Allen, George Benjamine

1822-1897

English composer and vocalist. Born in London. He was organist and chorister at several different churches and cathedrals, finally going as organist to Melbourne, Australia, where he was also conductor of Lyster's Opera Company. He later organized an opera company of his own, with which he traveled through Australia, New Zealand and India with great success. On returning to England, he established a comedy opera company, which produced several of Sullivan's operas. Allen, himself, wrote five operas, three of which, The Viking, Castle Grim and The Wicklow Rose were performed. He also composed cantatas, many anthems and a great number of songs, some of which are very popular, as The Bridge, The Arrow and the Song, and Beware. He set many of Longfellow's poems to music. He wrote in all about three hundred songs.