Box and Fiddle
Year 21 No 04
December 1997
Composers Corner
Felix Burns
by Tom Cowing
Felix Joseph Burns was born in Perth on 5th March, 1864. He showed a remarkable musical talent from an early age, progressing from the tin whistle and mouth organ to the piano. He became a fine organist and, joining the local band, mastered a variety of brass and woodwind instruments. From an early age he showed a flair for original composition.
According to Leo Burns, Felix’s youngest son (now 97 years of age and living in Coventry), his father ran away from home at the age of 16 in 1880 and joined the ‘Moore and Burgess Travelling Minstrel Show’. As well as his instrumental skills he had a lifelong love of the theatre and showmanship as reflected in many of the titles of his tunes.
From there he moved on to be a pianist with a traveling ‘Diarama’ Show and it was during this time that he met and married Catherine Burns, his first cousin, from Motherwell (Lanarkshire). During a long and happy marriage they had thirteen children, nine of whom survived into adulthood. They were - sons Frederick, Douglas, Felix Jnr and Leo and daughters Catherine, Winifred, Susan, Leona and Doris.
In 1885 Felix, Catherine and their first two children arrived in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle with the Diarama Show. Unfortunately the Manager of the Show absconded with the money, a not uncommon occurrence in those days, leaving the Burns family and the rest of the crew stranded.
Felix however, expressed his belief that they would be all right in Carlisle since he liked the look of the place. From his introduction to the Border City at the famous ‘Matchbox Music Hall’ he quickly established himself as a music teacher and working musician. His teaching studio above the Market Arcade in Carlisle contained two grand pianos and a concert harp.
While trying a piano in a local music shop one day he was asked by the manager about the tune he was playing. Replying that it was one of his own compositions the manager asked for a copy and sent it to a publisher in London who accepted it for publication.
This was to be the start of another very successful side of Felix’s career. He published a total of 16 ‘Popular Dance Albums’ (the last three were published after his death by Felix Jnr) which sold at 2 shilling each, in addition to a great many piano solos. Just for the record the Dance Albums were entitled Royal (1905), Imperial (1908), Great Britain (1910), Flag of Empire (1911), Vaudeville (1914), Vanity Fair (1915), London Town (1915), Merry Makers (1917), Gaiety (1918), Old Drury (1919), Black and White (1920), Tower of London (1921), Dickens (1922) and lastly Frivolity (1923). Collectively they contain no less than 120 compositions, an impressive collection in itself. His own personal favourite was a Barn Dance tune entitled ‘Woodland Flowers’.
Many of the titles therein reflect the period during which Felix lived, with the British Empire becoming the mightiest the world had ever see during his lifetime but seeing the sun set on it during the Great War of 1914-18. ‘Pageant to Empire’, ‘Queen Mary Waltz’, ‘Somewhere in France’ and ‘Over the Top’ to name but a few. His piano solos were published under several nom-de-plumes, a custom of the time – Leona Lacoste, Claud Roslind and Leon Fabrina.
Despite the fact that he was not blessed with the best of health he was able to cram an amazing amount of musical activities and achievements into his short working life. It is impossible to calculate the total number of his compositions as there were at least twenty-two known Publishing Houses turning out his music under his real name as well as his nom-de-plumes.
He had several part time activities as a musician also. He was the Bandmaster of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment (Volunteers). He was also organist and choirmaster of St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Church in Carlisle and he provided piano accompaniment at the Winter Concerts organized by the Town Council. He was engaged to organize and play at dances in fashionable houses throughout Cumbria and to accompany celebrated performers of the day when they visited Carlisle to give concerts.
Felix would take pride in giving one of his latest compositions its premier at one of the Carlisle Winter Concerts. He is remembered with much affection in his chosen ‘home town’ as a man who was proud of the Border City and contributed to its quality of life and its future. He was always eager to volunteer his services to assist any charitable cause or simply to help or give a little pleasure to those in need.
During, and following, the First World War there were many who needed all sorts of support and to have their spirits lifted. Felix knew that he was fortunate to be blessed with rare talents and that he should use them for the benefit of his fellow man and this he did on countless occasions. He was very well aware of the beneficial and therapeutic effects that music can impart.
In person Felix Burns was a pleasant, quietly spoken and earnest man. Despite his relaxed ways he was a man of great warmth and kindness and very great personality. He was a popular and good natured public figure and, in private, a loving father and dedicated family man who had attained his own success and brought up a highly talented family by his endeavours.
In later life Felix suffered from prolonged ill health (he was probably diabetic) but never complained. He died very suddenly on 19th January, 1920 at the age of 55. He had given 4 music lessons that day and still had 79 pupils on his register. Catherine, his wife, outlived him by 19 years and died in 1939.
To conclude, from impressions gained from my researches and from speaking with Leo, I should say that Felix Burns knew that it was not given to everyone to be a virtuoso but that everyone can enjoy music. He hoped that everyone who is blessed with the ability to play will try to appreciate music in all its forms and work to improve their skills for the betterment of their own enjoyment and satisfaction as well as the appreciation of those who listen to the music they pay.
As Scottish Dance Band musicians we are indeed lucky to benefit from so many fine tunes, bearing in mind that they were originally composed for a completely different musical idiom. His tunes have faced and passed the ultimate test – the test of time, which sees them in everyday usage a century after their composition. I hope that everyone, especially our younger musicians, enjoy these tunes.
Felix Burns
by Tom Cowing
Felix Joseph Burns was born in Perth on 5th March, 1864. He showed a remarkable musical talent from an early age, progressing from the tin whistle and mouth organ to the piano. He became a fine organist and, joining the local band, mastered a variety of brass and woodwind instruments. From an early age he showed a flair for original composition.
According to Leo Burns, Felix’s youngest son (now 97 years of age and living in Coventry), his father ran away from home at the age of 16 in 1880 and joined the ‘Moore and Burgess Travelling Minstrel Show’. As well as his instrumental skills he had a lifelong love of the theatre and showmanship as reflected in many of the titles of his tunes.
From there he moved on to be a pianist with a traveling ‘Diarama’ Show and it was during this time that he met and married Catherine Burns, his first cousin, from Motherwell (Lanarkshire). During a long and happy marriage they had thirteen children, nine of whom survived into adulthood. They were - sons Frederick, Douglas, Felix Jnr and Leo and daughters Catherine, Winifred, Susan, Leona and Doris.
In 1885 Felix, Catherine and their first two children arrived in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle with the Diarama Show. Unfortunately the Manager of the Show absconded with the money, a not uncommon occurrence in those days, leaving the Burns family and the rest of the crew stranded.
Felix however, expressed his belief that they would be all right in Carlisle since he liked the look of the place. From his introduction to the Border City at the famous ‘Matchbox Music Hall’ he quickly established himself as a music teacher and working musician. His teaching studio above the Market Arcade in Carlisle contained two grand pianos and a concert harp.
While trying a piano in a local music shop one day he was asked by the manager about the tune he was playing. Replying that it was one of his own compositions the manager asked for a copy and sent it to a publisher in London who accepted it for publication.
This was to be the start of another very successful side of Felix’s career. He published a total of 16 ‘Popular Dance Albums’ (the last three were published after his death by Felix Jnr) which sold at 2 shilling each, in addition to a great many piano solos. Just for the record the Dance Albums were entitled Royal (1905), Imperial (1908), Great Britain (1910), Flag of Empire (1911), Vaudeville (1914), Vanity Fair (1915), London Town (1915), Merry Makers (1917), Gaiety (1918), Old Drury (1919), Black and White (1920), Tower of London (1921), Dickens (1922) and lastly Frivolity (1923). Collectively they contain no less than 120 compositions, an impressive collection in itself. His own personal favourite was a Barn Dance tune entitled ‘Woodland Flowers’.
Many of the titles therein reflect the period during which Felix lived, with the British Empire becoming the mightiest the world had ever see during his lifetime but seeing the sun set on it during the Great War of 1914-18. ‘Pageant to Empire’, ‘Queen Mary Waltz’, ‘Somewhere in France’ and ‘Over the Top’ to name but a few. His piano solos were published under several nom-de-plumes, a custom of the time – Leona Lacoste, Claud Roslind and Leon Fabrina.
Despite the fact that he was not blessed with the best of health he was able to cram an amazing amount of musical activities and achievements into his short working life. It is impossible to calculate the total number of his compositions as there were at least twenty-two known Publishing Houses turning out his music under his real name as well as his nom-de-plumes.
He had several part time activities as a musician also. He was the Bandmaster of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment (Volunteers). He was also organist and choirmaster of St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Church in Carlisle and he provided piano accompaniment at the Winter Concerts organized by the Town Council. He was engaged to organize and play at dances in fashionable houses throughout Cumbria and to accompany celebrated performers of the day when they visited Carlisle to give concerts.
Felix would take pride in giving one of his latest compositions its premier at one of the Carlisle Winter Concerts. He is remembered with much affection in his chosen ‘home town’ as a man who was proud of the Border City and contributed to its quality of life and its future. He was always eager to volunteer his services to assist any charitable cause or simply to help or give a little pleasure to those in need.
During, and following, the First World War there were many who needed all sorts of support and to have their spirits lifted. Felix knew that he was fortunate to be blessed with rare talents and that he should use them for the benefit of his fellow man and this he did on countless occasions. He was very well aware of the beneficial and therapeutic effects that music can impart.
In person Felix Burns was a pleasant, quietly spoken and earnest man. Despite his relaxed ways he was a man of great warmth and kindness and very great personality. He was a popular and good natured public figure and, in private, a loving father and dedicated family man who had attained his own success and brought up a highly talented family by his endeavours.
In later life Felix suffered from prolonged ill health (he was probably diabetic) but never complained. He died very suddenly on 19th January, 1920 at the age of 55. He had given 4 music lessons that day and still had 79 pupils on his register. Catherine, his wife, outlived him by 19 years and died in 1939.
To conclude, from impressions gained from my researches and from speaking with Leo, I should say that Felix Burns knew that it was not given to everyone to be a virtuoso but that everyone can enjoy music. He hoped that everyone who is blessed with the ability to play will try to appreciate music in all its forms and work to improve their skills for the betterment of their own enjoyment and satisfaction as well as the appreciation of those who listen to the music they pay.
As Scottish Dance Band musicians we are indeed lucky to benefit from so many fine tunes, bearing in mind that they were originally composed for a completely different musical idiom. His tunes have faced and passed the ultimate test – the test of time, which sees them in everyday usage a century after their composition. I hope that everyone, especially our younger musicians, enjoy these tunes.