Background
Ellerton was born in Cheshire with the name of John Lodge.
Ellerton was born in Cheshire with the name of John Lodge.
According to the Dictionary of National Biography of 1889, he attended Rugby School and graduated with an Master of Arts from Brasenose College, Oxford University in 1828. Between 1829 and 1831 he studied under Pietro Terziani in Rome, where he wrote 7 operas in Italian. His Mass in Doctorate appeared in 1843: a reviewer wrote, "This is the composition of an amateur, and evidently one who has studied in the right school.
In 1837 he adopted the name of Ellerton and on 24 August that year married Henrietta Barbara Lumley, the sister of the 8th Earl of Scarbrough. His English opera "Domenica" was produced at Drury Lane in 1838, but this was unsuccessful. His oratorio Paradise Lost (operation
125.
Foreign soloists (SSAATTTBB), chorus (SATB) and orchestra.), published in 1857, had more critical success although apparently few performances. it is by no means a discreditable work, nor undeserving of attention. The Kyrie is well conceived, but contains many passages that remind us of Haydn. The fugue, Cum Sancto Spiritu is well written, but smacks rather much of Mozart"s spirited effusions to the same words.
The same may be said of the Credo, and following movements.." In 1835 and 1838 the Catch Club awarded him prizes for glees.
He was involved with choral and vocal composition throughout, but his major contribution was in the realm of chamber music In 1855 he entertained Richard Wagner in London.
In his memoirs Wagner accorded Ellerton "a fine, amiable mind". Ellerton died at his home in Connaught Place, Hyde Park, London, in 1873.
An obituary in The Musical World commented that "This admirable English amateur.. was more of a musician than many who make music their exclusive study.
Mr. Ellerton was an assiduous student and prolific worker in his art, to which he contributed in every style and every department of composition.".
