Frank Lewis Moir.
Frank L. Moir.
From a Photo. by Barraud.
Mr. Moir was born at Market Harborough, and, having lost his father, who was an artist, before he was three years old, received his first musical teaching from his mother, but was educated at the South Kensington School of Art to follow the profession of his father. But the boy was a born musician, and, having in 1880 gained an open scholarship at the National Training School of Music over the heads of forty competitors, he decided to pursue the course to which his natural genius clearly summoned him, and to follow music as a profession. His work brought him under the notice of Mr. John Boosey, by whom he was engaged for a term of years to write only for his firm. Among the songs written during that period was "Only Once More," one of the most popular songs ever produced by any composer. To mention his later songs would be superfluous; there are works amongst them which are household words in every home where music is loved. Our readers need not be reminded of Mr. Moir's song, "The Winding Walk," which appeared in our No. of December last.
Lawrence Kellie.
Lawrence Kellie.
From a Photo. by Window & Grove.
Mr. Lawrence Kellie was born in the neighbourhood of Maida Vale. He was articled as a solicitor's clerk for five years, but after the expiration of two, he abandoned law for music, which he felt was the true bent of his future career. At the early age of four, he used to extemporise, and at fifteen published his first piece, a gavotte for the piano, under a nom de plume. One year after giving up the law he entered into a contract with Metzler & Co. to write for them for three years. This agreement was renewed for another three years, and terminated last Christmas. During that period he has attained well-deserved popularity with several compositions—"Douglas Gordon," "Sleeping Tide," "You ask me why I love," "An Autumn Story," and "A Winter Love Song," being his chief successes. He creates all his own songs in the series of recitals which he gives in London and the provinces. Mr. Kellie has a select school of followers, and his recitals at Steinway Hall are always attended by a fashionable throng; his compositions have a very marked individuality, and in his rendering of a song he very happily defines the kinship between recitation and singing.
