DOWNER, JOHAN CHRISTOFFER (, Jolgava, Latvia—), violinist and conductor.
Downer was a violinist in the Tallin, Estonia, orchestra before moving to Finland in 1820. A fine violinist, he concertized extensively and performed chamber music, especially with violinist Josef Gehring (see GEHRING, JOSEF) and cellist Carl Salgé (see SALGÉ, CARL WILHELM), in Turku and elsewhere. In 1823 Downer was elected orchestral conductor of the Turku Musical Society (see TURKU MUSICAL SOCIETY). During...