John Bayley (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Bayley was an English bandmaster
, clarinet
ist, violin
ist, and organist
who was active in his native country and North America. Cornetist Herbert L. Clarke
described him in his autobiography as "a finished musician of high order; he was a remarkable organist... and one of the best clarinetists I have ever heard in my life."
, Bayley was named after his father, John Bayley (d 1871), a cornet
soloist and conductor
who was trained in Chelsea (London) at the Royal Military Asylum for boys. In 1850 the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Philadelphia. The family moved to San Francisco in 1857 and then a year later left there for Victoria, British Columbia
in the enthusiasm of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
.
In Victoria, Bayley Sr served as the city's inspector of police and was the first conductor of the Victoria Philharmonic Society (VPS). For the VPS's first concert on 6 May 1859 the younger Bayley performed as both a violinist and clarinet soloist. A 10 May 1859 Victoria Gazette review stated that his clarinet solo was "enthusiastically encored".
In 1861 the family returned to England, partly to provide Bayley Jr with a superior music teachers than could be found in the United States. He entered the London Academy of Music where Leopold Jansa
was his violin instructor and Henry Wylde
taught him harmony
. From 1869-1876 he served as bandmaster of the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
.
In 1877 Bayley returmed to Canada where he lived in Montreal through 1879. He served as bandmaster of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
in Toronto from 1879-1901 and was second violinist in the first Toronto String Quartette
from 1884-1887. In 1887 he created a Citizens' Band which performed for one season on Toronto's Centre Island
. He served for one year as first violin in the second Toronto String Quartette in 1894. He moved to Buffalo, New York
after leaving the Queen's Own Rifles.
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
who was active in his native country and North America. Cornetist Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert Lincoln Clarke was a well-known American cornet player, feature soloist, bandmaster, and composer....
described him in his autobiography as "a finished musician of high order; he was a remarkable organist... and one of the best clarinetists I have ever heard in my life."
Life and career
Born in Windsor, BerkshireWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Bayley was named after his father, John Bayley (d 1871), a cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
soloist and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
who was trained in Chelsea (London) at the Royal Military Asylum for boys. In 1850 the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Philadelphia. The family moved to San Francisco in 1857 and then a year later left there for Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in the enthusiasm of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River. This was a few miles upstream from the Thompson's confluence with the Fraser River at present-day Lytton...
.
In Victoria, Bayley Sr served as the city's inspector of police and was the first conductor of the Victoria Philharmonic Society (VPS). For the VPS's first concert on 6 May 1859 the younger Bayley performed as both a violinist and clarinet soloist. A 10 May 1859 Victoria Gazette review stated that his clarinet solo was "enthusiastically encored".
In 1861 the family returned to England, partly to provide Bayley Jr with a superior music teachers than could be found in the United States. He entered the London Academy of Music where Leopold Jansa
Leopold Jansa
Leopold Jansa was a Bohemian violinist, composer, and teacher....
was his violin instructor and Henry Wylde
Henry Wylde
Henry Wylde was a conductor, composer, teacher and music critic.Henry Wylde was born at Bushey, Hertfordshire, the elder son of Henry Wylde and Martha Lucy née Paxton. His father, then the organist at St Mary's Watford, was himself a music teacher...
taught him harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
. From 1869-1876 he served as bandmaster of the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
The 46th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, created in 1741 and amalgamated into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1881.-History:...
.
In 1877 Bayley returmed to Canada where he lived in Montreal through 1879. He served as bandmaster of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve...
in Toronto from 1879-1901 and was second violinist in the first Toronto String Quartette
Toronto String Quartette
The Toronto String Quartette was the name of three un-related professional Canadian string quartets based in Toronto, Ontario.-The first TSQ: 1884-1887:...
from 1884-1887. In 1887 he created a Citizens' Band which performed for one season on Toronto's Centre Island
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
. He served for one year as first violin in the second Toronto String Quartette in 1894. He moved to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
after leaving the Queen's Own Rifles.