Henry C. Watson

Biography

Born in London on November 4, 1818, Watson appeared at Covent Garden singing a 'fairy' role in 'Oberon' at age nine. He emigrated to New York in 1841, welcomed by William Cullen Bryant, Horace Greeley, and others, and became musical critic for Greeley's 'New World.' He helped publish the 'Broadway Journal,' enlisting Edgar Allan Poe as editor, and in 1843 founded his own 'Musical Chronicle,' securing the support of piano manufacturers such as Jonas Chickering, thereby becoming the founder of piano-trade journalism in America. He renamed the paper successively 'Musical Times,' 'Philharmonic Journal,' and finally 'The American Art Journal.' He also wrote lyrics and composed songs, served as musical critic of the 'New York Tribune,' and was editor-in-chief of 'Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.' He was a founder of the Philharmonic Society and organized the Mendelssohn Union of New York. He died December 4, 1875, at age 57; his 'American Art Journal' was carried on by his pupil, William M. Thoms. From Spillane (1890): Henry C. Watson was an English-born musical critic, editor, composer, and librettist who became one of the most influential early figures linking American musical journalism to the piano trade. Born in London on November 4, 1818, to a chorus master at Covent Garden, he was a celebrated boy soprano who debuted at Covent Garden around age nine or ten in "Oberon." After losing his voice at seventeen he turned to composition and literature, emigrating to New York in 1841 with introductions to figures such as Bryant, George P. Morris, Parke Benjamin, and Horace Greeley. He first worked as musical critic of the New World under Benjamin and Greeley, then edited or founded a succession of musical papers beginning with the Musical Chronicle (1843), followed by the American Musical Times, Watson's Philharmonic Journal, and the American Art Journal (founded 1863), later continued by his protégé William M. Thoms. He also served as critic for the New York Tribune (1863-1866) and was the first editor-in-chief of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. A founder of the Philharmonic Society and organizer of the Mendelssohn Union and its memorial concert at Castle Garden, he wrote the libretto for Wallace's opera "Lurline" and published roughly three hundred songs and piano pieces. He died December 4, 1875, after thirty-four years in the United States. Watson is named as one of the distinguished persons on the New York Mechanics' Institute committee of 1853 that awarded a gold medal to a Hallet, Davis & Company grand piano, elicited warm commendation from the judges. The text notes explicitly that Watson's portrait appears among the illustrations of the volume, alongside fellow committee member W. Vincent Wallace, the Irish composer.

Highlights

• Founder of American piano-trade journalism via his 'Musical Chronicle' (1843)
• As a child performed at Covent Garden in 'Oberon'; enlisted Edgar Allan Poe as editor of the 'Broadway Journal'
• Co-founder of the Philharmonic Society and organizer of the Mendelssohn Union of New York
• Founder of the American Art Journal.
• Eulogized by successor W. M. Thoms as an artist, poet, and man of affairs devoted to the welfare of others.
• Served on the 1853 New York Mechanics' Institute committee that awarded Hallet, Davis & Company's grand piano the gold medal
• A portrait of Watson appears elsewhere in this volume, per the text's own note
• Founded the American Art Journal in 1863, still published at time of writing under his protégé William M. Thoms
• First editor-in-chief of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
• Wrote the libretto for Wallace's opera "Lurline" and organized the Mendelssohn Memorial Concert at Castle Garden, attended by over sixteen thousand people

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911).

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 170, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350.

Public domain.