Adson, John (bap. 1587
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Adson, John (bap. 1587?, d. 1640), musician and composer
David Lasocki
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Alcock, John (1715–1806), organist and composer chorister
H. Diack Johnstone
Alcock, John (1715–1806), organist and composer, was born at the family home, Crane Court, St Peter's Hill, London, on 11 April 1715, the third of the eight children of Daniel Alcock (bap. 1686) and his wife, Mary. They lived only a stone's throw from ...
Article
Allan [Allen], James [Jimmy] (1734–1810), Northumbrian piper and rogue
Keith Gregson
Allan [Allen], James [Jimmy] (1734–1810), Northumbrian piper and rogue, was born at Hepple, Northumberland, probably in March 1734, and baptized at Rothbury, Northumberland, on 21 April 1734, the son of William Allan or Allen, also known as Wull Faa, a noted vermin hunter and performer on the Northumbrian small pipes. ...
Article
Amner, John (d. 1641), composer and organist
John Morehen
Amner, John (d. 1641), composer and organist, came from a family which was intimately associated with the music at Ely Cathedral for over half a century. Michael Amner, his uncle, was a lay clerk at the cathedral (1576–88), as was also Ralph Amner...
Article
Armes, Philip (1836–1908), organist
J. C. Bridge
revised by Nilanjana Banerji
Armes, Philip (1836–1908), organist, born at Norwich on 15 August 1836, was the eldest son of Philip Armes (1814–1882), a schoolmaster and bass singer and his wife, Mary, née Harcourt (1814–1863). He was a chorister in Norwich Cathedral from 1846 to 1848, then joined the choir of ...
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Armstrong, Sir Thomas Henry Wait (1898–1994)
Maker: Walter Bird
In
Sir Thomas Henry Wait Armstrong (1898–1994) by Walter Bird, 1968 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Armstrong, Sir Thomas Henry Wait (1898–1994), organist and college administrator
Richard Stoker
Armstrong, Sir Thomas Henry Wait (1898–1994), organist and college administrator, was born on 15 June 1898 at Peterborough, the only son of Amos Ebenezer Armstrong (1878–1950), an organist and choirmaster, and his wife, Elizabeth Annie West, née Handford (1880–1939), a former headmistress. He had two younger sisters, ...
Article
Arnold, George Benjamin (1832–1902), organist and composer
Frederick Corder
revised by Nilanjana Banerji
Arnold, George Benjamin (1832–1902), organist and composer, born on 22 December 1832 at Petworth, Sussex, was the son of George Frederick Handel Arnold (1795–1883), organist of the parish church of Petworth, and his wife, Mary, née Cooper (1797/8–1864). He was articled to ...
Article
Ashley, Charles Jane (1772–1843), cellist
W. B. Squire
revised by John Warrack
Ashley, Charles Jane (1772–1843), cellist, was born on 30 December 1772 in London, probably at 4 Pimlico Terrace, Chelsea, the third son of John Ashley (c. 1734–1805) and his wife Mary, née Jane (d. 1809). He played at Ranelagh and at Covent Garden...
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Ashley, General Christopher (1769–1818)
See Ashley, John
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Ashley, John (c. 1734–1805), conductor and bassoonist
Brian W. Pritchard
Ashley, John (c. 1734–1805), conductor and bassoonist, was probably born in London, although it is impossible to place or date this with certainty. Little is known of Ashley's musical training and his earlier professional years. He was a bassoon player of considerable ability and may have held an appointment in a wind band of the militia, for ...
Article
Ashley, Richard Godfrey (1774–1836)
See Ashley, John
Article
Atkins, Sir Ivor Algernon (1869–1953), organist and choirmaster
Jerrold Northrop Moore
Atkins, Sir Ivor Algernon (1869–1953), organist and choirmaster, was born on 29 November 1869 at Llandaff, near Cardiff, the sixth child and third son of Frederick Pyke Atkins (1830–1897), organist of St John's parish church in Cardiff, and his wife, Harriet Maria, née...
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Attwood, Thomas (1765–1838)
Maker: unknown artist
In
Thomas Attwood (1765–1838) by unknown artist, c. 1815 Royal College of Music, London; photograph National Portrait Gallery, London
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Attwood, Thomas (1765–1838), composer and organist
Philip Olleson
Attwood, Thomas (1765–1838), composer and organist, was born on 23 November 1765, probably at 20 Eaton Street, Pimlico, Middlesex. He was the second of the six children of Thomas Attwood (d. 1825), a coal merchant and musician who played trumpet, horn, and viola in the king's band, and his wife, ...
Article
Ayleward, Richard (1626–1669), composer and organist
Ian Spink
Ayleward, Richard (1626–1669), composer and organist, was born at Winchester, the son of Richard Ayleward, a minor canon at the cathedral. He sang there as a chorister under Christopher Gibbons in 1638 and 1639. Nothing is known of his whereabouts during the interregnum. At the Restoration he was appointed organist and master of the choristers at ...
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Aylward, Theodore (bap. 1731, d. 1801), musician
W. B. Squire
revised by David Burchell
Aylward, Theodore (bap. 1731, d. 1801), musician, was baptized on 25 July 1731 at St Peter's, Chichester, the son of Henry Aylward, gentleman, and his wife, Ann. Of his education nothing is known, though when young he seems to have sung at Drury Lane Theatre...
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Ayrton, Edmund (1734–1808), composer and musician
Claire M. Nelson
Ayrton, Edmund (1734–1808), composer and musician, was born on 21 October 1734 at Ripon, Yorkshire, the third of the four surviving children of Edward Ayrton (1698–1774), alderman and later mayor and magistrate of the borough of Ripon, and his wife, Catherine (1701?–1781), daughter of ...
Article
Babell, William (1689/90–1723), musical arranger and harpsichordist
J. A. F. Maitland
revised by K. D. Reynolds
Babell, William (1689/90–1723), musical arranger and harpsichordist, was the son of a bassoonist in the Drury Lane Theatre orchestra, and was taught by his father, by John Christopher Pepusch, and possibly by Handel. A proficient violinist, harpsichordist, and organist, he was active in ...
Article
Bache, Francis Edward (1833–1858), composer and organist
W. B. Squire
revised by Clive Brown
Bache, Francis Edward (1833–1858), composer and organist, was born on 14 September 1833 at Birmingham, the eldest of the seven children of Samuel Bache (1804–1876), a Unitarian minister, and his wife, Emily, née Higginson (d. 1855). From a very early age he showed extraordinary talent for music, learning the piano, organ, and violin. On the last instrument, which he studied with ...
