Co., and which are very popular in both drawing-room and national school. Mr. Gatty wrote most of the lyrics of these little ditties as well as the music.
In 1868 appeared two of the most popular songs Mr. Scott Gatty has ever written, viz., "O Fair Dove, O Fond Dove," and "True till Death." Others to the number of over 200 have appeared from time to time. The best known perhaps are "Gallants of England," "One Morning, oh, so Early, "Rothesay Bay," "In a Quaint Old Village," "The Hay is i' the Mow," "Winter," "When Harvest Came Again," "When Love was a Little Boy." humorous songs have also been very popular, such as "Three Little Pigs," "Camomile Tea," "Dear Aunt Jane," "Who do you Think were There?" and also the well-known plantation songs. Amongst his latest songs are "The Waves Answer" and "Love Built his Nest," published by Moccatta, Berners-street, words by George Arthur Binnie.
In 1880 Mr. Scott Gatty was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms of the College of Arms, and in 1886 was advanced to the office of York Herald, which appointment he still holds.
Alfred James Caldicott.
Alfred James Caldicott.
From a Photo. by Sarony, N.Y.
Mr. Caldicott was born in 1842, in the city of Worcester. At the age of ten he became a chorister in the Cathedral choir. After five years he became assistant organist at the Cathedral. In 1863 he left Worcester to go to Leipsic, to complete his studies; his masters in piano playing were Plaidy and Moscheles; in composition his tutors were Carl Reinecke and Hauptmann. He remained there for two years, returning to Worcester in 1865, and was appointed honorary organist to the Corporation. During his appointment he established the Worcester Musical Society. About this period he took the degree of Bachelor of Music at Cambridge. His first important composition was the oratorio, "The Widow of Nain," which was performed at the Worcester Triennial Festival in the year 1878, under his direction, in the Cathedral where he first received his musical education.
His first serious attempt to win the favour of a London audience occurred about 1880, by an operetta at German Reed's, entitled "Treasure Trove," which was so successful that up to the present day he has composed no less than thirteen operettas for the same place of entertainment.
The late Carl Rosa commissioned Mr. Caldicott to write two operettas, viz., "All Abroad," and "John Smith," which were produced and run successfully at the Prince of Wales's Theatre during 1889 and 1890. Just previous to his death, he had received from Mr. Carl Rosa a more important commission for Miss Agnes Huntington.
He now holds the post of music director at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, under the management of Mr. Horace Sedger. He has written about 100 songs and partsongs, the most popular of which are "Unless," and the humorous one, "Two Spoons." He has also written several cantatas for ladies' voices, the best known being "The Queen of the May," and "The Rhine Legend."
No list of popular composers would be complete without the names of Mr. Maybrick (Stephen Adams), Jacques Blumenthal, Frederick Hymen Cowen, and Miss Maude Valerie White; but as portraits of the first two of these have already appeared among our "Celebrities at Different Ages," while those of the two latter will do so shortly, we do not give them here.
