BASSINI, Carlo, musician, born in Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy, in 1812; died in Irvington, New Jersey, 26 November 1870. His parents being musicians, he was placed at an early age under the best masters in training for a violinist, and in his twentieth year had already attained to some distinction as an instrumentalist. Soon afterward he went with a Genoese operatic company to South America, and was elected director of the troupe shortly after their arrival abroad. With the money earned in South America he came to New York city and undertook to give a concert, which proved a failure and exhausted his resources. In this dilemma he set about giving lessons in vocal music, thereby relinquishing his prospects as a brilliant orchestral leader. For years he worked untiringly, often beginning at seven in the morning and working until ten at night. He had not a rich voice, but was an admirable trainer. Among his works are : "Art of Singing" (Boston, 1857) ; "Melodic Exercises" (1865); "Method for the Tenor" (1866); " Method for the Baritone" (1868); and "New Method" (1869). Some of the best of his compositions are "A te Accanto," a love song, dedicated to his wife shortly before his marriage; "O Salutaris," a prayer for a soprano voice, and " There is Light in the Sky," composed shortly before his death.