The British Musical Biography

[E] Powell, Josiah W., town-clerk of Burs-
lem, Staffordshire. He and the late George
Howson (q.v.) were the fathers of elementary
vocal music in the Potteries. Half a century
ago there was scarcely a singer in the district
who could read music, and if an oratorio was
to be performed siiigers had to be imported
from Birmingham. Now, through the efforts
of these two men, the Potteries are vocal with
song. Powell translated Mendelssohn's
" Elijah " into the Tonic Sol-fa Notation, one
of the first great oratorios so treated. He
formed the Burslem Choir, which soon achieved
a great reputation. His menrory will long be
affectionately cherished in North Staffordshire.
He died at Wolstanton, May 22, 1891, in his
72nd year.

entry id: 326-L-24