Difference between revisions of "J.H. Ashley"

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Mr [[J.H. Ashley]] was a music teacher active in Cape Town between 1850 and 1870.  
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Mr [[J.H. Ashley]] (fl. 1850-1873) was a musician and amateur performer.
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Also referred to as '''[[Mr Ashley]]''' or simply '''[[Ashley]]''' in some sources.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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 +
Nothing about his life, beyond his involvement in Cape Town from 1856-1873, has yet been found.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
He introduced the Tonic Solfa method into the country, offering classes at the [[YMI and Club]] ([[Young Men's Institute and Club]], later known simply as the [[YMI]]). In 1870 he is again teaching the tonic solfa method at the [[YMCA]] in Cape Town and founded a [[Tonic Solfa Choral Union]]
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According to Bosman (1980) he was immensely important in various capacities in the theatrical and musical life of Cape Town between about 1856 and 1873, when he withdrew from musical work.
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===As teacher===
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He introduced the Tonic Solfa method into the country, offering classes at the [[YMI and Club]] ([[Young Men's Institute and Club]], later known simply as the [[YMI]]).  
 +
 
 +
===Performer in theatre ===
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A member of the short-lived [[City Amateur Theatrical Society]] in Cape Town in 1854. He played the upholsterer "Furnish" in ''[[The First Floor]]'' (Cobb) on 21 August 1854.
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===Organiser and founder of various musical and performance societies===
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 +
In 1858 he founded the [[Cape Town Choral Society]], with which he directed a number of oratoria, cantatas,  and other "concerts of vocal music" in Cape Town over the years.
 +
 
 +
In 1870 he is again teaching the tonic solfa method at the [[YMCA]] in Cape Town and had apparently founded a [[Tonic Solfa Choral Union]] which put on oratoria and other musical works,  such as Handel's ''Messiah'', ''The Flower Queen, or The Coronation of the Rose'', ''A Summer Day'' (Leveridge, based on the scene with the witches from ''[[Macbeth]]''), and the children's operetta ''[[The Picnic]]'' (Thomas).
  
In 1858 he founded the [[Cape Town Choral Society]], with which he directed a number of oratoria, cantatas,  and other "concerts of vocal music" in Cape Town over the years. During the 1870s for example works put on include  Handel's ''Messiah'', ''The Flower Queen, or The Coronation of the Rose'', ''A Summer Day'' (Leveridge, based on the scene with the witches from ''[[Macbeth]]''), ''The Picnic'' (Thomas).
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According to Bosman (who is really unclear about the specific relationship), he had a rival in the musical director '''[[Mr Bucke]]''' (fl. 1872-1873), who had founded (or perhaps taken over or resuscitated?) the [[Cape Town Choral Society]] in 1872 (or earlier, again Bosman has contradictory information about this).
  
According to Bosman (who is really unclear about the specific relationship), he had a rival in Mr Bucke, who founded a [[Cape Town Choral Society]] in 1872 (or earlier, again Bosman is very unclear about this).
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===Director of music and theatre===
  
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He was musical director for performances of various [[oratoria]] and other works for a range of companies and organisations, the works including ''[[The Flower Queen, or The Coronation of the Rose]]'' in May, 1866, ''[[A Summer Day]]'' in 1870, (Leveridge, based on the scene with the witches from ''[[Macbeth]]''), the children's operetta ''[[The Picnic]]'' (Thomas) in November, 1872,  and , ''[[A Summer Day]]'' (1870), ''[[The Picnic]]'' (November, 1872) and Handel's ''[[The Messiah]]'' in 1873.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855''. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp.426-7
  
[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 185, 287-8,
  
 
Go to the  [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to the  [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Personalities  N]]  
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities  A]]  
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Latest revision as of 06:02, 20 December 2021

Mr J.H. Ashley (fl. 1850-1873) was a musician and amateur performer.

Also referred to as Mr Ashley or simply Ashley in some sources.

Biography

Nothing about his life, beyond his involvement in Cape Town from 1856-1873, has yet been found.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

According to Bosman (1980) he was immensely important in various capacities in the theatrical and musical life of Cape Town between about 1856 and 1873, when he withdrew from musical work.


As teacher

He introduced the Tonic Solfa method into the country, offering classes at the YMI and Club (Young Men's Institute and Club, later known simply as the YMI).

Performer in theatre

A member of the short-lived City Amateur Theatrical Society in Cape Town in 1854. He played the upholsterer "Furnish" in The First Floor (Cobb) on 21 August 1854.

Organiser and founder of various musical and performance societies

In 1858 he founded the Cape Town Choral Society, with which he directed a number of oratoria, cantatas, and other "concerts of vocal music" in Cape Town over the years.

In 1870 he is again teaching the tonic solfa method at the YMCA in Cape Town and had apparently founded a Tonic Solfa Choral Union which put on oratoria and other musical works, such as Handel's Messiah, The Flower Queen, or The Coronation of the Rose, A Summer Day (Leveridge, based on the scene with the witches from Macbeth), and the children's operetta The Picnic (Thomas).

According to Bosman (who is really unclear about the specific relationship), he had a rival in the musical director Mr Bucke (fl. 1872-1873), who had founded (or perhaps taken over or resuscitated?) the Cape Town Choral Society in 1872 (or earlier, again Bosman has contradictory information about this).

Director of music and theatre

He was musical director for performances of various oratoria and other works for a range of companies and organisations, the works including The Flower Queen, or The Coronation of the Rose in May, 1866, A Summer Day in 1870, (Leveridge, based on the scene with the witches from Macbeth), the children's operetta The Picnic (Thomas) in November, 1872, and , A Summer Day (1870), The Picnic (November, 1872) and Handel's The Messiah in 1873.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.426-7

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 185, 287-8,

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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