Walter F. Craig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter F Craig
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Craig in 1909
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| Born | December 20, 1854 Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | February 8, 1933 (aged 78) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Musician |
| Spouse(s) | Bertie Toney-Craig |
Walter F. Craig (born December 20, 1854 – died February 8, 1933) was a very talented musician. He was a solo violin player and led his own orchestra in New York City. His amazing music career began in 1870 and lasted all the way into the 1930s. Walter Craig was famous for playing classical music beautifully. But he was also super popular for making music that people loved to dance to!
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Walter Craig's Early Life
Walter F. Craig was born in Princeton, New Jersey, on December 20, 1854. His parents were Charles A. and Sarah E. Craig. In 1861, when he was seven years old, his family moved to New York City.
Young Walter went to a school called Colored School No. 4. He studied there under a teacher named Mrs. Sarah J. Garnet. He finished school in 1869. Just a year before, in 1868, he started learning to play the violin. He must have been a quick learner!
First Concert and Music Teachers
Walter Craig held his very first public concert in 1870. This special event took place at a famous hall called Cooper Union in New York. He learned music from some great teachers. These included Hermon Troste, Edward Mollenhauer, and Carl Christian Muller.
Walter Craig's Music Career
Walter Craig's music career quickly became very successful. In 1872, he started his own group called "Craig's Orchestra." This orchestra became well-known and traveled to many places. Walter Craig also became famous around the world as a solo violin player.
Working with Famous Singers
As a musician, Walter Craig worked with many important singers. He played with talented women like Madame Selika, Nelly Brown Mitchell, Adelaide G. Smith, Flora Batson, Emma Azalia Hackley, and Sissieretta Jones. He also performed with male singers such as L. L. Brown, William I. Powell, Thomas Chestnut, and Harry Burleigh.
Leading the Way in Music
Walter Craig also wrote his own music, which was very popular. He became the concert master at the Mendellsohn School of Music. This was a big deal! He was also the first black conductor to join the Musical Mutual Protective Union in New York City. This union was a group for musicians.
For a while, more than half of Craig's orchestra members were white. The union was sometimes criticized because it didn't support Craig as much as he supported them. This was because Craig was black. By 1887, his orchestra had grown to include 75 musicians! In 1893, he was chosen to be a member of the Antonín Dvořák-led National Conservatory of Music of America.
Later in his career, Craig became known for helping other African American musicians get noticed. For example, in January 1915, he featured Roland Hayes in his first big shows in New York. This helped Hayes become famous.
Popular Annual Concerts
Walter Craig was famous for holding several yearly music concerts. His first annual Christmas party happened in 1880. These popular events continued into the early 1900s. Also in 1880, he started his first Annual May Festival, which also continued for many years.
Perhaps his most well-known yearly concert was his pre-Lenten reception. This event took place at Palm Garden in New York and continued into the 1910s.
Craig's Musical Impact
Walter Craig was one of the best musicians among African Americans and in New York City. He was known for playing classical music with "exceptional feeling and fidelity." This means he played it with great emotion and accuracy. His work helped shape what African Americans in New York City liked in music.
But his skills were not just for classical music. His orchestra was also in high demand for dance parties. People loved to dance to the music played by Craig's Orchestra!
Family and Later Life
Walter Craig married Bertie Toney-Craig. They had two children together. Sadly, Bertie passed away on May 16, 1919. Later in his life, Walter Craig taught others how to play the violin. He died around February 8, 1933, at his home in Brooklyn, New York.
Walter Craig's Compositions
Here are some of the musical pieces Walter Craig wrote:
- Selika Galop – He dedicated this piece to Madame Selika.
- Arneaux March – He wrote this march for the plays of John A. Arneaux.
- Excelsior – This was a grand march.
