Autograph Text of a Speech to be given at his 100th Birthday Banquet

Original autograph speech in the hand of the important Spanish singer and vocal pedagogue, apparently written to be given at a banquet in honor of his 100th birthday on March 17, 1905. Garcia thanks the attendees of the banquet for "the honor that has been conferred upon me," continuing: "I see a generous encouragement addressed by one of the leaders of modern thought to an artist who has striven to cast upon his studies the light of science." He mentions his work with the laryngoscope, before thanking the committee for a gift. (Full text below.) Undated. 2 pp. of a bifolium, identified with a note in pencil in another hand (likely that of Garcia's friend and colleague, Herman Klein) along the left side of the first page. Overall toning, some light smudges and soiling; overall very good. 6.5 x 8 inches (16.3 x 20.4 cm).

Text, in full: "Mr. Chairman, Ladies & Gentlemen, In rising to offer you my thanks for the honour that has been conferred upon me, you will easily understand my embarrassment. The task of replying to eloquence like that we have just heard, would be difficult even for an accomplished orator, what would it be if in replying he had to answer words of personal praise! In this most flattering appreciation of any feeble service which I may have rendered, I see a generous encouragement addressed by one of the leaders of modern thought to an artist who has striven to cast upon his studies the light of science. The instrument which has caused this manifestation owes its existence to the difficulties which constantly beset me in my teaching. The idea of examining the interior of the larynx with a mirror during the act of singing had often presented itself to me, but was always rejected as I believed it to be impracticable. Your gift is splendid, and it will become a treasure to my family. The memory of the manner & the words with which it has been offered, will remain my own peculiar treasure, one I would not barter for any grace the world powers could bestow."

Interestingly, the text of this speech does not at all correlate with the toast printed in Malcolm Sterling Mackinlay's account of García's 100th birthday (Garcia the Centenarian and his Times: Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science, 1908; pp. 314–317). It is possible that the present speech may have been intended for another occasion.

The Spanish baritone and vocal pedagogue Manuel García (1805–1906), son of Manuel Garcia I and brother of Maria Malibran and Pauline Garcia Viardot, spent the earlier part of his career teaching voice in Paris and the latter half of his life in London, where he taught at the Royal Academy of Music. An important pioneer in understanding the physiological processes of singing, he invented the laryngoscope in 1854 (without apparently anticipating its value to medicine). His 1840 treatise L'Art du Chant remains an important source for vocal pedagogy. His students and disciples included Jenny Lind, Christina Nilsson, Henry Wood, Mathilde Marchesi, and many other opera and stage stars of the late-nineteenth century.  

From the collection of Herman Klein, a friend and colleague of Manuel Garcia who edited his publication Hints on Singing (1894).  (15562)

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Autograph Document

Classical Music

Opera

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