BANISTER'S VOCAL MUSIC.
TO THE EDITOR OF TUE SPECTATOR.
17, Hadlow Street, Burton Crescent, 22nd August 1331. r Sin—Will you permit me to correct a mistake of persons into which you have fallen in your notice of the First Number of my father's Music ; it being more than possible that mistake may be connected with profes- sional disadvantage to me, in leading some among that section of the musical public with whom I have an interest to suppose me deceased. The " violoncello-player " to whom you there refer, is your present cor- respondent. My deceased father never played on any instrument, nor was he ever in the musical profession at all. That portion of musical knowledge he possessed, he, to use a common phrase, " picked up" under very disadvantageous circumstances ; notwithstanding which, I believe Sir, you have not overstated the fact in saying that his music has a pretty large class of admirers. Among the Dissenters his works have been widely circulated for thirty years past; and it was because it appeared to my own mind they exhibited traits of native genius (particularly in the melodies), justifying the reputation they had acquired, that I undertook the revision of a complete edition, aiming to amend the occasionally de- fective harmonies. For my reward, I reckoned first and chiefly on the pleasure it might afford my father in his declining days to see his simple lays recirculated, in a new and perhaps improved guise. I am, how- ever, deprived of that portion of my recompense by the fiat of the Su- preme Disposer of events, who has willed his sudden removal, and me a bleeding heart nevertheless, it is my intention, life and health permit- ting, to prosecute the work to its completion, from the affection I bear his memory ; only regretting it is not in abler hands.
I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
HENZE J. BANISTER.
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