A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Banister, John

by Edward Francis Rimbault

BANISTER, John, born 1630, son of one of the waitts of the parish of St. Giles'-in-the-Fields, London. He received the rudiments of his musical education from his father, and arrived at great proficiency on the violin. He was noticed by Charles II, who sent him to France for improvement; and on his return he was appointed leader of the king's band. The State Papers inform us, '1663, Mr. Banister appointed to be chief of His Majesty's violins.' Pepys, in his Diary, under the date Feb. 20, 1666–7, says:—'They talk how the King's violin, Banister, is mad that a Frenchman is come to be chief of some part of the King's musique.' The Frenchman here alluded to was the impudent pretender Louis Grabu. It is recorded, we know not upon what authority, that Banister was dismissed the King's service for saying, in the hearing of His Majesty, that the English performers on the violin were superior to those of France. This musician is entitled to especial notice as being the first to establish lucrative concerts in London. These concerts were made known through the medium of the 'London Gazette'; and on December 30, 1672, there appeared the following advertisement:—'These are to give notice that at Mr. John Banister's house, now called the Musick-school, over against the George Tavern in White Friars, this present Monday, will be musick performed by excellent masters, beginning precisely at four of the clock in the afternoon, and every afternoon for the future, precisely at the same hour.' Many similar notices may be found in the same paper (1673 to 1678), from which it appears that Banister carried on these concerts till near the period of his decease, which occurred on the third of October, 1679. He was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Banister wrote the music to the tragedy of 'Circe,' written by Dr. Charles Davenant, eldest son of Sir William Davenant, performed at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1676 [App. p.530 "1667"]. Downes ('Roscius Anglicanus,' 1703) calls it an 'opera,' and says 'All the musick was set by Mr. Banister, and being well performed, it answered the expectation of the company.' One of the songs is printed in the second book of 'Choice Ayres and Songs,' 1676, and a MS. copy of the first act is preserved in the library of the Sacred Harmonic Society. Jointly with Pelham Humfrey he wrote the music to 'The Tempest,' performed in 1676 [App. p.530 "1667"], some of the songs of which were published in the same year. He contributed to Playford's 'Courtly Masquing Ayres,' 1662; and some lessons for 'viols or violins of his are appended to a small volume entitled 'New Ayres and Dialogues,' 1678. (Hawkins; Notes to North's Memoirs of Musick, etc.). His son, John, was educated in music under his father, and attained great excellence as a performer on the violin. He was one of the 'musicians' of Charles II, James II, William and Mary and Anne; and, at the beginning of the 18th century, when Italian operas were first introduced in English form into this country, he occupied the post of principal violin. He composed some music for the theatre, and, in conjunction with Godfrey Finger, published a small collection of these pieces. He was also a contributor to Henry Playford's 'Division Violin,' 1685, the first printed book for the violin put forth in this country. He resided for many years in Brownlow Street, Drury Lane, where he died in 1735. There is a fine mezzotint engraving of him by Smith.

[ E. F. R. ]