19th century music — ‘Violin virtuoso’ at Glens Falls

Violinist and composer Ovide Musin was equally adept at music and pool.

“His great hobby was billiards, which he often used to assert helped develop and maintain a brilliant bow arm. He won many prizes at this sport,” The New York Times reported in a Nov. 25, 1929 obituary.

The Glens Falls Y.M.C.A. brought in “violin virtuoso” Musin and his touring musical troupe for a concert Oct. 25, 1893.

“He has attained the enviable position where criticism is disarmed and where the word master in its superlative sense crowns him with laurels which places him far above earthly potentates.”

Musin, born in Belgium, began studying violin at age 6, and at age 15 won The Paris Conservatory gold medal for solo and quartet violin playing.

He composed many violin solo compositions with accompaninment by orchestra or piano.

The scheduled starting time for the Glens Falls concert was delayed due to a busy schedule that evening at the Y on Glen Street, in the building where Spot Coffee is now located.

“The Musin concert in Ordway Hall this evening will not begin until half-past eight in order not to interfere with the attendance of the prayer meeting.”

The concert featured Musin, his wife, a vocalist, pianist Eduard Schart, and vocalists Betsie Bonsali and F.W. Elliott.

“Artistic talent always meets with a warm reception in Glens Falls, and last night was no exception to the rule,” The Morning Star reported on Oct. 26.

The intimate setting in Ordway Hall provided the feeling of a parlor concert.

In other 19th century music news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “The piano recital of Mr. C. A. Van Loon, given last Monday evening at the home of Judge Brown, was a rare treat, and the audience, comprised in large part of the most cultured musical people of Glens Falls, expressed but one opinion, that of unstinted appreciation,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Dec. 19, 1890.
• A drum corps was organized at Sandy Hill, and musicians held practice at the engine house every evening, The Morning Star reported on Nov. 15, 1893.
• “A delighted audience attended one of the most successful and enjoyable events of the season at Hotel Hudson, Fort Edward, last evening,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 24, 1893. “The occasion was a musical given by the ladies of St. James’ Church to raise money to pay for needed repairs on the organ. The attendance was very gratifying, and more than enough was realized for the purpose named.”
• “Leslie Duel has graduated from Boston Conservatory of Music and is tuning and repairing pianos in this vicinity,” the North Hebron correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on Nov. 24, 1893.
• The newly-formed Hudson Male Quartet was advertising for funeral singing “at a nominal price,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 9, 1893.

Members were Guy W. Woodford, first tenor; Harry E. Floyd, second tenor; Robert McClellan, first bass; and Earnest M. Day, second bass.

Floyd was manager.

• A.N.C. Fowler of Glens Falls, a senior at Yale, won the prize for writing the best new song lyrics for performance by the university’s glee club, The Morning Star reported on Dec. 22, 1893.
• “There are 16 choirs within the three villages of Glens Falls, Sandy Hill and Fort Edward,” The Granville Sentinel reported on March 5, 1886. “A musical association is proposed for the formation of a grand choral union in that section for the practice of classical music of the highest order.”

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