Joseph Robinson (composer)

Joseph Robinson (16 August 1815 – 23 August 1898) was an Irish composer, baritone, conductor, and teacher. Biography Joseph Robinson was the youngest son of Francis Robinson senior, a “writing master” at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and a founding member of the Philharmonic Society, Dublin. Joseph was a chorister at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, between 1823 and 1831. When his voice broke, he succeeded his brother John (1810–1844) as organist of Sandford Church, Dublin. He was a vicar choral (singer) at Christ Church (1836–43) and St Patrick’s (1843–8 and again 1854–6). Together with his three brothers Francis junior (c.1799–1872), William (1805–1881), and John (1810–1844) they were known as “the four wonderful brothers”, frequently performing glees and partsongs as a vocal quartet. In 1834, Robinson founded the Antient Concerts Society, a private choral society that grew to become Dublin’s leading orchestral and choral society and the “hub of Dublin’s musical life” in the mid-19th century and conducted it until 1862. Later he also conducted the University of Dublin Choral Society (1876–88) and the Philharmonic Society. At a performance of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s orator