CHAPTER V.

Music Dealers, Etc.

To supply the needs of his pupils it is necessary for a music teacher either to carry a line of musical wares himself or to satisfy his wants from a merchant dealing in such things. For some time it is quite likely that each teacher imported his own musical merchandise, although it has already been noted that, at an early date, Benj. Franklin had some music on sale.[130]As in every business there is some one ready to grasp an opportunity, so in the music business a man stepped forward to relieve the teachers of buying and selling. This man was Michael Hillegas, who in 1759 opened, what may be called, the first real music store in Philadelphia. A glance at the following advertisement will not belie this claim.

“To be sold by Michall Hillegas, at his House in Second street, opposite Samuel Morris, Esq., an extraordinary good and neat Harpsichord with four stops; a good Violin-cello, an Assortment of English and Italian Violins, as well common ones, as double lined, of which some extraordinary; a parcel of good German Flutes, imported here from Italy. Also imported in the last ships from London, a large Assortment of Musick, of the best Masters, viz.: Solo’s, Overtures, Concerto’s, Sonata’s, and Duets, for Violins, German Flutes, Hautboys, French Horns, Violoncello’s, and Guitars, Voluntaries, Lessons for Organs and Harpischords, ruled paper of various Sorts for Musick, and Musick Books, Tutors or Books of Instructions to learn to play on the Violin, German Flute, Hautboy, or Common Flute, without a Master, Song Books, Cantatas, Songs on Sheets, and a Choice Parcel of Violin Strings, etc.”[131]

From this advertisement may be deduced many things. In the first place, such an inventory of stock would not be sneered at by a music dealer of the present day; we may be sure then that the people were musical and that there was a demand for the things advertised. We should suppose that violins and German flutes were the most popular instruments and were in great demand; while there was certainly more than one player—perhaps many—of the above, common flute, French horn, ’cello, and guitar; and of course there were organists and harpsichord players.

Thus we are certain, that, in a few years that the people must have progressed rapidly in music, and probably now it was considered a necessary part of every young lady’s and young gentleman’s education. Music paper, too, is advertised by Hillegas. This may have been used in copying compositions of other writers as we know Hopkinson did,[132]or, perhaps, there were composers at that time of whom there is no record. The song-books, cantatas, and songs imported would be those in favor in London, as musical taste at this period in Philadelphia was a reflection of English taste.

The name of Michael Hillegas will live as long as the United States hold together, as he was an important figure in the early history of our country.

Michael Hillegas[133]was born April 22, [O. S.]——in Philadelphia of German parents. The tradition runs in the Hillegas family that their ancestors were French. They had a coat of arms containing three musical staves. However that may be Michael’s parents came from Baden and settled in Philadelphia, where Michael Sr. was naturalized April 11, 1749. He was a merchant, and was interested in real estate and prospered exceedingly. At his death Oct. 11, 1749, his property was valued at £40,000 of which his son Michael had two shares.

Michael Jr. now carried on the business of his father. He was popular, devoted to music and a skilful player on the flute andviolin, and a composer of “An Easy Method for the Flute.”[134]As early as 1753, he advertises a church or house organ.[135]

Politically he was important, held various offices in Philadelphia, and upon the adoption of the constitution became treasurer—the first treasurer of the United States—an office which he held throughout the war.[136]

Such in brief was the man who kept the first store of musical merchandize. His influence in musical matters must have been felt, although it cannot be proven. That he had good musical taste or that the public did is seen from the list of standard works which he advertised in 1764[137]including those of Tartini, Hass, Noseri, Alberti, Vincent, Carter, Miller, Balicourt, Tessorini, Reed, Stanley, Viaci, Cervetto, Davis, Quants, Martini, Weideman, Hellendaal, Pepush, Triemer, Wodizka, Corelli, Depuis, Avison, Humphreys, Alcock, Festnig, Händel, Vivaldi, Boyce, Ruge, Price, Burney, Fisher, Ferigo, Flackston, Bates, Retzel, Benegger, Bezozsi, Albinoni, Graun, Stamitz, Fritz, Barbella, Richter, Kleinecht, Lampugnini, Pasquali, M’Gibbon, Dottel, Gerard, Stechwey, Battino, Campioni, Claget, Agzell, Figlio, Diragini, Lanzetti, Kunzen, Scarlatti, Smith [Schmidt?], Barbandt, Berg. This is a list of names of composers which, at that time were popular and some of which hold an important place in the musical world of to-day.

Although Michael Hillegas, probably for some time, had almost a monopoly of the selling of musical merchandize, it was not long before another firm usurped the position which Hillegas had held in the musical world, and apparently crowded him out of business, as his advertisements, after a short time, are few and gradually cease altogether. The music-house par excellence which now came to the front was that of the English book-sellers, Rivington & Brownwho carried a remarkably large stock of musical merchandize.[138]However we are only concerned with those storekeepers of German descent so we will have to pass by this large and prosperous establishment.

Soon after this Theodore Memminger, a liquor dealer, advertises:

“A Fine Parcel of Violins, at a very low Price. They are all made by the best Masters in High Germany. He has likewise the best Sort of Fiddle Strings.”[139]

In 1768 he seems to have increased his music business, as the following notice shows:

“A Variety of violins at different prices; the best kind of fresh fiddle strings: guitar and spinnett brass and steel wire: a fine pair of very good ivory German flutes. He spins all sorts of bass strings with silver wire.”[140]

Most of this business seems to have been in the hands of the English for with the exception of one more German Conrad Batis, who advertises among other things “a quantity of violins and violin strings,”[141]no other German music dealer has been discovered.

There is, however, one more event of importance to chronicle, before leaving the music dealers. It has been already stated that harpsichords and spinets were made in Philadelphia at an early period. It remained for John Behrent, a German, to add to the renown of Philadelphia in the realm of music. In 1775 he advertised:

“John Behrent, Joiner and Instrument Maker living in Third street continued in Campington, directly opposite Coate’s Burying-ground, Has just finished for sale, an extraordinary fine instrument, by the name of Piano Forte, of Mahogany, in the manner of an harpischord, with hammers, and several changes: He intends to dispose of it on very reasonable terms: and being a master of such sort of work, and a new beginner in this country he requests all lovers of music to favour him with their custom, and they shall not only behonestly served, but their favours gratefully acknowledged, by their humble servant, John Behrent.”[142]

Evidently the War of the Revolution interrupted any further progress in musical development, as nothing more of importance is found during this period.

FOOTNOTES:[130]See above, p. 29.[131]Pa. Gaz., Dec. 13, 1759.[132]See below, p. 48.[133]Oldest reliable spelling is Hilde-gras.[134]Advertised inPa. Gaz., June 19, 1776.[135]Pa. Gaz., Aug. 9, 1753.[136]Material for this sketch taken from “Michael Hillegas and His Descendants” by Emma St. Clair Whitney; also, “A Memoir of the First Treasurer of the U. S.,” by M. R. Minnich.[137]Pa. Gaz., Jan. 5, 1764.[138]Cf.Pa. Gaz., Feb. 4, 1762, alsoPa. Jour., Dec. 15, 1763.[139]Pa. Gaz., Nov. 10, 1763.[140]Pa. Jour., Nov. 17, 1768.[141]Pa. Gaz., Feb. 17, 1773.[142]Pa. Pack., Mar. 13, 1775.

[130]See above, p. 29.

[131]Pa. Gaz., Dec. 13, 1759.

[132]See below, p. 48.

[133]Oldest reliable spelling is Hilde-gras.

[134]Advertised inPa. Gaz., June 19, 1776.

[135]Pa. Gaz., Aug. 9, 1753.

[136]Material for this sketch taken from “Michael Hillegas and His Descendants” by Emma St. Clair Whitney; also, “A Memoir of the First Treasurer of the U. S.,” by M. R. Minnich.

[137]Pa. Gaz., Jan. 5, 1764.

[138]Cf.Pa. Gaz., Feb. 4, 1762, alsoPa. Jour., Dec. 15, 1763.

[139]Pa. Gaz., Nov. 10, 1763.

[140]Pa. Jour., Nov. 17, 1768.

[141]Pa. Gaz., Feb. 17, 1773.

[142]Pa. Pack., Mar. 13, 1775.

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