theatre
consisted in great measure of scoring and
adapting, and getting up new operas, such as
'Fra Diavolo' in 1837. In 1838 he became
Musical Director of the Haymarket Theatre,
a post which he retained tiU 1851. In 1838
he also succeeded Mr. Tom Cooke as Chapelmaster
at the Royal Bavarian Chapel, where
the music to the Mass was for long noted both
for quality and execution. Beethoven's Mass
in C was produced there for the first time in
England, and the principal Italian singers
habitually took part in the Sunday services.
At the Haymarket, for the Shakespearean
performances of Macready, the Keans, the
Cushnians, etc., he made many excellent
innovations, by introducing, as overtures and
entr'actes, good pieces, original or scored by
himself, instead of the rubbish usually played
at that date. During the temporary closing
of the theatre. Reed did the work of producing
Pacini's opera of 'Sappho' at Drury Lane
(April 1, 1843— Clara Novello, Sims Reeves,
etc.). In 1844 he married Miss Priscilla
Horton, and for the next few years pursued
the same busy, useful, miscellaneous life as
before, directing the production of English
opera at the Surrey, managing Sadler's Wells
during a season of English opera, with his
wife. Miss Louisa Pyne, Harrison, etc., con-
;
ducting the music at the Olympic under Mr.
Wigan's management, and making prolonged
provincial tours.
In 1855 he started a new class of performance
which, under the name of 'Mr. and Mrs. German
Reed's Entertainment,' made his name
widely and favourably known in England. Its
object was to provide good dramatic amusement
for a large class of society who, on various
grounds, objected to the theatres. It was
opened at St. Martin's Hall, April 2, 1855,
as 'Miss P. Horton 's Illustrative Gatherings,'
with two pieces called
'
Holly Lodge ' and
'
The Enraged Musician ' (after Hogarth),
written by W. Brough, and presented by Mrs.
Reed, with the aid of her husband only, as
accompanist and occasional actor. In Feb.
1856 they removed to the Gallery of Illustration,
Regent Street, and there produced A
'
Month from Home,' and 'My Unfinished Opera'
(April 27, 1857); 'The Home Circuit' and
'Seaside Studies' (June 20, 1859)— all by
W. Brough; 'After the Ball,' by Edmund
Yates ;
'
Our Card Basket,' by Shirley Brooks
'
An Illustration on Discord ' (' 'The Rival
by Brough (April 3, Composers '), 1861) ; and
'
The Family Legend, ' by Tom Taylor (March
31, 1862). They then engaged Mr. John
Parry, and produced the following series of
pieces specially written for this company of
three, and including some of Mr. Parry's most
popular and admirable songs in the characters
of Paterfamilias at the Pantomime, Mrs. Roseleaf,
etc. etc. :
'
The Cliarming Cottage.' April A Dream in Venice.' T. W.
'
6,1863.
Robertson. March 18, 1867.
'The Pyramid.' Shirley Bitwka. Our Quiet Ch&teau.' B. Beece.
Feb. T, 1664.
Dec. 26. 1867.
"The Bard and his Birthday.'
'
Inquire w-itbin.' jr. C. Burnand.
W. Brough. April 20, 1864.
July 22, 1868.
'The Peculiar Family.' Do. Idst of the Faladina.' B. Beece.
March 19, 1S6S.
Dec. 23, 1868.
'The Yachting Cruise.' F. C.
Burnand. April 2, 1866.
At this period the company was further increased
by the addition of Miss Fanny Holland
and Mr. Arthur Cecil, and soon after by Mr.
Corney Grain and Mr. Alfred Reed. The
following was the repertory during this last
period :
'LiscbenandFritschen.' Offenbach.
Feb. 8, 1869.
'
No Cards,' W. S. GUhert, and
' Cox and Box,' Bui*nand and Sul-
Uvan. March 29. 1869. (A CecU'a
first appearance.)
'Ages Ago.' W. 8. Gilbert and
P. Clay. Kov. 22, 1869.
Neighbour.' F. C,
Burnand. March 28, 1^0.
Island Home.' W. S. Gilbert.
June 20, 1870.
•The Bold Eecruit.' F. Clay.
July 19, 1S70.
'A Sensation Novel.' Do. Jan.
30. 1871.
Near Belations.' Arthur
Sketchley. August 14, 1871.
'
King Christmas.' Planch^.
Dec. 26, 1871.
Charity begins at Home.' B.
Eowe and Cellier. Feb. 7, 1872.
My Aunt's Secret.' Burnand
and Molloy. March 3, 1872.
Arcadia.' W. S. Gilbert
and F. Clay. Oct. 28, 18:12.
'Very Catching,' Burnandand
Molloy. Nov. 18, 1872.
' Mildred's Well.' Burnand
and German Seed. May 5, 1873.
During this period a diversion was made by the
introduction of 'Opere di Camera,' for four
characters. These comprised :
'Jessy Lea. Oxeuford and Mac- 'Widows bewitched.' Virginia
Gabriel.
larren.
' '
•Too Many Cooks.' Oifettbacb. A Fair Exchange ' ; A Happy
'The Sleeping Beauty.' Balfe. Eesult'; 'ChingChowHi.' AU
'The Soldiei-'s Legacy.' Oxentold
three by OiTenbach.
and
Mactarren.