The British Musical Biography

[E] Barnby, Sir Joseph, Kt., composer and
conductor, born in York, August 12, 1838.
Chorister in York Minster at age of seven;
began teaching when ten ; was an organist at
twelve ; and music master at a school when
fourteen. At the age of sixteen he went
to London, and entered the R.A.M., living
with his brother Robert (q-v.), a vicar-choral
of Westminster Abbey. Soon after his ap-
pointment as organist of Mitcham Parish
Church, he was called back to York, whei-e he
remained four years. Then he was organist
at St. Michael's, Queenhithe; St. James the
Less, Westminster ; and, in 1863, was appointed
to St. Andrew's, Wells Street. There it was
he acquired and exercised the influence that
was to work such developments in the Choral
Services of the Church. At the Dedication
Festival (St. Andrew's Day) of 1866, his adap-
tation of Gou.nod's Messe Solennelle (St.
Cecilia) was performed, and the harp in-
troduced. He conducted a performance of
Bach's Passion-Music (St. Matthew) at West-
minster Abbey, Maunday Thursday (Aj^ril 6)
1871, with full chorus and orchestra — a memo-
rable event in the history of church music in
this country; and, in 1873, he introduced, at
St. Anne's, Soho, where he was then director
of the music, the St. John Passion of the same
master. He resigned his po.sition at St. An-
drew's in 1871, and that of St. Anne's in 1886.
"Mr. Joseph Barnby's Choir' was formed in
1867, the first rehearsal talking place in the
Lower Exeter Hall, February 17, and the first
concert given in St. James' Hall, May 23.
From 1869 the performances were given under
the title, " The Oratorio Concerts," and
great works were revived, notably, Handel's
"Jephtha" (February 5, 1869); Beethoven's
Mass in D (March 9, 1870) ; and Bach's " Mat-
thew Passion" (April 6, 1870). At the end of
1872, this choir was amalgamated with that
hitherto conducted by M. Gounod; and, as
the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society, com-
menced giving concerts February 12, 1873.
Wagner's " Parsifal " was produced, in concert
form, by this Society, November 10, 1884.
Barnby conducted the London Musical So-
ciety, 1878-86, and produced Dvorak's Stabat
Mater, March 10, 1883; he was also con-
ductor, 1886-8, of the R.A.M. Concerts. In
1875 he was appointed Precentor of Eton Col-
lege, an office he resigned in 1892, on his elec-
tion as Principal of the Guildhall School of
Music. For fifteen years, to 1876, he was
musical adviser to the firm of Novello, Ewer,
and Co. In November, 1882, he conducted
the annual performance of the "Messiah," by
the Royal Society of Musicians; the perform-
ance of Dvorak's "Spectre's Bride" at the
Leeds Festival of 1892 ; conducted the Cardiff
Festivals, 1892 and 1895; a Halle Concert,
Manchester, November 14, 1895. Was a Fel-
low of R.A.M., Member of the Philharmonic
Society, and, in 1887, was elected Hon. Mem-
ber of Tonic Sol-fa College. In 1892 he re-
ceived the honour of Knighthood from the
Queen. To the grief of the whole musical
world, his career, in the midst of its activi-
ties, was suddenly cut short by his death at
London, on January 28, 1896.

[W] Works. — Rebekah, a Sacred Idyll, produced
at the Oratorio Concerts, May 11, and at the
Hereford Festival, August 23, 1870; Ps. 97,
The Lord is King, Leeds Festival, 1883. Ser-
vice in E (Morning, Communion, and Even-
ing, composed at the age of seventeen) ; Mag-
nificat and Nunc Dimittis in E flat, for voices,
orchestra, and organ, for the Festival of the
Sons of the Clergy, St. Paul's Cathedral, May
18, 1881 ; Services, Preces, Offertory Sentences,
etc. Forty-six Anthems, including the Motet,
King All Glorious, for soli, six-part chorus,
orchestra, and organ. 250 Hymn Tunes, of
which a complete edition is in preparation
(1896) ; Glad Christmastide, and other carols ;
Sweet and low ; It was a lover and his lass
(Norwich Festival, 1884) ; The haven, and
other part-songs. Eton songs (A. C. Ainger).

[+] Songs ; How fades the light ; My golden ship ;
When the tide comes in, and others. Trios
for female voices. Pieces for organ. Musical
editor of The Hynmary (Novello, n.d.). Music
revised for "The Home and School Hymnal"
(Edinburgh, Constable). Posthumous pub-
lications : Anthems, Sing to the Lord ; Lamb
of God. Part-songs, The Kiss; In laudem
Amoris (1896).

entry id: 26-R-38