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Henry Russell | |
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| Born | (1812-12-24)24 December 1812 |
| Died | 8 December 1900(1900-12-08) (aged 87) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Signature | |
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Henry Russell (24 December 1812 or 1813 – 8 December 1900) was an English pianist, baritone singer and composer, born into a distinguished Jewish family.
Russell's career began in 1836, when at the age of 22 he traveled to the US and, in three seasons, earned no less a sum than £10,000. He subsequently lost this by investing in theUnited States Bank, which collapsed.[1]
Russell wrote the song "A Life on the Ocean Wave" and the tune toGeorge Pope Morris's poem "Woodman, Spare that Tree" while living in the US from 1836 to 1841, before settling in London to produce musical extravaganzas until he retired in 1857. Many of his songs championed social causes likeabolition,temperance, and reform ofmental asylums.
Russell was born inSheerness,Kent,[2] a great-nephew of the BritishChief RabbiSolomon Hirschel. He began his career as a child singer in Elliston's Children's Opera company. While playing the organ at thePresbyterian church inRochester, New York[2] he discovered that sacred music, played quickly, "makes the best kind of secular music".Old Hundredth, played very fast, became the music for "Get Out of de Way, Ol' Dan Tucker".
Russell's song "The Fine Old English Gentleman"[3] 1831 was parodied[4] ten years later byCharles Dickens in his identically titled song. The two men collaborated on a further two songs: "I Care Not For Spring on His Fickle Wing" from thePosthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club and the Christmas melody "The Ivy Green".[5]
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In 1841, he returned to England and performed at theHanover Square Rooms in London with instant success. Many of his songs were written to lyrics byCharles Mackay, including "There's a Good Time Coming", "Cheer, Boys, Cheer", and "To The West". TheHutchinson Family Singers were fans of Russell's work and performed several of his tunes, including "The Maniac" and "The Ship on Fire."
After retirement, he lived partly in France, partly in England. His first wife was Christian; his second wife was Jewish and their family (including their sons, conductor SirLandon Ronald and impresarioHenry Russell) were raised in the Jewish religion.
His portrait was painted by the British painterWalter Goodman and displayed in London at theInstitute of Oil Painters in 1889 and at theGrafton Galleries in 1897. TheJewish Chronicle of 21 May that year describes the painting as depicting Russell "hale and hearty with flowing beard". He died at 18 Howley Place, Maida Vale, on 8 December 1900, and his remains are interred inKensal Green Cemetery.[2]
A detailed biography,A Life on the Ocean Wave: The Story of Henry Russell byAndrew Lamb, was published by Fullers Wood Press in 2007.
