Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Banister, John

Banister, John, succeeded the celebrated Baltzar, as leader of King Charles's new baud of twenty-four violins. He was the first English violinist of any note. He died in 1679. He set to music the opera of "Circe," written by Dave-limit, and performed at the theatre and in Dorset Gardens in 1676. He also composed several songs. Banister was the first musician who established lucrative concerts in London. These concerts were advertised in the London Gazette of the times; and in No. 742, December 30, 1672, there is the following advertisement : "These are to give notice, that at Mr. John Banister's house, now called the Music School, over against the George Taverne, 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 'he same hour."

BANISTER, JOHN, son of the preceding, was an eminent performer on the violin ; he wag one of King William's band, and played the first violin at Drury Lane, when operas were first per-formed there. He died about the year 1725. He composed several grounds, with divisions, inserted in the " Division Violin."