The British Musical Biography

[E] Rootham, Daniel Wilberforce, baritone
vocalist and conductor, born at Cambridge,
August 15, 1837. His father, Daniel Rootham,
was a bass singer in the choir of Trinity
College, Cambridge, from 1815, until his death
in 1852. At eight years of age the son was
admitted a chorister at Trinity and St. John's
Colleges. Studied under his father, and for
five years with Dr. T. A. Walmisley. On the
death of his father he removed to Bristol, and
was appointed a lay-clerk at the Cathedral.
After this time he studied singing under
Schira. In 1865 he succeeded J. D. Corfe,
the cathedral organist, as conductor of the
celebrated Bristol Madrigal Society, and in
1878 was appointed conductor of the Bristol
Festival Choir, retaining these positions to
the present time, with that of chorus-master
at the Bristol Festivals. Was engaged in
concert singing to about 1870 ; and was
organist at St. Peter's, Clifton Wood, 1866,
giving up his cathedral appointment in 1877.
His time is now chiefly devoted to voice
training ; and being an accomplished linguist
and elocutionist, he has been engaged for
lectures on voice management at Wells Theo-
logical College, and elsewhere.

[+] His daughter, Mabel Margaret Rootham,
was the first Bristol Scholar at the R.C.M.,
where she studied pf. under Franklin Taylor,
and violin with R. Gompertz. She made a
successful debut at Victoria Rooms, Clifton,
October 9, 1891, and is now pianist of the
Popular Chamber Concert Society, Bristol,
and engaged in teaching pf. and violin.

[+] Samuel Rootham, brother of D. F., tenor
vocalist, was in the choir of Bristol Cathedral
for many years from 1851. He is musical
instructor at the Blind Asylum, Bristol, and
conductor of the Redland Park Hall Band.
In a quiet unobtrusive way he has done much
good work.

entry id: 354-R-21