Henry Christian Timm (1811, Hamburg – 1892,
New York City)
Mr. Timm was born in Hamburg in 1811. One of his
teachers was Methfessel, composer of many popular
partsongs for men's voices, at the time conductor of a
singing society in Hamburg. He came to New York in 1835,
gave a concert in the Park Theater, and at once leaped
into public favor. From his brief memoir contributed to
Professor Ritter's book* we learn that rather than teach
he went on a concert tour in New England, which proving
unsuccessful, he became second horn in the orchestra of
the Park Theater. Next he conducted the performances of
an opera troupe which went through the South for six
months, became organist for a church in Baltimore, and
gave concerts with Signora Velane and the baritone
DeBegnis. Returned to New York, he became chorus-master
and trombone player for C. E. Horn, who was about to
open the new National Opera-House with his opera '' The
Pilgrim of Love." The theater burned down, and Mr. Timm
became organist at St. Thomas Church, and afterward at
the Unitarian Church, in which position he remained
eighteen years. Mr. Timm's extraordinary skill as a
reader prima vista, not only of pianoforte music but
also of orchestral scores, made him one of the most
useful men connected with the Philharmonic Society.
[Krehbiel, p. 52]
Timm worked in New York as a concert pianist, teacher,
organist, and chamber musician. He also helped conduct
the New York Philharmonic and served as the President of
the city's Philharmonic Society from 1847 to 1864. He
composed a Great Mass and many part songs, besides
transcribing the works of other composers into versions
for two pianos.
[see Krehbiel pp. 51-52]
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