m,
Charleston, S. C.

1735. July 1.--1794. Dec. 25. James Lyon, psalmodist. Probably the
second American composer.

1736. Jan. 12. The first concert recorded in New York City, given
for the benefit of Mr. Pachelbel. (Probably not the first
concert given in that city.)

1737. First Pipe Organ completed in America, built by John Clemm,
and placed in Trinity Church, New York City. Three manuals,
twenty-six stops.

1737. Sept. 11--1791. May 9. Francis Hopkinson. The first American
poet-composer.

1742. Moravian settlement established in Bethlehem, Pa. Became
noted in musical matters.

1742. June. First Singstunde held at Bethlehem, Pa. Eighty people
present.

1743. Records of this date show that two organs existed in the
Moravian Church, Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., and that stringed
instruments were used in the services, also that instruments
(violin, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, flutes and French
horns) were played for the first time in the Moravian Church,
Bethlehem, Pa.

1745-6. The first pipe organ built in New England, in Boston, by
Edward Bromfield. Two manuals and twelve hundred pipes.
Bromfield died in 1746 before completing the instrument.

1746. Oct. 7. William Billings, First New England composer,
organizer of singing societies, etc. Billings died Sept. 29,
1800.

CHAPTER II

1750-1800

The first item of especial interest in this period is the performance of
the "Beggar's Opera" at the "Theatre in Nassau Street," New York. This
theatre was a rather tumbledown affair and was not built for the
purpose. It had a platform and rough benches. The chandelier was a
barrel hoop through which several nails were driven, and on these nails
were impaled candles, which provided all the light, and from which the
tallow was likely to drip on the heads of such of the audience as had
the best seats.

But three years later (in 1753) Lewis Hallam, who had been giving
performances with his company in the more southern States, got
permission to build a theatre on the site of this old place, and the
house was opened in September with a play, "The Conscious Lovers,"
followed by a ballad farce, "Damon and Phillida."

In 1759 we find the first avowedly musical organization in America, "The
Orpheus Club," was in existence in Philadelphia, and concerts were
becoming more frequent. We also find a St. Cecilia Society