Jarvis, Charles H.

1837-1895

American pianist and teacher; born in Philadelphia. His father, an excellent teacher, devoted much time to instructing his son. At four years, the lad began to study piano-playing, becoming a remarkable sight reader. At seven he appeared in public at Musical Fund Hall, playing his own arrangement of Don Pasquale. He fraduated from the Philadelphia High chool at seventeen. His father died the same year, and Jarvis at once began his career as teacher, in which he made a great success, instructing in all about a thousand students. He played at the New York Philharmonic Society in 1869; with the Thomas Orchestra in 1875 and 1876, and in many other cities, but most of his work was done in Philadelphia, where, from 1862 to the time of his death, excepting about four years, he gave annually a series of classical concerts. In 1887 and 1888 he gave historical piano recitals, for which Dr. Hugh A. Clarke furnished the literary material. His compositions were few and were never published. A nocturne in D flat was printed after his death by the Philadelphia Manuscript Society. He was a representative of the best school of piano music in America and a wonderfully fine teacher. His immense library is now in the Drexel Institute, Philadelphia.