Books › Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896 › scan 55
Scan 55
Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1have the announcement in which it is stated, in the language of the period, that the performance will "begin with a parley of instruments composed by Mr. Bannister, and performed by eminent masters."
3John Bannister the elder died in 1679, whilst the country was reeking with popish plots, conspiracies against the King, violent political excitement, and disturbances. He also was interred in Westminster Abbey, where there was plenty of room in those days. His son, John the younger, had grown up a clever violinist like his father, and was ultimately appointed to the band of King William III.; he was also first violin at Drury Lane Theatre for many years.
5With the solitary exception of David Mell, before mentioned, John Bannister the elder, leader of the Royal Violins, was the first Englishman who ever distinguished himself as a performer on the violin. He is also remarked, historically, as having been the first musician who attempted something like what we now know as a public concert. This attempt was made in the year 1672.
7Roger North, who was Attorney-General under James II., left a MS. work entitled "Memoirs of Musick," which was published after his death. In this work we are told that "John Bannister had a good theatrical vein, and in composition he had a lively style peculiar to himself. He possessed a large room at Whyte Friars, next to Temple Bar Gate, and made a large raised box for the musicians,
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