John Barnett (1837-1916)

John Barnett came from a musical family. He obtained a Queen's Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 1849 studying under William Sterndale Bennett and developed into an accomplished pianist. 

In 1857 he travelled to Leipzig to study composition and piano. His teachers at the Conservatoire in Leipzig were the great pianist Ignaz Moscheles (who had been a pupil of Beethoven), Moritz Hauptmann and Julius Rietz. Whilst at Leipzig, Barnett formed a close friendship with his fellow-student Arthur Sullivan.

Overture Symphonique (1868)

The Symphony in A minor (1864) is presumed lost but the Overture Symphonique (1868) has survived despite some water damage. It was first performed at the Philharmonic Society, London.

First page of the Overture Symphonique - water damaged

 

SAMPLE: Overture Symphonique

In 1883 Barnett was appointed as a Professor at the Royal College of Music. In that year his realisation of Schubert's incomplete Symphony No.7 in E, was first performed at the Crystal Palace, London. George Grove had originally offered the task of completion to Arthur Sullivan but Sullivan turned it down. 

At the performance of Barnett's completion, Schubert's original autograph sketch, which was owned by Grove (who had obtained it through Mendelssohn's brother Paul, who in turn had obtained it from Schubert's brother Ferdinand), was proudly displayed in the Central Transept of the Crystal Palace. Barnett recalled how, when he had only completed his version of the first movement, Schubert's manuscript sketch was almost lost forever when Grove left it on a train!

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Im Alten Styl (1895) 

This follows in the tradition of late 19th century Baroque pastiche.

SAMPLE: Im Alten Styl

Barnett's most successful music were his large scale cantatas. During his lifetime, his most popular work was The Ancient Mariner which received nine performances during the 1886–87 season and was still being heard (once) during the 1926–27 season.

Elegy

Subtitled "The Fallen Brave" is undated and presumably a memorial to the dead of the Boer Wars in which 120,000 British soldiers lost their lives.

SAMPLE: Elegy

Military March

Paired with the Elegy is the Military March entitled "Heroes of the Empire". It's worth noting that Barnett scored this for full orchestra and not brass and wind as expected.

SAMPLE: Military March

In 1906 Barnett published Musical Reminiscences and Impressions.