Eliza Wesley
Eliza Welsey (1819-1895), born to Samuel Wesley and Sarah Suter was an organist and music editor. Her mother was Samuel Wesley's second wife. Eliza is the grand-daughter to Charles Wesley, grand-niece of John Wesley, and sister to Samuel Sebastian Wesley(1810-1876)[1]. She lived to the age of 76.
Eliza Wesley worked as the organist at St Katherine Coleman's, Fenchurch Street (The Musical Herald, 181) and St Margaret Pattens Rd Lane (Musical News Vol 8, Iss.221 1895: 483).
Throughout her life, Eliza Wesley advocated for her father's musical legacy to receive public recognition (Musical News Vol 2, Iss55 1892: 265).
The publication of Letters of Samuel Wesley to Mr. Jacobs, Organist of Surrey Chapel, Relating to the Introduction into This Country of the Works of John Sebastian Bach Edited by His Daughter Eliza Wesley (London: William Reeves) in 1875 was seen as a crucial influence in making Bach's music more widely known at the time[2].
Eliza Wesley indexed her father's musical repertoire for Sir George Grove's "Dictionary of Music" (Vol IV, 483).
Eliza Welsey's autograph album of notable persons of her time, such as Dickens, Macready, Garibaldi and Mendelssohn[3], is now available at the British Museum (The Musical Herald: Jun 1, 1895; pg.181).
Her Obituaries emphasize her strong role in publishing through regular contributions to musical periodicals and her connection with other organists and musicians of her time. (Musical News, Vol 8; The Musical Herald, 181).
She is laid to rest at Highgate Cemetary.
Works edited by Eliza Wesley
Wesley, Samuel. Letters of Samuel Wesley to Mr. Jacobs ... Relating to the Introduction into This Country of the Works of John Sebastian Bach. Edited by ... Eliza Wesley. London ; Hinrichsen Edition, 1958. Print.
Wesley, Samuel, and Eliza Wesley. “A Selection of Pianoforte Works, edited ... by ... E. Wesley.” 1890: n. pag. Print.
Wesley, Samuel, and Eliza Wesley. “Pianoforte Works by S. Wesley. Edited and fingered by his daughter, Eliza Wesley. 1. March in B flat ... 2. The Christmas Carol, varied as a Rondo. 3. A Sonata ... 4. Polacca in G. ... 5. Sonata in C (posthumous). no. 3.” 1880: n. pag. Print.
Sources
- Comments on events. (1892/03/18/). Musical News, 2(55), 265-267. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-periodicals/comments-on-events/docview/7430807/se-2
- Advertisement. (1895/05/25/). Musical News, 8(221), 477-483. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-periodicals/advertisement/docview/7252022/se-2
- Miss Eliza Welsey. (1895, June 1). The Musical Herald, 181. Edwards, F. G. (ed.).
- Sladen, S. (Rev), “Eliza Wesley.” Notes and queries 4.104 (1911): 508 (23 December). DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s11-IV.104.508f
- Grove, George (1928). Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Third Edition. Ed. by H. C. Colles, London: Macmillan.
- Adams, Thomas (1836-1850). Letter to Eliza Wesley. The National Archives. (Link to Record)
References
- ^ Schwarz, John I. (1973). "Samuel and Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the English "Doppelmeister"". The Musical Quarterly. 59 (2): 190–206. ISSN 0027-4631.
- ^ Regan, Leslie (1958). "Review of Christian Praise". The Musical Times. 99 (1387): 504–504. doi:10.2307/936863. ISSN 0027-4666.
- ^ E., F. G. (1896). "Bach and Wesley. An Interesting Bequest". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 37 (636): 88–89. ISSN 0958-8434.