Henry Russell (24 December 1812 or 1813 – 8 December 1900) was an English pianist, baritone singer and composer, born into a distinguished Jewish family.
Russell's career began in 1836, when at the age of 22 he traveled to the US and, in three seasons, earned no less a sum than £10,000. He subsequently lost this by investing in the United States Bank, which collapsed.[1]
Russell wrote the song "A Life on the Ocean Wave" and the tune to George Pope Morris's poem "Woodman, Spare that Tree" while living in the US from 1836 to 1841, before settling in London to produce musical extravaganzas until he retired in 1857. Many of his songs championed social causes like abolition, temperance, and reform of mental asylums.
Russell was born in Sheerness, Kent,[2] a great-nephew of the British Chief RabbiSolomon Hirschel. He began his career as a child singer in Elliston's Children's Opera company. While playing the organ at the Presbyterian church in Rochester, New York[2] he discovered that sacred music, played quickly, "makes the best kind of secular music". Old Hundredth, played very fast, became the music for "Get Out of de Way, Ol' Dan Tucker".
Russell's song "The Fine Old English Gentleman"[3] 1831 was parodied[4] ten years later by Charles Dickens in his identically titled song. The two men collaborated on a further two songs: "I Care Not For Spring on His Fickle Wing" from the Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club and the Christmas melody "The Ivy Green".[5]
In later life
In 1841, he returned to England and performed at the Hanover Square Rooms in London with instant success. Many of his songs were written to lyrics by Charles Mackay, including "There's a Good Time Coming", "Cheer, Boys, Cheer", and "To The West". The Hutchinson Family Singers were fans of Russell's work and performed several of his tunes, including "The Maniac" and "The Ship on Fire."
After retirement, he lived partly in France, partly in England. His first wife was Christian; his second wife was Jewish and their family (including their sons, conductor Sir Landon Ronald and impresario Henry Russell) were raised in the Jewish religion.
His portrait was painted by the British painter Walter Goodman and displayed in London at the Institute of Oil Painters in 1889 and at the Grafton Galleries in 1897. The Jewish Chronicle of 21 May that year describes the painting as depicting Russell "hale and hearty with flowing beard". He died at 18 Howley Place, Maida Vale, on 8 December 1900, and his remains are interred in Kensal Green Cemetery.[2]
A detailed biography, A Life on the Ocean Wave: The Story of Henry Russell by Andrew Lamb, was published by Fullers Wood Press in 2007.
^"The Fine Old English Gentleman / I'll sing you an old ballad that was made by an old pate mp3 midi free download beach motel Sechelt bed breakfast". Ingeb.org. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
^Carol Rumens (14 May 2012). "Poem of the week: The Fine Old English Gentleman by Charles Dickens". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
^Crowther, Michelle (10 July 2022). "Henry Russell". Kent Maps Online. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
henry, russell, musician, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, henry, russell, musician, news, newspapers. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Henry Russell musician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Henry Russell 24 December 1812 or 1813 8 December 1900 was an English pianist baritone singer and composer born into a distinguished Jewish family Henry RussellBorn 1812 12 24 24 December 1812SheernessDied8 December 1900 1900 12 08 aged 87 LondonNationalityEnglishOccupationComposerSignature Contents 1 Biography 2 Media 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editRussell s career began in 1836 when at the age of 22 he traveled to the US and in three seasons earned no less a sum than 10 000 He subsequently lost this by investing in the United States Bank which collapsed 1 Russell wrote the song A Life on the Ocean Wave and the tune to George Pope Morris s poem Woodman Spare that Tree while living in the US from 1836 to 1841 before settling in London to produce musical extravaganzas until he retired in 1857 Many of his songs championed social causes like abolition temperance and reform of mental asylums Russell was born in Sheerness Kent 2 a great nephew of the British Chief Rabbi Solomon Hirschel He began his career as a child singer in Elliston s Children s Opera company While playing the organ at the Presbyterian church in Rochester New York 2 he discovered that sacred music played quickly makes the best kind of secular music Old Hundredth played very fast became the music for Get Out of de Way Ol Dan Tucker Russell s song The Fine Old English Gentleman 3 1831 was parodied 4 ten years later by Charles Dickens in his identically titled song The two men collaborated on a further two songs I Care Not For Spring on His Fickle Wing from the Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club and the Christmas melody The Ivy Green 5 nbsp In later life In 1841 he returned to England and performed at the Hanover Square Rooms in London with instant success Many of his songs were written to lyrics by Charles Mackay including There s a Good Time Coming Cheer Boys Cheer and To The West The Hutchinson Family Singers were fans of Russell s work and performed several of his tunes including The Maniac and The Ship on Fire After retirement he lived partly in France partly in England His first wife was Christian his second wife was Jewish and their family including their sons conductor Sir Landon Ronald and impresario Henry Russell were raised in the Jewish religion His portrait was painted by the British painter Walter Goodman and displayed in London at the Institute of Oil Painters in 1889 and at the Grafton Galleries in 1897 The Jewish Chronicle of 21 May that year describes the painting as depicting Russell hale and hearty with flowing beard He died at 18 Howley Place Maida Vale on 8 December 1900 and his remains are interred in Kensal Green Cemetery 2 A detailed biography A Life on the Ocean Wave The Story of Henry Russell by Andrew Lamb was published by Fullers Wood Press in 2007 Media edit nbsp Woodman Spare that Tree source source Problems playing this file See media help Notes edit Sala s Journal 6 May 1893 pp 424 425 a b c Edwards 1901 The Fine Old English Gentleman I ll sing you an old ballad that was made by an old pate mp3 midi free download beach motel Sechelt bed breakfast Ingeb org Retrieved 2 April 2013 Carol Rumens 14 May 2012 Poem of the week The Fine Old English Gentleman by Charles Dickens The Guardian London Retrieved 2 April 2013 Crowther Michelle 10 July 2022 Henry Russell Kent Maps Online Retrieved 11 July 2022 References editEdwards Frederick George 1901 Russell Henry 1812 1900 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography 1st supplement London Smith Elder amp Co External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Russell musician The Music of Henry Russell Derek B Scott sings Woodman Spare That Tree Free scores by Henry Russell in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Free scores by Henry Russell at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Russell Henry Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Russell musician amp oldid 1214579503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
