Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Loder, John David
LODER, JOHN DAVID (1788–1846), violinist, a member of a musical family long resident in Bath, the son of John Loder (d. 1795 at Weymouth), musician, was born at Bath in 1788. He was at the head of his profession in Bath for many years, leading the band of the theatre, and giving concerts in association with Sir George Smart from 1823, and others. After 1826, when Loder was soloist at the Gloucester musical festival, he was leader at the Three Choirs festivals until 1845. He subsequently resided in London, became professor of the Royal Academy of Music, and a principal violin, 1840, succeeding Cramer as leader, 1845, at the Ancient Concerts. Loder also led at the Philharmonic and other concerts. His thorough knowledge of orchestral and chamber music caused his services to be especially sought in the performance of new and intricate works. He was a successful teacher of the violin and viola, and the author of a standard work of instruction for the violin, 1814, one more elementary than the foreign class-books hitherto employed, and more methodical than the compilations of Geminiani and Barthélémon. The 'Instruction Book' passed through many editions, one of the most recent being edited by Carrodus in 1884.
Loder died at Albany Street, Regent's Park, on 13 Feb. 1846, in his fifty-eighth year. He left a widow, five sons—of whom three, Edward James [q. v.], John Fawcett, and William, were established musicians— and two daughters.
Loder supplemented his (1) 'General and Comprehensive Instruction Book for the Violin,' 1814, by (2) 'A First Set of Three Duets for two Violins,' 1837, and (3) 'The whole Modern Art of Bowing,' 1842.
Loder's second son, John Fawcett Loder (1812-1853), violinist, born in 1812, played in London orchestras. He took the viola in Dando's quartet from 1842 till 1853 (Grove, Dict. of Mus. i. 429). He died suddenly in Hawley Crescent, London, on 16 April 1853.
[For the father: Gent. Mag. 1814, p. 468; Bath Chronicle of 19 Feb. 1846; Athenæum, 1846, p. 205; Annals of the Three Choirs, pp. 84-156 passim; Programmes of Ancient Music Concerts, 1840-6. For the son: Gent. Mag. 1853, pt. i. p. 674; Waller's Imperial Dictionary.]