James Bartleman (1769–1821), was an English bass singer who performed at the Concerts of Ancient Music and revived the solo songs of Henry Purcell.
He distinguished himself even as a boy singer, and by his gentle, amiable disposition, became a great favourite not only with his master, but also with Sir John Hawkins, whose daughter Laetitia mentions him frequently in her Anecdotes, and always with the highest admiration, both of his talents, but of his character.
[1] He made his first appearance as a bass singer in 1788 at the Concerts of Ancient Music, and he kept up his connection with that institution, with only one break, until compelled by ill-health to resign.
The same critic tells us that his intonation was wonderfully true, and that his richness and equality of tone resulted in part from his peculiarities of pronunciation; as instances of which, the words "die" and "smile" are given as "doy"’ and "smawele".
[1] Bartleman greatly admired Purcell's solos, and, at the 1796 season of the Ancient Concerts,[2] revived nearly all those bass songs which later became the best known specimens of the composer's work,[1] including the Frost Scene from King Arthur and "Let the dreadful engines of eternal will" from Cardenio.