gland. His compositions were
chiefly "fuguing tunes," and he published several psalm books.

Billings was a tanner by trade, but a great musical enthusiast and
organizer. The Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society, which is the oldest
musical society still in existence, was organized by Billings. Lack of
education was no bar to his activities, and he accomplished much with
very limited means.

It is said that Billings introduced the bass viol into the services of
the Church, and thus began to break down the ancient Puritanical
prejudices against musical instruments. He was also the first to use the
pitch-pipe in order to ensure some degree of certainty in "striking up
the tune" in church.

Again, we find the first American ballad operas during this period.
Benjamin Carr, an Englishman who had been in America a couple of years,
produced in 1796 a ballad opera, "The Archers of Switzerland," and,
shortly afterwards, in the same year, with Pellesier (a Frenchman of
recent arrival) as librettist, another ballad opera, "Edwin and
Angelina," was staged in New York City. Though these works could hardly
be called distinctively American, they were the first composed and
produced in this country.

During the last decade of the 18th century some French actors and
singers invaded the country and made New Orleans their headquarters.
From that time on, for many years, New Orleans was prominent in the
production of French operas and plays.

Theatres were built in several of the larger cities, and noted singers
began to appear from abroad. The first of these appears to have been
Miss Broadhurst, who appeared in Philadelphia in 1793, at the Chestnut
Street Theatre. She was closely followed by Mrs. Oldmixon.

1750. April 30. "The Mock Doctor," and Dec. 3, "The Beggar's
Opera," given at the "Theatre in Nassau St.," New York City.
The first performances of ballad opera on record in that city.

1750. A Collegium Musicum was established about this time at
Bethlehem, Pa.

1752. Sept. 14. First record of an orchestra being employed, at a
performance of "The Beggar's Opera" at Upper Marlborough, Md.

1753. Sept. 13. The first theatre (built for the purpose) in New
York City, erected in August and opened in September with "The
Conscious Lovers" followed by the ballad farce, "Damon and
Phillida," given by Lewis Hallam's company.

1754. First concert hall in Boston opened by Gilbert Deblois, at
the