Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

STIEHL STOBAEUS 697
STIEHL, Hbinkich, born at Liibeek, August
5, 1829, second son of J. D. Stiehl (1800-73),
an esteemed organist there. He studied at
Liibeck and Weimar, and at Leipzig under
Moscheles, Gade, and Hauptmann. In 1853
he settled in St. Petersburg as organist to the
St. Peter's Church, and Director of the Singakademie.
In 1867 he moved to Vienna, and
after staying there two years went on to Italy.
In 1872 and 1873 he was in London, and from
Oct. 1874 to 1877 resided in Belfast as conductor
of the Philharmonic Society and founder of the
Cecilia Society there. He then returned to
England, settling as a teacher at Hastings, and
in 1880 was called to Reval in Russia, where
he held a leading position as professor of music,
organist, and conductor of the Musical Society
of the town. He gave an excellent performance
of Bach's 'Matthew - Psission' (the first in Russia)
on March 17, 1883, and repeated it at St.
Petersburg, April 6. He died at Reval, May 1,
1886.
StiehVs compositions are numerous. They
include two operas, 'Der Schatzgriiber,' and
' Jery und
.
Bately ' A little orchestral piece called
'
The Vision ' was produced at the Crystal
Palace, April 12, 1873, and was much applauded
for its delicate fanciful character.
'
A Hexentanz,'
Hngarisch,' Waltzes, and ' Gavotte are
a
also well known in Germany. He published
three PF. Trios, a sonata for PF. and Vcello,
Sonata quasi Fantasia for PF. solo, and many
other works, the latest being a string quartet,
op. 172. G.
STIMME (Germ.), is used both for the
human voice and for the individual parts in
polyphonic composition or concerted music,
whether vocal or instrumental.
STIMMFUHRUNG (Germ.), Part-wkiting,
which see.
STIMPSON, James, a well-known Birmingham
musician, born at Lincoln, Feb. 29, 1820,
son of a lay vicar of the cathedral, who removed
to Durham in 1822, where James became a
chorister in 1827. In February 1834 he was
articled to Mr. Ingham, organist of Carlisle
Cathedral ; in June 1836 was appointed organist
of St. Andrew's, Newcastle ;
and in June 1841,
on Ingham's death, was made organist of
Carlisle.
In February 1842 James Stimpson was
unanimously chosen organist at the Town Hall
and St. Paul's, Birmingham, out of many competitors,
and in the following year justified the
choice by founding the Festival Choral Society
and its Benevolent Fund, in connection with
the Triennial Festivals. He continued organist
and chorus-master to the Society until 1855.
His activity, however, did not stop here. In
1844 he was instrumental in starting the weekly
Monday Evening Concerts, of which, in 1859,
he took the entire responsibility, to relinquish
them only after heavy losses in 1867.
In 1845 Mr. Stimpson had the satisfaction
of having the pedals of the Town Hall organ
increased from 2 to 2^ octaves, so that he was
able to perform the works of J. S. Bach unmutilated.
From his weekly recitals in the
Town Hall, given throughout the year to
audiences varying from 600 to 1000, many a
young amateur has derived his first taste for
classical music. He was permanent organist
of the Birmingham festivals, and Mendelssohn's
last visit there was to conduct Elijah ' ' for Mr.
Stimpson 's benefit, April 25, 1847. He introduced
Sims Reeves and Charles Hall^ to
Birmingham, and laboured from 1849 until
1868, in many ways, in the service of good
music, gaining thereby the gratitude and respect
of his fellow-townsmen. He was for many years
Professor of Music at the Blind Institution. He
died at Birmingham, Oct. 4, 1886.
D'Almaine published in 1850 'The Organists'
Standard Library,' edited by Mr. Stimpson,
consisting principally of pieces hitherto unpublished
in this country. His other publications
consist mostly of ari'angements and a manual
of theory published by Rudall, Carte & Co. a.
STIRLING, Elizabeth, an eminent English
organist and composer ; born at Greenwich,
Feb. 26, 1819 ; learned the organ and piano
from W. B. Wilson and Edward Holmes, and
harmony from J. A. Hamilton and G. A. Macfarren.
She attained a remarkable degree of
execution on the organ pedals, as may be inferred
from her first public performance, given
at St. Katherine's Church, Regent's Park, when,
out of fourteen numbers, the programme contained
five pedal fugues and preludes, three pedal
trios, and other pieces, by J. S. Bach. In Nov.
1839 she was elected organist of All Saints',
Poplar, which she retained till Sept. 1858,
when she gained the same post at St. Andrew's
Undershaft, by competition. This she resigned
in 1880.- In 1856 she submitted an exercise
(Ps. oxxx. for five voices and orchestra) for the
degree of Mus.B. Oxon. ; but though accepted
it was not performed, owing to the want of
power to grant a degree to a lady. She published
some original pedal fugues and slow
movements, and other pieces for her instrument,
as well as arrangements from the works of
Handel, Bach, and Mozart. Also songs and
duets, and many part-songs for four voices, of
which a well-established favourite is ' All among
the barley.' In 1863 she married Mr. F. A.
Bridge, and died in London, March 25, 1895. G.
STOBAEUS, Johann, was born July 6, 1580,
at Graudenz, a town in West Prussia on the
river Vistula. In 1595 he was sent, for his
further education, to Kbnigsberg, where also
from 1600 he attended the University. In
1599 he became the pupil in music of Johann
Eccard, then Ducal Capellmeister at Kbnigsberg.
In 1601 Stobaeus was bass-singer in
the Ducal Chapel, and in 1602 was appointed
2y