Mr. Nicolas and Mr. Nicolas, Jun., presumably father and son, were multi-talented musicians performing in New York at the turn of the nineteenth century. They apparently immigrated from France around 1798 and were prominent in the French musical community. The only indication of a first name that has been found is on a concert announcement hosted on their own behalf in 1804. On that occasion "Mr. B. Nicholas " [sic] (probably Junior) is listed as the composer of a Sonata for Harp. Both were proficient on the violin and horn, while Junior also played the cello, and was a composer, conductor, and on at least one occasion appeared as a vocalist. Junior is found on only once playing the horn (February, 1802), while his father performed on it on numerous occasions. It appears that the elder Mr. Nicolas passed away sometime in 1805, since a concert in January was hosted by both, but by the end of the year and thereafter only one of them (presumably Junior) is mentioned. He remained in New York until 1818 at which time he presented a concert in Norfolk, Virginia. By 1821 he had moved on to Charleston, South Carolina where it seems he remained until the end of his life sometime after 1826.

In the summer of 1801 clarinetist Auguste Gautier announced that he would present a "Grand Concert... to gratify the curiosity of several Amateurs, who have expressed a desire of hearing him." The concert was to be held at Joseph Corré's Mount Vernon Garden on Leonard Street, New York.¹ The program featured a Solo on the French Horn by Mr. Nicolas (see program at right). The date was originally set for June 2, but due to inclement weather at the open-air venue, it was held the following week on June 9, 1801.


The New York Mercantile Advertiser, June 5, 1801

The following week on June 17, M. Gautier, "in order to comply with the request of many ladies who were prevented, on account of the coolness of the open air, on the evening of his concert at Mr. Corres's Garden" again offered a "brilliant concert" at the "Theatre of this city." M. Nicoles [sic] was included once again among the twenty-five performers, playing a "Concerto on the Horn." The program began with the overture La Chasse du Jeune Henri by Étienne Nicolas Méhul, which features four horns playing hunting calls and portraying yelping dogs.²

Six months later, the talented Mr. Nicolas (listed as Nicolai) appeared on Mr. C.H. Gilfert's Grand Concert and Ball concert and ball at Old Assembly Room on William Street, New York (see advertisement, below). On this occasion Mr. Nicolas performed a Concerto for Horn.

The New York Evening Post, January 9, 1802

The first appearances in the United States of Messrs. Nicolas that have been found occurred in 1798. Mr. Nicolas (probably Sr. as violinist) was included in the announcement on February 12, 1798 by John Christopher Moller of a series of subscription concerts. Mr. Moller promised to introduce part of Handel's oratorio Messiah, however, even in the first notice it was stated that the first concert was "unavoidably postponed." The same ad ran for a month and a half ending on March 14 with no concert ever given. Nevertheless, the announced program included a Concertante with Messrs. Nicolas and Averdile [sic, probably violinist George Everdell]. In the same month, M. Nicolas' name appeared in an announcement in Gazette Francaise (see at right), not as a performer, but as the composer of a "Quatour de Cor", probably for horn and strings. The horn player was a Mr. Libiwiski (probably Levischesky) who was then active in New York.

On Mr. Raphel's Concert on May 22 of the same year, Mr. Nicolas appeared once again as violinist in a Concertante with Mr. Terrier and others. On the same program Mr. Nicolas, Jun. played a concerto on the violincello. For Madame De Seze's Concert & Ball given at the City Tavern on Broadway on December 11, Mr. Nicolas performed a Concerto on the violin, and Madame De Seze played "Variations on the piano forte, with accompaniments on violin and violincello" [sic] with Messrs. Nicolas. The following year on June 8, 1799 Mr. Nicolas appeared at Ranelagh Garden with a Concerto for Violin.

With the turn of the century, Messrs. Nicolas began producing concerts on their own behalf. On February 24, 1801 their concert was held in the Tea Room of the City Hotel on Broadway. Mr. Nicholas, jun. conducted the Overture, perhaps of his own composition, and performed a concerto on the violoncello. Mr. Nicholas, sr. played a concerto on the violin. Other soloists were vocalists Madame De Seze and Mr. Hodgkinson, and clarinetist Mr. Henry. Two weeks later on March 10 they presented an altogether similar program at the same location and with the same soloists. These concerts were followed by the appearances for Mr. Gautier in June and July, and then Mr. Gilfert's concert in January of 1802, all described above.

On February 2, 1802, a month after Mr. Gilfert's concert, the talented Mr. Nicolas (or Nicholas) and his equally talented son held a concert and ball on their own behalf at Mr. Adams' Hotel on William Street (see advertisement, below). On this occasion Mr. Nicolas, Sr. performed on the violin, while Junior played the horn and cello, and also included one of his compositions. Also performing were popular vocal soloists, Madame Deseze [sic, De Seze] and Mr. Jefferson (see advertisement at right). On March 23, Mr. Nicolas, Jun. played a Concerto for cello on James Hewitt's Concert, and again in December on Madam and Miss De Seze's Concert and Ball.

It appears that 1803 was a slow year for concerts in New York. Of the few found, only the Philharmonic Society's Annual Concert on December 23, included Mr. Nicolas, Jun. Playing a Concerto for cello.

In February, 1804, James Hewitt announced a series of "Professional Concerts" with some of the best performers in New York to be held at Mechanic Hall on Broadway. The first of these took place on February 15, and included a cell concerto played by Mr. Nicholas [sic] (probably Jun. since Sr. has not been obeserved playing the cello). For the second concert of the series on March 6, Mr. Nicholas took part in a Concertante for Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Violoncello, and Bassoon, once again playing the cello.After the announcement of the second concert, which included a clarinet concerto "By an Amateur", the Morning Chronicle opined: "It appears from the advertisement of the Professional Concert for Tuesday next, that a coalition has taken place between the amateurs and professors of music who have lately exhibited. We find the name of Madam de Seze,³ among the announcements for the evening. The attendance will, it is expected, be brilliant and fashionable." On the third concert Mr. Nicholas (either Sr. or Jun.) played a Concerto for Violin.

Two months later, on May 8, Messrs. Nicolas presented their next Concert and Ball featuring vocalist, Madame Purch, however on this occasion made no solo appearances themselves. A Sonata for the Harp, composed by Mr. B. Nicolas, was performed by Madame Bazainville. The Morning Chronicle expected it to be "brilliant and fashionable" and anticipated that it would be attended by Jerome and Madame Bonaparte⁴ with their suite of ladies and gentlemen. The next day Evening Post reported that it "heard it repeatedly this morning, that Madam Purch excited great admiration...by the power of her voice, and uncommon skill in her execution", however nothing was said of the attendance of M. Bonaparte.

On June 7, 1804 James Hewitt held aconcert at Corre's Columbia Gardens that included a "Quartello for French Horn &c" with Messrs. Dupries [sic, Dupuis], Hewitt, Nicolas, and Nicolas, jun. The horn player for this performance was no doubt M. Dupuis,⁵ with Messrs. Nicolas playing violin and cello. On September 12, M. Nicolas, jun. appeared on a concert by popular vocalist, Mrs. Oldmixon, on which he played one of the twenty-nine violin concertos of Giovanni Battista Viotti. For the Mr. Disabaye's concert on Novembr 27, Mr. Nicholas (probably Sr.) performed in "A favorite Trio for the Piano" with Messrs. Disabaye (piano) and Hewitt (violin).

The new year of 1805 brought a concert by Messrs. Nicholas on their own behalf on January 15 (see advertisement at right). On this occasion, father and son performed a "Concertante for Violin and French Horn" of their own composition. (It was stated who played which instrument.) "The celebrated" Mr. Nicolas, jun.played a Violin Concerto "in the new style" by Pierre Rode and also his own "Variations for Violin." A month later, on February 20, Mr. Nicola [sic] played a violin concerto on Mrs. Bazainville's concert in the Tea Room of the City Hotel on Broadway. No other performances have been found for either Mr. Nicolas, Sr. or Jr. until late in the year. On November 26, Mr. Nicolas hosted a concert on which he played "Viotti's Concerto for the Violin." This concert is significant in that it is the first appearance of Mr. Nicolas (jun) on his own behalf without his father, from which it might be inferred that the latter has passed away. The Concert and Ball were originally announced to be held at Mechanic Hall, Broadway, however Mr. Nicolas engaged the large Assembly Room at the City Hotel on Broadway "in consequence of the attendance of General Moreau." From this point on it appears that Mr. Nicolas, jun. no longer performed on either the horn or cello. In a concert announcement a year later he mentions that he "continues to teach music, violin and the French Language, Translations in French and English will be done with accuracy and dispatch."

Mr. Nicolas' remaining appearances are listed in the table, below. None of them includes performances by him on the cello or horn. In 1818 he appeared in Norfolk, Virginia with a concert on his own behalf, on which he performed as a vocalist (first time?), violinist, and was a featured composer. On that same occasion he announced for sale "an old and excellent violin." On May 3, 1821 in Charleston, South Carolina he made what appears to be his final public performance, playing a Concerto on the Violin. This was perhaps a special benefit on his behalf, as the announcement stated "The Orchestra will be numerous, as most of the Professors and several Amateurs have volunteered their services." The last reference found to Mr. Nicolas, jun. is for a concert on July 14, 1826 in Charleston to the "aid of sufferers of the late fire." He is not indicated as a performer, however two of his Minuettos for Full Band were performed.