John Ella
Encyclopedia
John Ella was an English violinist and director of concerts.
19 December 1802. He was intended by his father, Richard Ella, for the law; but in 1819 he was taught the violin by M. Fémy. On 18 January 1821 he made his first appearance as a professional musician in the orchestra of Drury Lane Theatre
. In the following year he was promoted to the band of the King's Theatre.
In 1826, on the completion of his musical education under Thomas Attwood
, and subsequently under François-Joseph Fétis
in Paris, that he took his place as a member of major orchestras of London, such as the Philharmonic and the Ancient Concerts. The Saltoun Club of Instrumentalists and the Società Lirica were perhaps founded by him as early as this period of his life. They were intended for the practice and performance of unfamiliar operatic music. He played in the orchestra on the occasion of Carl Maria von Weber
's funeral, 21 June 1826. Around this time he was appointed to a subordinate post at the Royal Academy of Music
, and became musical editor of the Athenæum
and other papers.
. During his journeys to the continent he made the acquaintance of musical celebrities. The set of chamber concerts which he inaugurated, under the name of the "Musical Union", and which originated in a weekly meeting at his own house, had an effect on public taste, particularly through its successor, the Popular Concerts. By the formation of an aristocratic committee, and by making the concerts in some measure social gatherings, for which tmembership could only be obtained by personal introduction, he secured for his scheme a high prestige. The programme always contained at least two concerted instrumental works and the executants were generally artists of established position, many of whom had not appeared before in England. The annual series consisted of eight afternoon concerts given during the season, at first in Willis's Rooms, and a benefit concert when vocal music was allowed to form part of the programme. The artists played in the middle of the room, with the audience surrounding them, and programmes were printed and sent out to the subscribers a few days before the concert. The undertaking met with such support that a series of evening concerts, at somewhat lower prices, was started in the early part of 1852, under the title of "Musical Winter Evenings".
In 1858 both sets of concerts were transferred to Hanover Square Rooms
, and in the following year to the newly opened St James's Hall
. In the same year, the Monday Popular Concerts having been set on foot, Ella's evening series was given up. His title of professor was derived from a post at the London Institution
. He was honorary member of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, and of the Philharmonic Society of Paris.
5 October.
Attribution
Early life
Ella was born at ThirskThirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
19 December 1802. He was intended by his father, Richard Ella, for the law; but in 1819 he was taught the violin by M. Fémy. On 18 January 1821 he made his first appearance as a professional musician in the orchestra of Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
. In the following year he was promoted to the band of the King's Theatre.
In 1826, on the completion of his musical education under Thomas Attwood
Thomas Attwood (composer)
Thomas Attwood was an English composer and organist.The son of a musician in the royal band, Attwood was born in London. At the age of nine he became a chorister in the Chapel Royal. In 1783 he was sent to study abroad at the expense of the Prince of Wales , who had been favourably impressed by...
, and subsequently under François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis was a Belgian musicologist, composer, critic and teacher. He was one of the most influential music critics of the 19th century, and his enormous compilation of biographical data in the Biographie universelle des musiciens remains an important source of information today...
in Paris, that he took his place as a member of major orchestras of London, such as the Philharmonic and the Ancient Concerts. The Saltoun Club of Instrumentalists and the Società Lirica were perhaps founded by him as early as this period of his life. They were intended for the practice and performance of unfamiliar operatic music. He played in the orchestra on the occasion of Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
's funeral, 21 June 1826. Around this time he was appointed to a subordinate post at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, and became musical editor of the Athenæum
Athenaeum (magazine)
The Athenaeum was a literary magazine published in London from 1828 to 1921. It had a reputation for publishing the very best writers of the age....
and other papers.
The Musical Union
In 1830 he seems to have given public concerts under the patronage of Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of LeinsterAugustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster
Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, etc., PC, PC was an Irish peer and freemason, styled Marquess of Kildare from birth until 1804. He was born and died in Carton....
. During his journeys to the continent he made the acquaintance of musical celebrities. The set of chamber concerts which he inaugurated, under the name of the "Musical Union", and which originated in a weekly meeting at his own house, had an effect on public taste, particularly through its successor, the Popular Concerts. By the formation of an aristocratic committee, and by making the concerts in some measure social gatherings, for which tmembership could only be obtained by personal introduction, he secured for his scheme a high prestige. The programme always contained at least two concerted instrumental works and the executants were generally artists of established position, many of whom had not appeared before in England. The annual series consisted of eight afternoon concerts given during the season, at first in Willis's Rooms, and a benefit concert when vocal music was allowed to form part of the programme. The artists played in the middle of the room, with the audience surrounding them, and programmes were printed and sent out to the subscribers a few days before the concert. The undertaking met with such support that a series of evening concerts, at somewhat lower prices, was started in the early part of 1852, under the title of "Musical Winter Evenings".
In 1858 both sets of concerts were transferred to Hanover Square Rooms
Hanover Square Rooms
The Hanover Square Rooms or the Queen's Concert Rooms were assembly rooms established, principally for musical performances, on the corner of Hanover Square, London, by Sir John Gallini in partnership with Johann Christian Bach and Carl Friedrich Abel in 1774. For exactly one century this was the...
, and in the following year to the newly opened St James's Hall
St James's Hall
St. James's Hall was a concert hall in London that opened on 25 March 1858, designed by architect and artist Owen Jones, who had decorated the interior of the Crystal Palace. It was situated between the Quadrant in Regent Street and Piccadilly, and Vine Street and George Court. There was a...
. In the same year, the Monday Popular Concerts having been set on foot, Ella's evening series was given up. His title of professor was derived from a post at the London Institution
London Institution
The London Institution was an educational institution founded in London in 1806...
. He was honorary member of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, and of the Philharmonic Society of Paris.
Later life
The Musical Union ceased to exist in 1880, when Ella gave up active work. For the last twenty years of his life he lived at 9 Victoria Square, London, where he died 2 October 1888, after repeated attacks of paralysis. For some years before his death he had been totally blind. He was buried in Brompton CemeteryBrompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
5 October.
Works
He wrote a Victoria March in November 1837, almost his only experiment as a composer. In 1855 he was appointed musical lecturer to the London Institution, and the substance of three lectures on melody, harmony, and counterpoint was given in the Musical Union Record, i.e. the programmes. A set of four lectures on dramatic music was also published (1872). In 1869 he published Musical Sketches Abroad and at Home, a volume of anecdotes, autobiographical and otherwise, bearing on music. The book ran through two editions, and a third, edited by the author's friend John Belcher was published in 1878. A Personal Memoir of Meyerbeer, with Analysis of "Les Huguenots" is Ella's other important contribution to musical literature.External links
Attribution