John Maughan Barnett (21 March 1867 – 31 July 1938) was a New Zealand organist, choirmaster, pianist, composer and conductor.

Early life

He was born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England on 21 March 1867. He studied piano and composition at the

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, London.

Career

Barnett was organist and choirmaster at churches in

Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells (formerly, until 1909, and still commonly Tunbridge Wells) is a town in Kent, England, southeast of Central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the High Weald, whose sandstone ...

and St Leonards, Sussex. In 1890, for health reasons, he emigrated to

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

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. There he was organist and choirmaster at the cathedral, moving to the same position in Napier, New Zealand in 1893. In England, Tasmania and New Zealand he taught, composed and performed on the organ and piano. From 1895 he was organist and choirmaster at St John's Church in Wellington, becoming city organist in 1908. He became

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

city in organist in 1912 until he retired in 1932. While in Wellington Barnett conducted the Wellington Choral Society and Orchestral Society. His Musical Society performed the cantata ''Hinemoa'' by Alfred Hill in November 1896 for the Wellington Industrial Exhibition.

Personal life

Barnett married his first wife Harriett Frances Tugwell in 1889 in Tunbridge Wells. They had three daughters and one son. Their son, Lewin Maughan Barnett, was killed in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

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. Harriett died in 1925 and Barnett was married again in 1935 to Mary Jameson. He died in Auckland in 1938.

Selected works

Music

Barnett wrote compositions for piano and organ as well as other works including: * ''Valse Caprice'' (1909) ''–'' for piano * ''Concert Overture in E minor'' * ''Ode to be sung at the opening of the Canterbury Jubilee Industrial Exhibition'' (1900) * ''Ode to be sung at the laying of the foundation stone of the Town Hall, Wellington, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York'' (1901) *''Marching song (Auckland Provincial Expeditionary Force)'' (1914) * '' Dilworth School Song'' (1924)

Book

* ''A Short Course of Pianoforte Technique'' (1904)

References

1867 births 1938 deaths New Zealand conductors (music) Male conductors (music) English emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand classical organists New Zealand male classical organists {{conductor-stub