Arthur Cyril Gordon Weld

Background

Arthur Cyril Gordon Weld was born at Jamaica Plain, Massachussets, the son of Stephen Minot Weld and his second wife, Georgianna Hallet. He was a descendant of Thomas Weld.

Education

After attending Harvard University he went abroad in 1879 to study music. He remained in Europe until 1887, studied composition and orchestration with Becker, Foerster, and Von Comiar-Fiedlitz at Dresden, and with Neumann at Berlin. He was graduated with high honors from the Conservatory of Music in Munich where he was a pupil of Rheinberger, Abel, and Levi.

Career

During the years in Munich he composed a number of works in the larger forms which were publicly performed in that city. These included a string quartet in C (1885), of which one movement was played in America by the Kneisel Quartet in 1890; a "Romanza" for small orchestra (1886), performed in Boston during the following year; an "Andante" and "Scherzo" for septet (1886); and an orchestral suite, "Italia" (1887), which was subsequently presented at the Worcester Festival (1888) and by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1890). Other works from this period include a composition for soli, double quartet, chorus, and orchestra, "Benedictus Dominus Israel"; an "Ode in Time of Peace" for double quartet and organ; four madrigals; and many other songs. After his return to America Weld lived for a time in Milwaukee, Wis. , where he was active as a dramatic critic and conductor of an orchestra. Later he came to New York City to work in a field in which he achieved his greatest distinction, as a conductor of musical comedies and composer of incidental music for the theatre. In November 1900 he conducted the first production of "Florodora, " and became general musical director for the productions of Henry W. Savage. In 1913 he went to London to conduct performances of the musical comedy "Adele, " and in the following year he became personal representative for James K. Hackett. He arranged the music for Hackett's performance of Othello, and took charge of the musical features of all his plays. He met his death this same year. While driving his automobile in the neighborhood of West Point, N. Y. , he was stricken with apoplexy, and died almost immediately.

Achievements

• In capacity of general musical director for the productions of Henry W. Savage he was well known in theatrical circles, and was made a member of the House Committee of the Lambs' Club, in New York.

Personality

Weld was a colorful person whose presence lent distinction to many gatherings. According to his obituary notice in the New York Times, he was a "striking looking man and was a commanding figure in the orchestra pit. " He always wore a monocle.

Connections

He was married three times. His third wife, Claudia Clarke, a musical comedy actress, was with him in the car. He had three daughters by his first wife.

Father:

Stephen Minot Weld

Mother:

Georgianna Hallet

Spouse:

Claudia Clarke