James William Davison

James William Davison (1813–1885) was an English journalist, known as the music critic of The Times.

Life

The son of James Davison, of a Northumberland family, and the actress Maria Duncan, he was born in London 5 October 1813. He was educated at University College School and the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied the pianoforte under W. H. Holmes and composition under George Alexander Macfarren.[1]

Critic

Davison moved into musical criticism, and for 30 years he was connected with a number of leading newspapers. He first wrote in the Musical Magazine and Dramatic and Musical Review; in 1843 he was connected with the Musical Examiner. It them was merged in the Musical World, of which he shortly afterwards became the editor, a post he retained until the end of his life.[1]

About 1846 or 1848 Davison became musical critic to The Times; he also occasionally wrote for the Saturday Review. For many years he was a dominant critical voice in London, attached to William Sterndale Bennett and Mendelssohn; he was also one of the first to recognise the merits of Berlioz. After the first performance in England of Robert Schumann's Paradise and the Peri he wrote: "Robert Schumann has had his innings, and been bowled out—like Richard Wagner. Paradise and the Peri has gone to the tomb of the Lohengrins."[1]

Last years

During the latter years of his life Davison suffered from ill-health. He left London and went to Malvern, and then to Margate. He died at the York Hote, Margate on 24 March 1885, and was buried at Brompton four days later.[1]

Works

Davison wrote orchestral works, one of which, an overture, was played at a concert of the Society of British Musicians. He also wrote and arranged pianoforte music for Bohn's Harmonist, and composed songs, among them settings of John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. The only book he published was a short work on Chopin, which appeared about 1849.[1]

Family

In 1860 Davison married Arabella Goddard the pianist.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5  Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1888). "Davison, James William". Dictionary of National Biography 14. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1888). "Davison, James William". Dictionary of National Biography 14. London: Smith, Elder & Co.