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Scan 46
British Musical Biography, 1897
26 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 34. See the scan on archive.org.
1BASSANTIN.
3Bassantin, James, astronomer and mathematician, was born in Berwickshire in the reign of James IV. of Scotland. He studied at Glasgow and Paris, and passed his life in scientific pursuits on his estate of Bassendean. He died in 1568. His works are "Astronomia Jacobi Bassantini Scoti, opus absolutissimum . . . ," Geneva, 1599; several minor works on mathematics, and "Musica secundum Platonem," published about 1560. It was issued in French and Latin, but is of no practical value, being simply an abstract-work on music on the principles of the Platonists.
5Bate, Mrs. J. D., musician. Compiler of "The North India Tune-Book, containing Bhajans and Ghazals, with native tunes." London, 1886.
7Bates, Frank, organist and composer, born at March, Cambridge, in 1856. Musical training private. After acting for a short time as assistant organist at the Parish Church, Leamington, he was appointed, in 1874, to St. Baldred's, North Berwick. While there, he graduated Mus. Bac., Dublin, 1880; his Doctor's Degree being conferred in July, 1884. He was organist at St. John's, Edinburgh, from 1882 to 1885, at the end of which time he received the appointment of organist of Norwich Cathedral. In 1888 he instituted Musical Services for the people, with special choir, and has been actively engaged as teacher of music in Norwich, where he resides.
9His compositions include an Oratorio, Samuel (Dublin, 1884); a setting of Ps. 67, both in MS. He has published a Morning and Evening Service in B flat, an Evening Service in G; God is our hope; I will sing; Hear my Prayer, and other anthems.
11Bates, George, organist and composer, was born on July 6, 1802. In 1839 he became organist of Ripon Cathedral, a post he retained till his death at Ripon, on January 24, 1881. He composed "Sacred Music . . . in full score for voices with an accompaniment for the organ or pianoforte." London, [1857]. Hymns, etc.
13Bates, Joah, musician, and one of the founders of the Handel Commemoration, was born at Halifax in March, 1749. Instructed in music by Hartley, organist at Rochdale; and R. Wainwright, organist, of Manchester. He resided for a time at Eton and Cambridge, and became private secretary to the Earl of Sandwich. In 1767 he graduated M.A. at Cambridge, and in 1776 he was appointed Commissioner of the Victualling Office. He established the Concert of Ancient Music, 1776, and acted as conductor till 1793. Founded Handel Commemoration (with Sir W. W. Wynn and Viscount Fitzwilliam), 1783. He died in London, June 8, 1799.
15The "Handel Commemoration" with which Bates is chiefly identified was, in its time, a much talked of enterprise. No such gathering of a large body of musicians had ever before taken place, and the extensive arrangements undertaken in connection with it caused sufficient stir to assure its success. The vocalists who held the principle parts on the occasion of the first public performance were—Miss Cantelo, Miss Abrams, Mdlle Mara, Miss Harwood, Signors Bartolini and Tasca; and Messrs. Harrison, Dyne, Champness, Bellamy, Corfe, Norris, Knyvett, Clerk, Reinhold, and Matthieson. Bates conducted, and the festival took enormously. The first performance was in Westminster Abbey, on May 26, 1784. Second and third performances were given on May 27 and 29. The programme included "The Messiah," The Dettingen Te Deum, a Coronation Anthem, and miscellaneous selections from Handel's works.
17As regards Bates it can be said that he was a famous conductor, and in every respect a musician of great knowledge and administrative ability. He did not compose anything so far as we can learn, but appears to be widely known among musicians of every grade during his lifetime. He is somewhat roughly handled by the Scotch poet, A. Macdonald, in "Monitory Madrigals to Musical Amateurs," Nos. 3 and 4, contained in his Miscellaneous Works, 1791. He was married to Sarah Harrop, a soprano vocalist, who is noticed under her own name.
19Bates, John W., compiler of "The Sacred Lyre, containing original psalm and hymn tunes . . ." London [1841].
21Bates, T. C., author of a "Complete Preceptor for the flageolet," London [1840]; and "Complete Preceptor for the violin," London [1845].
23Bates, William, composer of the 18th century, who flourished between 1720 and 1790. He was connected with the Marylebone and Vauxhall Gardens, for which he composed much vocal music. In 1760 he acted as singing master to Ann Cateley, the vocalist, and in 1763 he was prosecuted and fined for trying to dispose of or sell the person of his pupil for immoral purposes to Sir Francis Blake Delavel. He died, probably in London, about 1790.
25Works.—Operas and Musical Dramas—Flora, or Hob in the well; Pharmaces, an English opera altered from the Italian; The Theatrical candidates, a prelude [1788]; The Ladies frolick (with T. A. Arne), 1770. Songs—Collection of songs sung at Vauxhall, London, 1771, also 1776; Songs sung at the Grotto Gardens, 1771; The buck's motto; The butterfly; Ye famed and witty one, etc. Various glees and catches. Six sonatas for two violins, with a thorough bass for the harpsichord or violoncello, London [1750]. Eighteen duettinos for two guitars, two French horns or two clarinetts, London [1780].
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