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Scan 307
The story of the violin, 1904
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 253. See the scan on archive.org.
1Violin Art in England
3in all classes—greater, probably, than in any other country in the world.
5The first English violinist is usually considered to be John Banister (born 1630), in London. He received his first instruction on the violin from his father, one of the waits of the parish of St. Giles, and was sent by Charles II. to France for further study. On his return he succeeded Baltzar, who died in 1663, as conductor of the King's Band, but he fell into disgrace with his monarch and lost his post, owing, it was said, to his outspoken partiality for English compared to French performers on the violin. He subsequently instituted regular concerts at his house, later called the "Musick-School, over against the George Tavern" in Whitefriars, which continued until near his death in 1679.
7Both he and Thomas Baltzar lie buried in the cloister of Westminster Abbey. John Banister's son also became a violinist of repute. He lived during the reigns of James II., William and Mary, and Queen Anne.
9To these two well-known names representing the earliest phases of violin art in England must be added that of one other not contained hitherto in most musical dictionaries. Sir Frederick Bridge, I believe, first drew the attention of musicians to one Nicola Matteis as possibly the man who first acquainted English musicians with the Italian style of violin-playing and composition, and influenced Purcell in the creation of his violin sonatas. Neither Banister
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