BARNETT

barnett, john (1802-1890), english musical composer, son of a prussian named bernhard beer, who changed his name on settling in england as a jeweller, was born at bedford, and at the age of eleven sang on the lyceum 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 _mountain sylph_--with which his name is chiefly connected--received a warm welcome when produced at the lyceum on august 25, 1834, as the first modern english opera: and it was followed by another opera _fair rosamund_ in 1837, and by _farinelli_ in 1839. he had a large connexion as a singing-master at cheltenham, and published _systems and singing-masters_ (1842) and _school for the voice_ (1844). he died on the 16th of april 1890. his nephew, john francis barnett (1837- ), son of john's brother, joseph alfred, also a professor of music, carried on the traditions of the family as a composer and teacher. he obtained a queen's scholarship at the royal academy of music, and developed into an accomplished pianist, visiting germany to study in 1857 and playing at a gewandhaus concert at leipzig in 1860. he came into notice as a composer with his symphony in a minor (1864), and followed this with a number of compositions for orchestra, strings or pianoforte. his cantata _the ancient mariner_ was brought out at birmingham in 1867, and another, _paradise and the peri_, in 1870, both with great success. in 1873 his most important work, the oratorio _the raising of lazarus_, was written, and in 1876 produced at hereford. many other cantatas, pianoforte pieces, &c. were composed by him, and successfully brought out; and he took an active part as a professor in the work of the guildhall school of music and royal college of music.