ester (Mass.) "Festivals" began, and in 1858 the Peabody
Institute concerts, in Baltimore.

In 1858 the "Mendelssohn Quintet" was formed, and for many years toured
the country giving concerts of a high standard, and doing much to raise
the level of musical taste. This organization had its beginning in
Boston, but it traveled so widely that it may be said to have belonged
to the nation.

Towards the end of this period the "Apollo Club" was organized in
Chicago, and it is today one of the most excellent clubs in America. The
following year the "Cecilia Society," in Boston, was organized and
likewise still exists and flourishes. But these are only a few.

The American composer was beginning to show himself--perhaps not yet
very brilliantly in comparison to the great men of Europe--but he was
beginning to be heard from. William H. Frye, besides his two operas,
composed several symphonies, which were played by Jullien's Band in
1853. Also a "Grand Symphony" in 1855 and "The Pilgrims' Cantata" by C.
C. Perkins, were performed in Boston, and we have record of an oratorio,
"The Cities of the Plains," by Dawley, in 1855. Apart from these efforts
the American composer seems to have been inconspicuous. In fact there
were no facilities for the study of music or for the hearing of music
which could be compared, as a training school for composers, with the
musical centres of Europe, so that the efforts of these earlier
composers may be considered, in some respects, premature, and prompted
by energy and ambition rather than by scientific preparation.

The story of grand opera of this period is one of perpetual striving for
the unattainable. In Chicago the first performance of grand opera was
given in 1850. Chicago is now a rival of New York in matters of opera.

San Francisco heard its first opera in 1853. The gold fever of 1849 drew
people of all kinds to California, and among them were musicians. Henri
Herz, the French pianist, reached California in 1849 when the excitement
was at its highest, and he gives an interesting account of his
adventures. It may also be well to mention here Signora Biscaccianti,
who went to San Francisco in 1852, and was there more or less till 1864.
Signora Biscaccianti was one of the first American singers to achieve a
measure of success in Europe. She was the daughter of a musician named
Ostinelli, was born in Boston, where she met with some success as a
singer, went to New York and thence to Europe.