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{{short description|British composer}}
{{other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:John Barnett by Charles Baugniet.jpg|thumb|John Barnett painted by [[Charles Baugniet]] in 1839]]
[[File:John Barnett by Charles Baugniet.jpg|thumb|John Barnett painted by [[Charles Baugniet]] in 1839]]
'''John Barnett''' (July 15, 1802 – April 16, 1890) was an [[England|English]] [[composer]] and writer on [[music]].
'''John Barnett''' (15 July 1802 – 16 April 1890) was an English composer and writer on music.


==Life==
==Life==
Barnett was the eldest son of a [[Prussia]]n [[Jew]] named Bernhard Beer, who changed his surname on settling in [[England]] as a [[jeweller]]. According to some he was a cousin of the composer [[Giacomo Meyerbeer]]. Barnett was born at [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]], and at the age of eleven sang at the [[Lyceum Theatre, London|Lyceum Theatre]] stage in [[London]]. His good voice led to his being given a musical education, and he soon began writing songs and lighter pieces for the stage.
Barnett was the eldest son of a [[Prussia]]n Jew named Bernhard Beer, who changed his surname on settling in England as a [[jeweller]]. According to some he was a cousin of the composer [[Giacomo Meyerbeer]]. Barnett was born at [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]], and at the age of eleven sang at the [[Lyceum Theatre, London|Lyceum Theatre]] stage in London. His good voice led to his being given a musical education, and he soon began writing songs and lighter pieces for the stage.


In 1834 he published a collection of ''Lyrical Illustrations of the Modern Poets''. His opera ''[[The Mountain Sylph]]'' - with which his name is nowadays most associated - received a warm welcome when produced at the Lyceum on 25 August 1834, as the first modern English [[opera]], and was given over 100 performances, which was an unusual success. It was followed by ''[[Fair Rosamond (opera)|Fair Rosamond]]'' in 1837, and ''[[Farinelli (opera)|Farinelli]]'' in 1839, but Barnett never again achieved the success that he had enjoyed with ''The Mountain Sylph''. Disappointed with his reception as a composer, Barnett retired to the country. He had a large connection as a singing-master at [[Cheltenham]], and published ''Systems and Singing-masters'' (1842) and ''School for the Voice'' (1844). Barnett wrote several songs for the theatre with the actor, playwright and theatre manager [[John Baldwin Buckstone]], and also some instrumental works, including three [[string quartet]]s and a [[violin sonata]].
In 1834 he published a collection of ''Lyrical Illustrations of the Modern Poets''. His opera ''[[The Mountain Sylph]]'' with which his name is nowadays most associated received a warm welcome when produced at the Lyceum on 25 August 1834, as the first modern English opera, and was given over 100 performances, which was an unusual success. It was followed by ''[[Fair Rosamond (opera)|Fair Rosamond]]'' in 1837, and ''[[Farinelli (opera)|Farinelli]]'' in 1839, to librettos by his younger brother [[Charles Zachary Barnett]], but Barnett never again achieved the success that he had enjoyed with ''The Mountain Sylph''. Disappointed with his reception as a composer, Barnett retired to the country. He had a large connection as a singing-master at [[Cheltenham]], and published ''Systems and Singing-masters'' (1842) and ''School for the Voice'' (1844). Barnett wrote several songs for the theatre with the actor, playwright and theatre manager [[John Baldwin Buckstone]], and also some instrumental works, including three [[string quartet]]s and a [[violin sonata]].


Amongst his light music is a piece for Concertina and Piano called ''Spare Moments'' composed in 1859.
Amongst his light music is a piece for Concertina and Piano called ''Spare Moments'' composed in 1859.


One of his daughters [[Clara Kathleen Rogers|Clara Kathleen Barnett]] became a singer and composer. His nephew [[John Francis Barnett]] (1837–1916) was also a composer.
One of his daughters [[Clara Kathleen Rogers|Clara Kathleen Barnett]] became a singer and composer; another daughter, a goddaughter of [[Franz Liszt]], married the prolific author [[R. E. Francillon]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207917743 |title=Musical Notes |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)|Evening Journal]] |volume=XXXI |issue=8839 |location=Adelaide |date=1 April 1899 |accessdate=11 May 2017 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> His nephew [[John Francis Barnett]] (1837–1916) was also a composer.


Although ''The Mountain Sylph'' is all but forgotten, it inspired parts of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s 1882 [[Savoy Opera]], ''[[Iolanthe]]''.
Although ''The Mountain Sylph'' is all but forgotten, it inspired parts of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s 1882 [[Savoy Opera]], ''[[Iolanthe]]''.


== References ==
== References ==
* {{Wikisource1911Enc Citation|Barnett, John}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Barnett, John}}
* Oxford [[Dictionary of National Biography]]
* Oxford [[Dictionary of National Biography]]

;Notes
<references />

==External links==
*{{IMSLP|id=Barnett, John}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnett, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnett, John}}
[[Category:1802 births]]
[[Category:1802 births]]
[[Category:1890 deaths]]
[[Category:1890 deaths]]
[[Category:Opera composers]]
[[Category:English classical composers]]
[[Category:British Jews]]
[[Category:English opera composers]]
[[Category:Jewish composers and songwriters]]
[[Category:British male opera composers]]
[[Category:Jewish classical musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish classical composers]]
[[Category:19th-century classical composers]]
[[Category:English male classical composers]]
[[Category:19th-century English musicians]]
[[Category:19th-century British composers]]
[[Category:19th-century British male musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish British musicians]]

Latest revision as of 18:00, 14 April 2024

John Barnett painted by Charles Baugniet in 1839

John Barnett (15 July 1802 – 16 April 1890) was an English composer and writer on music.

Life[edit]

Barnett was the eldest son of a Prussian Jew named Bernhard Beer, who changed his surname on settling in England as a jeweller. According to some he was a cousin of the composer Giacomo Meyerbeer. Barnett was born at Bedford, and at the age of eleven sang at the Lyceum Theatre stage in London. His good voice led to his being given a musical education, and he soon began writing songs and lighter pieces for the stage.

In 1834 he published a collection of Lyrical Illustrations of the Modern Poets. His opera The Mountain Sylph – with which his name is nowadays most associated – received a warm welcome when produced at the Lyceum on 25 August 1834, as the first modern English opera, and was given over 100 performances, which was an unusual success. It was followed by Fair Rosamond in 1837, and Farinelli in 1839, to librettos by his younger brother Charles Zachary Barnett, but Barnett never again achieved the success that he had enjoyed with The Mountain Sylph. Disappointed with his reception as a composer, Barnett retired to the country. He had a large connection as a singing-master at Cheltenham, and published Systems and Singing-masters (1842) and School for the Voice (1844). Barnett wrote several songs for the theatre with the actor, playwright and theatre manager John Baldwin Buckstone, and also some instrumental works, including three string quartets and a violin sonata.

Amongst his light music is a piece for Concertina and Piano called Spare Moments composed in 1859.

One of his daughters Clara Kathleen Barnett became a singer and composer; another daughter, a goddaughter of Franz Liszt, married the prolific author R. E. Francillon.[1] His nephew John Francis Barnett (1837–1916) was also a composer.

Although The Mountain Sylph is all but forgotten, it inspired parts of Gilbert and Sullivan's 1882 Savoy Opera, Iolanthe.

References[edit]

  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barnett, John" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Notes
  1. ^ "Musical Notes". Evening Journal. Vol. XXXI, no. 8839. Adelaide. 1 April 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 11 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

External links[edit]