Reuben J.
Munson, Jr.
(1806-1879) is first listed in the New York city directory of 1826 as a
grocer,
later as a professor of music. Principally
a hornist – in 1832, Munson played horn in the
Montresor
opera orchestra – he frequently sang with the Sacred Music Society and
with
other sacred music groups, and was an “excellent” organist and a
“reputable”
piano teacher besides. Munson was
an original member of the New-York Philharmonic Society, being listed
as a horn
player.
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 74 n23]
Munson played
with the
New York Philharmonic from 1842-56.
[NY
Philharmonic
Archives, 1842-1928]
The orchestra
members
[at Niblo’s] totaling more than fourteen were listed in the Evening
Post
(July 8, 1836). W. Nidds
and Reuben Munson (horn).
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 34 n3]
May 24, 1839
“Union
Concert”, in orchestra, Munson (French
horn)
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 53]
April 30, 1840
“…After
dinner [Strong] went to Erben’s to hear the Utica organ exhibited. Some
good
voluntaries from Hodges, Harrison, Munson, and others. There was a fair
audience assembled.
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 34]
February 22,
1841,
concert at Broadway Tabernacle: With the exception of the C.E. Horns and Reuben Munson, who contributed a French
horn obligato for Mrs. C. E. Horn’s
solo, “Thy Mercies, Lord, shall be my song” (composed by her husband),
the
distinguished performers at this sacred concert were all members of the
concert
company appearing at Niblo’s popular series of Concerts
d’hiver à la Musard.
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 111]
Sacred music
concert at
St. Patrick’s Cathedral on April 17 [1842] Woehning and Marshal
(horns),
Munson, vocal (Herald, April 17,
1842)
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 168]
January 29,
1845. The
Euterpean Society’s concert. The two movements of the Hummel Septet
were
superbly played by … Munson (horn). (Anglo
American, February 1, 1845, p. 358 and Evening
Mirror, February 8 , 1845, Broadway
Journal,February 8, 1845)
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. I, 292]
Ruben Munson
is vocal
soloist on June 20, 1853 in performance of The
Creation. (Tribune, June 21,
1853)
[Lawrence, Strong on Music, vol. II, 431 n160;
other references as singer: 30, 50, 109, 135, 149, 168, 237—38,
291, 349,
367]