Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Bartleman, J

Bartleman, J., the celebrated bass singer was a pupil of Dr. Cooke, and originally in the choirs of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal. Miss Hawkins, in her anecdotes, states of Bartleman as follows : -

"There was one singular feature in his history, that he lived to occupy the identical house in Berners Street, in which his first patron resided. This patron, Mr. Royer, who had a situation in one of the public offices, perceiving the promise of his voice, presented him to Dr. Cooke for his acceptance as a singer.

"Though delicate in person and constitution, and often ill, Bartleman was lively and spirited to a remarkable degree. It used to puzzle me to find out when or how he learned ; and indeed I have heard Dr. Cooke say, 'Those boys of mine learn of one another more than from me.' Of his early superiority he was as little vain as if it had consisted in spinning a top, or trundling a hoop ; he never went further in setting himself above another than by humorously caricaturing, something ludicrously bad. In short, he was one of the most agreeable lads that ever had ' the run' of a house. An instance of Bartleman's nice feeling I call to mind. My father had made him a present, annexing to the gift the condition that he should copy out some music for him, which he undertook cheerfully ; but just afterwards, having reached a point in his musical studies that left him less leisure, he found he had not time to do what he had promised, and having detained the music he had to copy long enough to make the experiment, he returned it, together with his present, with an extremely well penned note, saying, that 'as he could not perform the task, it was not just to accept the reward.' I remember my own astonishment at this promptitude, though, indeed, being out of the choir, we had for some time seen less of him; but it appeared to me as if a boy had on a sudden, without the intervention of - what shall I say? - ladhood ? started into manhood. I can add, with pride and acknowledgment, that, in the goodness of his nature, he never forgot where he had spent many of his boyish hours, and that whatever time elapsed without our meeting, he was always, on every occasion, prompt to show, and cordial in expressing the continuance of his regard. Success never altered. him, applause never elevated him ; and he died.

I am confident, as he had lived, beloved beyond the usual degree of love bestowed on those whose excellence, to use Wordsworth's beautiful words respecting longevity, ' has no companion.' " - So far Miss Hawkins. We have now to remark that Bartleman, as he advanced to manhood, became celebrated for his powers as a bass, or rather baritono singer, in which line he first appeared in public, we believe, at the concerts at Freemasons' Hall. He was next engaged at the ancient concerts, and lastly became one of the proprietors and conductors of the vocal concerts at the Hanover Square rooms. He died in 1820.