[HOME] [Introduction] [Horrabridge tree] [John WINGATE (1742-1823)] [John WINDEATT (?1778-1851)] [John Windeatt (1805-1885)] Charles Windeatt (?1837-?1897) Corelli Ernest Bere WINDEATT

Corelli Windeatt, "a violinist of rare talent"

THIS PAGE: [Tree] [About Corelli] [Parents] [Royal College of Music] [Early Career] [Weston Super Mare] [Photo on the Pier] [Marriage & Family] [London] [Death] [Descendants]
WARNING:  I am just guessing the identities in these photos and would be grateful for any confirmation from descendants as to whether they are accurate.
Arrow up to more about John and ThomasineCharles A.=Sarah HAWKINS (married 1830)Arrow up to more about John and Thomasine
                              |
              ________________|___________________________at least seven other brothers and sisters
              |                                  |
        CORELLI E.B.                          Fredolph
              |                                  |
          ??                          ??   
              |                                  |
              L                                  L

Corelli Ernest Bere WINDEATT (1868-1947)

Corelli's strange name?

All three Christian names are unusual in the WINDEATT families.  I had assumed that Charles, his father, had called him after his favourite composer . . . .but we have now found that there was an Arcangelo Corelli Collard BERE who was born in Tiverton, Devon in 1821 but who married and lived in Kensington, London.

Arcangelo BERE was an organist and lived on a private income.  He would have been about 47 when Corelli WINDEATT was born and was probably either a sponsor or a tutor of Charles Allen WINDEATT, Corelli's father, and Charles must have named his new born son after Arcangelo BERE.

Infant prodigy?

Corelli lived up to his famous name by showing a precocious talent as a violinist and in October 1879, aged only 11,  he went up to London as a boarder to study the violin at the Royal Academy of Music.

 

Academician & Soloist

The Royal Academy has his age recorded as 9 when he began his studies there in 1879 but he was actually 11.  I wonder if Charles, his father, massaged his age to make him appear even more of an infant prodigy?  Or perhaps it is just a mistake in the records.

He won prizes and accolades for his performances and those we know about are listed in chronological order below.

Later life as a musician

Corelli eventually became a well-known Dance Band Leader and a composer of light orchestral works, first in Weston Super Mare and later in London.  See various newspaper and other references below.

WARNING: The information below mainly guesswork. It has been put together from secondary census and BMD index data. We only have Corelli's birth certificate.

Birth and Parents

1868 Birth in the Sub-district of Teignmouth in the County of Devon

When & WhereNameSexName and Surname of FatherName, surname and maiden surname of motherOccupation of fatherSignature, description and residence of informantWhen registered
27th June 1868
Fore Street
West Teignmouth		Corelli Ernest BereBoyCharles Allen WINDEATTSarah WINDEATT formerly HAWKINSJewellerC.A. WINDEATT
Father
Fore Street, West Teignmouth		6th August 1868
 

Corelli was born in Devon, the fourth son of a jeweller but this all changed over the next decade.  Probably as the result of some kind of sponsorship, the family moved to Weston Super Mare in Somerset and Corelli's father became a full-time musician, band-leader and music teacher.

1879 Baptism and Entry into the Royal Academy of Music

On September 10 1879, aged 11, Corelli was baptised in Christ Church Weston-Super-Mare along with three of his younger siblings.  I wondered what had impelled Charles and Sarah to suddenly get four of their children christened but obviously it must have been a requirement of the Royal Academy that pupils were baptised members of the Church of England.

According to information received from the Royal Academy of Music:

 "in October 1879, Corelli Windeatt entered the Royal Academy of Music aged 9, recommended by Mr Rutson, to study violin as principal subject . . . the 1886 published Prize list (page 3) lists as amongst the 13 pupils in the Male Department "having received all the Annual awards [in previous years], have satisfied the Examiners with their continued progress....

Windeatt, Corelli,
Violin Bronze medal: 1883
Silver medal :1884 
Certificate of Merit : 1885

. . ."

More information may be available from the Academy. Please leave a message on the Message Board if you would like to find out further information about his studies.

John RUTSON appears to have been quite well off.  In 1861 he was single and living in Newby Hall, Newby Wiske with his brother and seven servants. Maybe he supported Corelli in some way.  It seems unlikely that Corelli's father, of humble origins, and with eight other children to support could have afforded to send him to the RAM and board him in London.

1881 Census  taken 3rd April © Crown Copyright

Here's Corelli in London living with the Wilsons at 1 Rochester Villas, St. Pancras, London.  Presumably Charles WILSON was one of the teachers at the Royal Academy and Corelli was boarding with him [PRO Ref  RG11/0212 Folio 78   Page 18].

NameRelationshipMarriageAgeSexProfessionBirthplace
Charles WILSON HeadM 62 F School MasterWestminster, Middlesex
Caroline W. WILSON Wife U 58 F   Liskeard, Cornwall
Charles R. WILSON  Son U18M Scholar Old Charlton, Kent
Frances A. WILSONDaurU15M Scholar Old Charlton, Kent
John ARMSTRONG Pupil U19M Lieut Militia Royal WestmorlandCockermouth, Cumberland
Ernest GOUHAULT*Pupil U18 F Scholar Expernay, France
Corelli WINDEATT**Pupil   11  Scholar Teignmouth, Devon
Sara POOLE Serv W30F General Serv DomesticCheshunt, Hertford

* Ernest GOUHAULT (or GOUBAULT?) from Expernay:  Perhaps he was the Ernest Goubault mentioned in an article in praise of great champagnes and named as "one of Champagne’s greatest winemakers for giving us the 1921 Moët & Chandon, a wine so special that it was transvasaged into a fancy 18th-century replica bottle to become the very first vintage of Dom Pérignon."  (See  Wine Makers - Simply the Best from http://www.wine-pages.com/guests/tom/greatest.pdf).  Epernay is in the heart of the champagne country and Ernest would have been about 60 in 1921.

**mistranscribed as Carelli WINDEATH

1884-1887 Early Musical Career

1884 Age 16 and performing on tour as a violin soloist . . .

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.

A miscellaneous concert was given in the Town Hall on Saturday, at which the following artists appeared:  Miss Madeline HARDY, Miss Frances HIPWELL, Mr. T. W. HANSON, Mr. Alfred MOORE, Master Corelli WINDEATT (violin soloist) and Mr. Albert H. FOX (solo pianoforte and conductor).  There was a very large audience, and, judging from the hearty applause and frequent recalls, the performance was highly appreciated.  Miss HARDY sang in capital style Gounod's, "Changez, Ma Belle" - the violin obbligato to which was played by Master WINDEATT - and Hamilton EVAN's "Only a Story."  Miss HIPWELL gave an effective rendering of COWEN's "Never Again" and Pinsuti's 'Dream of Peace'.

 - Birmingham Daily Post (Birmingham, England), Monday, October 27, 1884; Issue 8213.

1886 Age 17 and winning prizes. . .

The competition for the Sainton-Dolby Prize at the Royal Academy of Music, took place on Saturday.  The examiners were Messrs. John FOSTER, M. MAYBRICK, and Lewis THOMAS (chairman.  There were 18 candidates, and the prize was awarded to Helen SAUNDERS.  The competition for the Bonamy Dobree Prize also took place.  The examiners were Messrs. William BOOLE, G. D??LIS, and B. ALBERT (CHAIRMAN).  There were four candidates, and the prize was awarded to John CARRODUJAN.  The Hine gift was also competed for, the examiners being Messrs, F, MOIR, Milton WELLINGS, and Michael WATSON (chairman).  There were four candidates, and the gift was awarded to Corelli WINDEATT.

-The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Friday, December 24, 1886; Issue 15199

1887 Age 18 and causing a "furore" in the provinces . . .

DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE - SUDBURY

EVENING CONCERT
.- A grand evening concert in aid of the funds of the Stour Boar Club was given in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday evening, when there was a fashionable, but not-very crowded audience.  The vocalists were Mrs. SPARROW, Miss SPARROW, Rev. W.E..DIXON, and Mr ROBERTS; piano soloist, Mrs, HENRY; violin ditto, Mr. Corelli WINDEATT, R.A.M.;  clarionet [sic], ditto, Mr. J. GARRETT.  Mrs. HENRY achieved a great success in her pianoforte solo, which was played in a brilliant style; as accompanist also her execution was fine and her touch sympathetic.  Mr. Corelli WINDEATT, a medalist [sic] of the Royal Academy, who is quite young man, caused quite a furore by his wonderful execution of the violin and his splendid style.  His playing was almost faultless, and he several times received the well-deserved plaudits of an appreciate company.   We are glad to find that we are likely to have him again in the town, as he has entered into an engagement with Mr. G. L. ANDREWES to assist in "St. Paul," which will be given next Easter. .. . . .

- The Ipswich Journal (Ipswich, England), Thursday, February 17, 1887; Issue 8635

1891 Return to Weston Super Mare

By 1891 Corelli had returned to Weston Super Mare where he was living with his brothers and sisters. 

A short extract from an article from the Weston and Somerset Mercury explains this move:

. . . Nor must one forget the brilliant contribution to Grand Pier and Weston music generally over many years of Corelli Windeatt. He was a violinist of rare talent who studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Prosper Stanton (Court violinist to Queen Victoria). Although only in his teens, he won Royal Academy of Music medals and diplomas and achieved fame as a solo violinist. He was also engaged for concert tours with famous artistes.

Corelli's father was a Weston music teacher and concert performer. Affectionately known as 'Old Boy Windeatt', he was rarely seen without his fiddle box. He taught at the Weston College and other schools and founded and conducted the Weston Orchestral Society. Sometimes at local concerts there were as many as seven members of his clever family in the orchestra.

A breakdown in the health of his father brought Corelli back to Weston to carry on his teaching connections. He also had his own orchestra, which he conducted for seasons at both pPiers and at many events in the district, including the balls arranged by Squire Smyth Pigott at his Brockley manorial residence.

Eventually Corelli returned to London and formed a dance band that became famous the country over and was in great demand for society balls and garden parties. It was featured at the Chelsea Arts Ball at the Albert Hall and at fashionable polo gatherings at Ranelagh . . .

- Weston & Somerset Mercury, 17/10/08, edited article originally published on February 7, 1969
© The Western and Somerset Mercury by kind permission.

1891 Census taken 5th April © Crown Copyright

In 1891 Corelli’s father was in the Somerset and Bath Asylum as a patient - we don’t know when he was admitted.  A kind correspondent has sent the following information on the rest of the family’s whereabouts in 1891  but WARNING - this is secondary data - I haven’t seen the image and some information may be missing or inaccurate.

Living at 5 LandemannTerrace, Weston Super Mare [RG12/1921/71]
Name Relationship Marriage Age Profession Birthplace
Sarah WINDEATT Wife M 53   Devon, Crediton
Bessie WINDEATT Daur S 25 Dressmaker Devon, Teignmouth
Edward R WINDEATT Son S 24 Music Teacher Devon, Teignmouth
Corelli B WINDEATT Son S 22 Musician Devon, Teignmouth
Frederick WINDEATT Son S 19 Music Student Devon, Teignmouth
Lilly WINDEATT Daur   16 Violinist  Somerset
Etty WINDEATT Daur   14 Helping Mother Somerset
Adaline B WINDEATT Daur   11 Scholar Somerset
Harry KEEPING Visitor   4    

We don't know how long Corelli's father was in the asylum or why.  It would be useful to see if there are any patient records that can be accessed.

Corelli Windeatt’s Band on the Pier at Weston Super Mare

Below is a photo of Corelli Windeatt and his Band also from the Weston and Somerset Mercury, reproduced here by kind permission, from their 2004 feature celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grand Pier. This photograph came from the Pier Picture Special page (now no longer available) and was captioned : "Corelli Windeatt and his band during the 1920s".

I’m assuming Corelli is the guy in the centre. And, because he looks so like him even down to the pair of glasses, I imagine the guy to his left is his brother Frederick Alfred, the violinist.  Corelli is standing awkwardly and looks as if he has a bad back?  If this *was* taken in the 1920s then Corelli would have been in his fifties.

 
© Weston & Somerset Mercury

1892 Marriage & Family with Bella KING (?-?)

The GRO index records the marriage in the September quarter of 1892 [Axbridge 5c 849] to Isabelle Florence KING.  Corelli and his younger brother, Fred, (see picture above) married two sisters (Bella and Henrietta KING).  We don’t know much more about these ladies but we do know, from the census, that they were born in the United States - although they were British Subjects.  What was their family doing over there?  And why did they come back?

Children are probably:

1901 Move to London

- More coming -

1901 Census (taken 31st March) © Crown Copyright

Living at no 4, Palmer Crescent, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey [RG13/663 Folio 57, Page 29, Schedule 187]
NameRelStatusAgeOccupationEmploymentWorking at homeWhere Born
Corelli WindeattHeadM31MusicianEmployerYesSomersetshire, Weston*
Isabell WindeattwifeM31      America US British Subject
Stanley Windeattson  7      Somersetshire, Weston
Rita Windeattdaur  3      Surrey, Kingston
George A Windeattson  2 mos      Surrey, Kingston
Lydia WIGGINSservS19General Serv -
Domestic worker		    Oxfordshire, Piddington

I wonder why Corelli gave his birthplace as Weston-Super-Mare rather than Teignmouth?  Perhaps his wife filled it in for him and made a mistake?

1914 The Chelsea Arts Ball

As for the Chelsea Arts Ball four thousand people again filled the Albert Hall in the Shakespeare Ball, but beyond that there was not much similarity. Far from the floor being packed throughout the eve ing it appears, if one writer can be believed:

*. . . that except during the Elizabethan Quadrille there were never more than three or four hundred actually dancing at once . . . and one could dance at one’s heart’s content on an excellent floor to the best dance band which it has ever been my fortune to hear/

The music which inspired the last comment came from the Corelli- Windeatt Band, which was famous throughout the country, although not of course nearly as famous as bands were to become with the advent of broadcasting. It is fair to add, here, however, that the best known of all dance music makers of this time was Herr Gottlieb’s Viennese Orchestra, a combination which played at the State Balls at Buckingham Palace and a large number of the smartest society func tions. Despite its foreign name, and the Austrian nationality of its conductor, a number of the instrumentalists were British.

- From Social Dance: A Short History by A.H. Franks, 1963

1887-1920 Composer

Here is a list of those of Corelli’s compositions that I have found referenced online:

1920s Dance Band Leader

Here are a few references I have found to his work in the 1920s:

1947 DEATH

His death is recorded in 1947 in the Wandsworth Register Office District.

1919-2009 Descendants

There are probably living descendants of Corelli and Bella.  Please make contact via the Message Board if can contribute any more information about this family or if you can correct any of the information.

 

Last updated January 2009.