A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Barnby, Joseph

BARNBY, Joseph, born at York Aug. 12, 1838, a chorister in York Minster, and student at the Royal Academy of Music: was for nine years organist of St. Andrew's, Wells Street, London, and contributed much to the excellence of the services at that church. Conductor of 'Barnby's Choir,' of the 'Oratorio Concerts,' and of the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society; and appointed to the important post of succentor and director of musical instruction at Eton College, 1875. Mr. Barnby has published an oratorio, 'Rebekah,' which contains some charming modern music, and many other compositions, both sacred and secular. He edited the 'Hymnary' for Messrs. Novello, to which he contributed many tunes, justly admired for beauty of melody and harmony.

[ E. F. R. ]

[App. p.531 adds "the time of Mr. Barnby's tenure of St. Andrew's, Wells Street, was from 1863 to 1871, when he became organist of St. Anne's, Soho. Here be instituted the annual performances of Bach's 'Passion according to St. John,' which he had previously introduced to English audiences at the Hanover Square Rooms. At the formation of the London Musical Society [see that article in Appendix] he was appointed conductor, and in this capacity introduced Dvořák's 'Stabat Mater' and other important novelties. On Nov. 10, 1884 the Albert Hall Choral Society gave under his direction a remarkable performance of the music of Wagner's 'Parsifal,' in which the principal solo parts were sung by some of their greatest German representatives. In 1886 he succeeded Mr. Shakespeare as conductor at the Royal Academy of Music. Mention must be made of his psalm, 'The Lord is King,' produced with success at the Leeds Festival of 1883. (Died Jan. 28, 1896.)"]

[ M. ]