Robert Kanzow Bowley (13 May 1813 – 25 August 1870), was an English amateur musician, and later an early music administrator.
Biographyedit
Bowley, the son of a boot maker with a substantial boot and shoe business at 52/53 Charing Cross. He trained in his father's business, and succeeded him in it. His first knowledge of music was acquired by association with the choristers of Westminster Abbey. Ardent and enthusiastic, he pursued his studies vigorously. Whilst still a youth he joined a small society called 'The Benevolent Society of Musical Amateurs,' of which he afterwards became conductor. In 1834, he was one of the committee who promoted and carried out the 'Amateur Musical Festival' at Exeter Hall. About the same time he became organist of the Independent Chapel in Orange Street, Leicester Square, and continued in that role for several years.
In October 1834, he was admitted a member of the Sacred Harmonic Society, then in its infancy, and was soon afterwards elected a member of its committee. On the foundation of the society's musical library in 1837, Bowley was appointed its librarian. He remained the librarian until 1854, when he became treasurer, a role he retained until his death. He promoted the society's welfare and advanced its reputation.
He originated the celebration of the centenary of the death of Handel, putting on performances of Handel's music on a scale of unprecedented magnitude. In 1856, he was the originator of the gigantic Handel festivals that were subsequently held every three years at the Crystal Palace from 1857 onwards. The festivals featured orchestras of 400 musicians and an audience of up to 12,000. In 1858, he was appointed General Manager of the Crystal Palace. All sorts of events were held there, including firework displays, cat and dog shows, cricket and football matches. A one-off Olympic Games was staged at Crystal Palace in 1866 and in that same year, the north transept burnt down. The building was not adequately insured to cover the cost of rebuilding in full.
Bowley held the position of General Manager until his death. It has been stated that he discharged his duties in an energetic and self-devoted manner.[1][2]
At the inquest following his death, it was determined that a succession of personal tragedies and the pressures of work had led to him taking his own life. He was reported to have jumped from a ferry into the River Thames on 25 August 1870. He was 57 years old.
robert, kanzow, bowley, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, aug. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Robert Kanzow Bowley news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Robert Kanzow Bowley 13 May 1813 25 August 1870 was an English amateur musician and later an early music administrator Biography editBowley the son of a boot maker with a substantial boot and shoe business at 52 53 Charing Cross He trained in his father s business and succeeded him in it His first knowledge of music was acquired by association with the choristers of Westminster Abbey Ardent and enthusiastic he pursued his studies vigorously Whilst still a youth he joined a small society called The Benevolent Society of Musical Amateurs of which he afterwards became conductor In 1834 he was one of the committee who promoted and carried out the Amateur Musical Festival at Exeter Hall About the same time he became organist of the Independent Chapel in Orange Street Leicester Square and continued in that role for several years In October 1834 he was admitted a member of the Sacred Harmonic Society then in its infancy and was soon afterwards elected a member of its committee On the foundation of the society s musical library in 1837 Bowley was appointed its librarian He remained the librarian until 1854 when he became treasurer a role he retained until his death He promoted the society s welfare and advanced its reputation He originated the celebration of the centenary of the death of Handel putting on performances of Handel s music on a scale of unprecedented magnitude In 1856 he was the originator of the gigantic Handel festivals that were subsequently held every three years at the Crystal Palace from 1857 onwards The festivals featured orchestras of 400 musicians and an audience of up to 12 000 In 1858 he was appointed General Manager of the Crystal Palace All sorts of events were held there including firework displays cat and dog shows cricket and football matches A one off Olympic Games was staged at Crystal Palace in 1866 and in that same year the north transept burnt down The building was not adequately insured to cover the cost of rebuilding in full Bowley held the position of General Manager until his death It has been stated that he discharged his duties in an energetic and self devoted manner 1 2 At the inquest following his death it was determined that a succession of personal tragedies and the pressures of work had led to him taking his own life He was reported to have jumped from a ferry into the River Thames on 25 August 1870 He was 57 years old References edit Bowley Robert Kanzow Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Husk William H 1900 Bowley Robert Kanzow In Grove George ed A Dictionary of Music and Musicians London Macmillan and Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Kanzow Bowley amp oldid 1195029279, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
