Bishop

Bishop, SIR HENRY ROWLEY, composer, was born in London, November 18, 1786. His principal musical instructor was Francesco Bianchi, an opera composer settled in London. In 1806 Bishop was appointed composer of ballet music at the Opera. Among his 88 operatic entertainments were Guy Mannering, The Miller and his Men, Maid Marian, Native Land, and The Virgin of the Sun—all less remarkable for originality than for their flowing melodies and animated style. The opera Aladdin (1826) was a failure. The famous glee, 'The Chough and Crow,' is his; many of our most popular songs, such as 'Should He Upbraid,' 'My Pretty Jane,' are by him; and his, too, probably, is the setting of 'Home, Sweet Home' (see PAYNE). From 1810 to 1824 he was director of the music at Covent Garden Theatre, from 1825 to 1830 at Drury Lane, and for three years more at Vauxhall Gardens. One of the first directors of the Philharmonic Society, he for nine years conducted the concerts of Ancient Music. In 1839 he received the Oxford degree of Mus. Bac., in 1853 of Mus. Doc.; and from 1841 to 1843 he was Reid professor of Music in the university of Edinburgh. In 1842 he was knighted, and in February 1848 was elected professor of Music in the university of Oxford. In his later years he was in very necessitous circumstances. He died of cancer, April 30, 1855.