Songs of ALL TIME

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 33, 27 January 1939, Page 9

Songs of ALL TIME

ATE in December, 1876, Fred Sullivan, brother of Arthur Sullivan, fell ill, and for three weeks he lingered, to die on January 18, 1877. It was at Fred’s bedside that Arthur wrote ‘‘The Lost Chord,’’ during one of the final vigils. One night-the end was not very far off then--while is sick brother Tad fo. a tim~ fallen into a peaceful sleep, and Arthur was sitting, 98 usual, by the bedside, he chancAe to come «cross some ~crses of .v.waue Proctor’s with which he had some five years previously been much struck. He had then tried t set tuem to music, but without satisfaction to himself, Now, is the stillness of the night, he read them over again, and almost as he did so, he conceived their musical equivalent. Slowly the music took shape, until, becoming quite absorbed L, it, he determine: to finish the song. Even if in the cold tight of day it was to prove worthless, it would at feast have helped to while away the hours of watching. So he worked on at it. As he progressed, he felt sure this was what he had _ sought, and failed to find on the occasion of his first attempt to set the words. In a short time it was complete and not long after in the pubjisber’s hands. Thus was written "The Lost Chord," perhaps the most successful song of modern times. Brother Who Died

The brother, who passed away during that far distant January, had seemed predestined to a career on: the stage. He had the humour of the Sullivans; he, too, was an expert musician, playing the cello. Intended and educated for the profession of an architect, he preferred to "draw houses," not in that capacity, but as an actor. It is very likely that the younger brother’s fondness for appearance in theatricals was fostered by the example of the elder. Fred had already made a big success as the jearned Judge in "Trial by Jury." Indeed, Gilbert had created the vole of Dr. Daly in 1e Sorcerer" with him in mind. Had he lived, he would doubtless have been prominently identified with the famous series of operettas that he had helped to launch. Fred Sullivan, the wag, "the life of the party" wherever he went, was loved with great fondness by his famous brother and his passing feft its mark on Arthur Sullivan, Mrs. Ronalds, a fine singer, with an amazing personality, and also a deep understanding. of musie, had ine honour of being the first to sing "The Lost Chord." She became associated with the Hmpress Bugenie’s circle at the Tuileries, where her wonderful. voice and rare beauty attracted the attention of two capitals. »These were the words she sang: ey ae

Seated one day at the organ, T was weary end iil at ease, And my fingers wander'd idly Over the noisy ieys. ‘I know not what I was playing, Or what I wes dreaming then, ‘But I struck one chord of music, Like the sound of a great Amen, It flooded the crimson twilight, Like the close of an Angel's o Psaim, And i lay .on my feverd snirit, With a touch of infinite calm. "The Lost Chord" went straight tg the hearts of the great British public, where it has remained ever since, _(BYA listeners will hear "The Lost Chord" sung by Walter Preston, baritone, on Tuesday, Jan. 31.