Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gvh9x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T03:27:51.657Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dr. John Blow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Get access

Extract

Two hundred years ago, or, to be precise, a little more than two hundred years, lived an eminent musician highly esteemed for his artistic gifts and for his honourable life. Dr. Blow was a prosperous man, and in addition to his town residence in the Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, he possessed a small country estate at Hampton-on-Thames, where he was wont occasionally to retire to recuperate his energies; he was there in the beginning of 1708, his health being considerably disordered, and, as a prudent man, he made his will and set his worldly affairs in order; subsequently he returned to the Broad Sanctuary, and died there on October 1 of the same year, 1708. He was honourably buried in a grave in the North Aisle of Westminster Abbey, near to the organ and adjacent to the resting-place of his former pupil, Henry Purcell. A tablet to his memory was speedily erected by his friends and admirers, on which was engraved a Gloria Patri in canon, taken from his Jubilate Deo in the key of G. This canon was sung on occasion in St. Peter's Church in Rome, and obtained world-wide fame. Only a few years ago the Emperor of Brazil, being on a visit to London, went to Westminster Abbey, and was conducted through the ancient building by Dean Stanley; after the latter had called the Emperor's attention to the salient features of the edifice, and its most important monuments, he suggested a return to the Deanery, when the Emperor said, “There is one monument I much wish to see, which you have missed.” The Dean, in surprise, inquired what it was, and the Emperor replied, “I want to see the celebrated canon which is engraved on Dr. Blow's monument.” The incident is equally creditable to Blow's fame and to the Emperor's intelligence.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Musical Association, 1908

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

One of the conditions of the Magnus foundation provided that the scholars should be taught “plainsong, pricksong and to play the organs.”Google Scholar

Subsequent to the reading of this paper, a book of records of the King's Music has been published, and therein is found, dated July, 1661, “payment of £23 16s. 9d. to Henry Cooke, Master of the Children of the Chappell, for fetching five boys from Newarke and Lincolnit for his Majesty's service.” “The King's Musick : a transcript of records relating to Music and Musicians (1460–1700).” Edited by Henry Cart de Lafontaine, M.A. Novello.Google Scholar

There is an entry in the “Record Office” dated May 17, 1665, to pay Capt. Cooke £40 yearly for the maintenance of Pelham Humphryes : £30 for John Blow, and £30 for John Blundiville, late children of His Majesty's Chappell.Google Scholar

Since the reading of this paper a facsimile of the Latin Faculty given to Blow has been published in the Musical Times of May, 1909, and there he is clearly described as born in Newark in the county of Nottingham.Google Scholar

All the vocal pieces are published by Novello & Co., Ltd.Google Scholar