James Brooks was an English violinist and composer who was born in Bath c. 1760 and died in London in December 1809.
James Brooks must have been born around 1760 as he was declared to be 23 years old when he was recommended for admission to the Royal Society of Musicians in March 1783.
His father, John Brooks, was a violinist in Thomas Linley's band, in the band of the theatre and a music teacher in Bath, where he died before 1787.
At eleven years old James was already playing alongside his father at the New Assembly Rooms under Linley, however, according to the recommendation for his admission to the Royal Society of Musicians in March 1783, he started his fully fledged professional career as a musician around 1776.
It seems that James Brooks took over from Thomas Shaw as first violin, once the latter had moved to London, in the concerts organised by Herschel. For instance, on 12 October 1778, the Salisbury and Winchester Journal advertises as follows: MUSIC MEETING. ON Thurà ¿day the 15th of October inà ¿tant, will be a SACRED PERFORMANCE of Vocal and Inà ¿trumental MUSIC, in the Church at Trowbridge. â The muà ¿ic taken from the Oratorio of the Meà ¿à ¿hiah, with Mr. Handel's Coronation Anthems The King à ¿hall rejoice, and Zadock the Prieà ¿t. The principal Vocal Parts by Mià ¿s CANTELO, and Mr. CORFE from Salià ¿bury. The Firà ¿t Violin by Mr. BROOKS, junr. The other parts of the inà ¿trumental band by the moà ¿t approved performers in Bath, &c, and the Choruà ¿es will be particularly full. The whole to be conducted Mr. HERSCHEL. âÂÂService will begin at eleven o'clock. Particulars of the performance will be expreà ¿à ¿ed in the bills and given with the tickets. â Tickets 2s. 6d. each to be had at the George Inn, at Trowbridge, and of Mr. BROOKS, King's-mead-à ¿treet, Bath.
And on Thursday 27 May 1779, the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette has the following advertisement for the premiere of a series of shows in Bath in the style of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens of London:
BATH SPRING-GARDENS VAUXHALL. ON Wednesday next, the 2d of June, will be the Firà ¿t MUSICAL EVENING's ENTERTAINMENT, with illuminations and improvements, after the manner of Vauxhall, London. The principal vocal part by Mià ¿s Cantelo, Mrs. Higgins, and Mr. Du-Bellamy; the firà ¿t violin by Mr. Brooks, jun. a concerto on the clarionet [sic.] by Mr. Alexander Herà ¿chel, and the direction of the muà ¿ic by Mr. Herà ¿chel, fen. This entertainment will be divided into three acts, the firà ¿t of which will begin it à ¿even o'clock. Ticket! to be had it the gate of the Gardens, and at Mià ¿s Purdie's Perfume-à ¿hop, top of the North Parade, at 1s. each. Public Tea and Spring-Gardens every Saturday Evening when the wheather is fine, attended with French-Horns and Clarionets [sic.]. Admittance 1s. which entitles the bearer to Tea or Coffee.
By his twenties, James Brooks, it seems, had already made quite a place for himself in the community of Bathonian musicians. On Thursday 11 May 1780 he is once again listed as band leader in a special event, as advertised by the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Mià ¿s CANTELO moà ¿t reà ¿pectfully informs the Nobility, Gentry, and her Friends in particular, that her BREAKFAST CONCERT of Vocal and Inà ¿trumental MUSIC, will be at Mr. Gyde's Rooms on Monday the 15th May inà ¿tant. The vocal parts by Mià ¿s Cantelo, Mr. Griffin, Mr Stevens, &c. the firà ¿t violin by Mr. Brooks, jun. and the harpà ¿ichord by Mr. Markordt. The words of the songs, glees and catches, will be given at the door the morning of performance. Clarinets and Horns during breakfast, which will be on the table at ten o'clock; the Concert to begin at half paà ¿t eleven. Tickets to be had at Mr Gyde's Rooms, Pump-Room, and of Mià ¿s Cantelo in Orchard-à ¿treet, at 3s. 6d. each, Breakfast included.
He played a concerto of his own composition in a concert in Bath on 23 April 1782 or 1783, but in March 1783, as per the recommendation for his admission to the Royal Society of Musicians, James Brooks is "engaged at the opera &c", in London. Indeed, on Saturday 9 October 1783 is represented at the Royal Circus the burletta A Lover's Device, which includes two songs composed by Brooks: As when some Maiden in her Teens, sung by Mr Burkitt, and Now Home again from foreign Climes, sung by Mr Burkitt and Miss Romanzini.
He is likely to be the "Mr Brooks" who played first violin at the Commemoration of Handel (Handel Memorial Concerts at Westminster Abbey and the Pantheon from 26 May to 5 June 1784) for which a total of 493 performers were gathered together.
In 1792 and 1794 he plays at the annual spring concerts at St Paul's for the benefit of the clergy, but in parallel is listed in the bills for a concert in Bristol in the 1790s and carries on playing at concerts there in 1791, 1792 and 1798.
In 1800 he became the band leader at Vauxhall, "in the place of Mr Mountain". This gave him the opportunity to further compose and publish songs, and most probably also instrumental music, for the pleasure gardens there, for instance William and Ann, Damon and Phillis, Ere my dear Laddie gade to Sea, When Britain's Sons to Arms are led and How sweetly did the Moments pass sung by popular singers such as the tenor Charles Dignum and the likes. He is employed again at Vauxhall Gardens, as band leader, in 1807 and 1808. He may have worked there many more times, but the sources are patchy and unlikely to reflect the true extend of his activities there. He received positive reviews during his time there; the writer John Feltham for instance said of Brooks that:
In 1804, when George III suffered another bout of his illness, James Brooks composed an hymn for the sovereign's recovery.
He may also have played under Thomas Shaw at the Drury Lane theatre for the 1807âÂÂ08 season.
James seems to have fallen ill in the second half of 1809 and eventually died in December of the same year. The Royal Society of Musicians had granted him 5 guineas "on account of his illness" in October. After his death, his widow was granted ã8 for the funeral costs (ã372.20 in today's money) and ã2 12s 6d monthly (ã122.13 in today's money) as a support allowance.
English Classical Violin Concertos, Elizabeth Wallfisch, The Parley of Instruments, Peter Holman (Helios, CDH55260, 2008)