from the year 1738, when he wrote the music to Milton's 'Comus,' until shortly before his death in 1778, produced a large number of operas and operettas. In 1806 one of Sir Henry Bishop's first works, a pantomime-ballet called 'Caractacus,' was brought out at Drury Lane. But Bishop, after the burning of the theatre in 1809, accepted an engagement at Covent Garden, where most of his operas and musical dramas were performed. Meanwhile foreign operas as arranged or disarranged for the English stage by Mr. Rophino Lacy, Mr. Tom Cooke, and others, were from time to time performed at Drury Lane; and in 1833, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Bunn, some English versions of Italian operas were produced with the world-renowned prima donna, Marietta Malibran, in the principal parts. Drury Lane was the last theatre at which she sang. [Malibran.] A few years later Mr. Bunn made a praiseworthy but not permanently successful attempt to establish English opera at this theatre. During this period Balfe's 'Bohemian Girl,' 'Daughter of St. Mark,' 'Enchantress,' 'Bondman,' etc.; Wallace's 'Maritana' and 'Matilda of Hungary,' Benedict's 'Crusaders' and 'Brides of Venice,' were brought out at Drury Lane, for which theatre they had all been specially written. When Her Majesty's Theatre was burnt down (Dec. 6, 1867), Mr. Mapleson took Drury Lane for a series of summer seasons. In 1869 [App. p.618 "1870"] the performances took place under the management of Mr. George Wood (of the firm of Cramer, Wood, and Co.), who among other new works produced Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman'—the first of Herr Wagner's operas performed in England. Until 1877 'Her Majesty's Opera,' as the establishment transferred from Her Majesty's Theatre was called, remained at Drury Lane. In 1877, however, Mr. Mapleson returned to tho Haymarket; and his company now performs at the theatre rebuilt on the site of 'Her Majesty's.'
DUBOURG, George, a grandson of Matthew Dubourg, born 1799, is author of a history of the violin and the most celebrated performers on it, originally published in 1836, and which in 1878 reached a fifth edition. [App. p.619 "he died at Maidenhead, April 17, 1882."]
DUBOURG, Matthew, an eminent English violinist, pupil of Geminiani, born in London 1703. It is reported that he first appeared as a boy at one of the concerts of Britton the small-coal man, when he performed a solo of Corelli with great success, standing on a high stool. In 1728 he was appointed to succeed Cousser as conductor of the Viceroy's band at Dublin, in which capacity he set many odes for the celebration of royal birthdays. During his residence there he led the band at the performances given by Handel during his visit to Ireland in 1741, and then had the distinction of assisting at the first performance of the 'Messiah.' Later he returned to London, and in 1752 succeeded Festing as master of the King's band, which post he retained up to his death in 1767. He lies in Paddington churchyard. Dubourg appears to have been a brilliant performer and fond of showing off his skill. Burney relates that on one occasion he introduced a cadenza of extraordinary length into the ritornelle of an air. When at last he finished up, Handel, who was conducting, exclaimed: 'Welcome home, Mr. Dubourg.'
DUCIS, or HERTOGHS,[1] Benedictus, a Flemish musician in the early part of the 16th century, organist of the Lady Chapel in the cathedral at Antwerp, and 'Prince de la Gilde' in the brotherhood of St. Luke in that city. He left Antwerp in 1515, and is supposed to have come to England, perhaps to the court of Henry VIII, but as his name does not appear in the lists of court musicians at that time, and no manuscript compositions of his have been found in this country, it appears that his residence here must have been very short, if not altogether mythical. His elegy on the death of Josquin (1531), and another on the death of Erasmus (1536) fix two more dates in his life. After that no more is known of him. Some German historians have claimed him as a countryman on the strength of the publication and dedication of a setting of the Odes of Horace (published at Ulm in 1539, and dedicated to the youths of that city), maintaining that this proves his residence in that city, but the dedication was more probably the work of the publisher than of the composer. His connection with Antwerp, mentioned above, was discovered not many years ago, by M. Leon de Burbure, and certainly outweighs anything said in favour of his being a German; while the internal evidence of his compositions, which bear the decided Flemish character, and very closely approach the style of Josquin, sets the matter entirely at rest.
We have the following compositions of his:—(1) A 4-part 'monody' on the death of Josquin, in the 7th set of French chansons in 5 and 6 parts printed by Tylman Susato in 1545. A copy of the book is in the British Museum. The composition itself is printed in Burney's History (ii. 513), with critical remarks. There are also several songs by Ducis in former volumes of the same work. (2) Another elegy in 5 parts, 'Plangite Pierides,' on the death of Erasmus, and an 8-part 'Agnus Dei,' both from the 'Selectissimæ nec non familiarissimæ cantiones ultra centum' (Augsburg 1540). (3) Songs in the collection of German songs made by Forster and printed by Petreius (Nuremberg 1539–1540). (4) A motet, 'Peccantem me quotidie,' from the 'Cantiones octo … vocum' printed by Uhlard (Augsburg 1545). 'No wonder,' says Ambros, speaking of this motet, 'that historians have striven to prove such a composer their countryman.' (5) A motet, 'Dum fabricator mundi supplicium,' from Rhau's 'Selectæ Harmoniæ … de Passione Domini' (Wittenberg 1538). (6) Two 5-part motets, 'Benedie Domine,' and 'Corde et amino,' from Kriesstein's 'Cantiones sex et quinque vocum etc.' (Augsburg 1545).
- ↑ Benedictus Ducis, who is often called by his first name alone, must not be confounded with Benedictus Appenzelders, a Swiss musician who lived in Belgium, but of later date and less genius.
