Talk:Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gardiner, William (1770-1853)

how condescending to call one of this composer's works 'barbarous.' Derivative at times, perhaps, but the composer never describes himself as a composer; he calls himself a 'manufacturer' of textiles...and music, even a 'dilettante.' In point of fact, he was an autodidact, and rather well aware of the mastery of the great continental composers. He labored mightily (and generously) to see some of that work staged in his own remote corner of the country while he contended with the original Luddites working in his mills or milling about his city. His work was technically accessible, and written for church and home use, where it was performed by lightly trained (or totally untrained) performers. He made no claims to brilliance whatsoever, though a successful business, a high civic and cultural profile, generous philanthropy, and a life as a connoisseur and successful promoter of the great artists of his time rather makes him a success. That he produced 1600 pages of documentation of his interests is testament to his energy and enthusiasm.