Gustav Albert Lortzing was a German composer, actor, tenor, and librettist. He was born in 1801 at Berlin and died in 1851. After working as an actor he produced his first opera 'Ali Pascha von Janina' in Muenster in 1824. Research Albert Lortzing
Gervase Elwes was an English tenor. He was born in 1866 at Billing, Northants and died in 1921 in an accident in 1921 at Boston, Massachusetts. Elwes excelled in his interpretation of the works of contemporary English composers. Research Gervase Elwes
Giulia Grisi was an Italian singer. She was born in 1811 or 1812 at Milan and died in 1869. After having studied music at Bologna, and made her debut in Rossini's Zeimira, she appeared at Milan as Norma. She acquired great celebrity at Paris, in England, and America. She subsequently married Mario, the great tenor singer. Research Giulia Grisi
John Braham was an English tenor singer. He was born in 1774 at London and died in 1856. He appeared with the greatest success on the leading stages of France, Italy, and the United States, as well as in his own country. He excelled mainly in national songs, such as The Bay of Biscay, O, and The Death of Nelson, and continued to attract large audiences even when eighty years old. Research John Braham
William Cecil, LordBurleigh, was an English statesman. He was born in 1520 at Bourne in Lincolnshire and died in 1598. He was the son of Richard Cecil, master of the robes to Henry VIII. He studied at St John's College, Cambridge, whence he removed to Gray's Inn, with a view to prepare himself for the practice of the law, but an introduction to the court of Henry VIII changed his aims. On the accession of Edward VI his interests were advanced by the protectorSomerset, whom he accompanied in the expedition to Scotland. He held no public office during the reign of Mary, and by extraordinary caution managed to escape persecution. On the accession of Elizabeth he was appointed privy-councillor and secretary of state, and during all the rest of his life he was at the helm of affairs. One of the first acts of her reign was the settlement of religion, which William Cecil conducted with great skill and prudence, considering the difficulties to be encountered. The general tenor of William Cecil's policy was cautious, and rested upon an avoidance of open hostilities, and a reliance on secret negotiation and intrigues with opposing parties in the neighbouring countries, with a view to avert the dangers which threatened his own. On the suppression of the northern rebellion in 1571 Elizabeth I raised him to the peerage by the title of BaronBurleigh. Much of the glory of the reign of Elizabeth I is due to the counsels and measures of William Cecil. Research William Cecil
In music, alto was formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor, voices; now it is the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor. Research Alto
In music, an alto clef is the counter-tenor clef, or the C clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the staff. Research Alto Clef
The banjo is a stringed musical instrument. It is an American development of African origins related to the Kora etc., but with a guitar type neck. Found with 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 or more strings, popular types are the 5 string, Tenor (4 string), Plectrum (long neck 4 string), Banjolele (Ukulele Banjo), Banjolin (Mandolin Banjo).
The banjo evolved among the negro slaves of North America and was originally a six-stringed instrument with a body like a tambourine and a neck like a guitar. The banjo is played by stopping the strings with the fingers of the left hand and twitching or striking them with the fingers of the right. The upper or octave string, however, is never stopped. Research Banjo
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Albert Lortzing
