The British Musical Biography

[E] Binfield, a musical family of importance,
for many years prominent in the town of
Reading, Berks, where the first of the name,
Richard Binfield, established a music busi-
ness in 1799. He was organist of St Laurence
Church from 1804 to the time of his death,
1839. The Berkshire Musical Festival, dating
back at least to 1786, was for many years
under his direction, and he conducted a
performance of the " Messiah " so late as
September 28, 1839, when Balfe sang some of
the bass solos. He edited and compiled the
Reading Psalmody, and Reading Choral Ser-
vice, works much in use in the neighbourhood
for a long time. His son, John Bilson Bin-
field, born at Reading, 1805, was an organist,
and appears to have continued the Triennial
Festivals, as they were given up to the year
1846. He was the first to set Dean Milman's
*' Martyr of Antioch " to music (Milnian being
vicar of St Mary's, Reading, 1818-35). He
died at Reading, June 8, 1875. Another son,
Thomas Binfield, settled in London, where
he was engaged as a violoncellist. He was
also a good violinist and pianist. Member of
the Royal Society of Musicians. Died, Lon-
don, December 23, 1840. — R. L. Binfield, a
third son, was in the business at Reading,
and conducted Choral Concerts, but no par-
ticulars can be gleaned concerning him. —
Hannah Rampton Binfield, born at Read-
ing, 1810, sister of those preceding, was in
her turn proprietor of the business. She was
an excellent pianist and harpist, and con-
tributed many hymn tunes and chants to the
collections edited by her father, whom she
succeeded as organist of St. Laurence, a post
she held for forty-five years, Her annual
concerts were the chief events of the Reading
musical season, and she played, at the Fes-
tival of 1839, a concerto upon the organ.
Her death took place at Reading, May 2, 1887.
Fanny Jane daughter of John Bilson Binfield,
was a pianist and concert-giver, and an artist
of repute. She died at Reading, September
3, 1881. Of other members of the family
little can be ascertained, but Louisa Bin-
field, as a performer on the concertina, was
often heard at Reading and elsewhere from
thirty to forty years ago. Another, Louisa
Binfield, third daughter of Richard, died at
Reading, November 26, 1856.

entry id: 47-L-14