Music and Musicians in Early Nineteenth-Century Cornwall: The World of Joseph Emidy - Slave, Violinist and Composer

by Richard McGrady

Overview

Taken from Africa into slavery by the Portuguese, kidnapped by the British Navy and held captive aboard ship during the French wars of the 1790s before being abandoned in Falmouth, the story of Joseph Emidy deserves telling in its own right. Emidy became a prominent figure in the musical scene in Cornwall for his remaining years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780859893596
Publisher:	University of Exeter Press
Publication date:	05/31/1991
Series:	South-West Studies
Edition description:	1
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Dr Richard McGrady moved to Cornwall in 1973 to become music lecturer in the Department of Extra Mural Studies of the University of Exeter; he is currently Assistant Director of the Department of Continuing and Adult Education of the University.

Table of Contents

Foreword, vii
Prologue The Native of Portugal, 1
PART ONE: 1775-1799
1 The Slave: Portugal and the Guinea Coast, 15
2 The Indefatigable, 23
PART TWO: CORNWALL 1799-1835
3 New Life: Falmouth, 39
4 A 'display of Beauty, Rank and Fashion': Cornwall's First Music Festivals, 48
5 Truro: Assemblies, Balls and Concerts, 63
6 'So innocent yet so fascinating an amusement...': Concerts across the County, 77
PART THREE: CHURCH AND CHAPEL
7 'A strain so grand and impressive': The Church and its Music, 89
8 Bennett Swaffield and the St. Austell Choir, 103
9 'None but persons of ability and good moral conduct need apply': Organs and organists, 109
PART FOUR: THE THEATRE
10 'A moral and instructive school of rational entertainment': The Theatre, 127
Epilogue The Lost Composer, 143. Appendix A The Byfield Organ in St. Mary's Parish Church, Truro, 150
Appendix B Composers mentioned in concert reports, 152
Notes, 156
Select Bibliography, 162
Index, 165.