John Travers (ca. 1703 – June 1758) was an
English
English usually refers to:
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* English people
English may also refer to:
Culture, language and peoples
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
* ''English'', an Amish ter ...
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
who held the office of Organist to the Chapel Royal from 1737 to 1758. Before filling several parochial posts in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
he had been a choir boy at
St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and a pupil of
Johann Christoph Pepusch
Johann Christoph Pepusch (; 1667 1752), also known as John Christopher Pepusch () and Dr Pepusch, was a German-born composer who spent most of his working life in England. He was born in Berlin, son of a vicar, and was married to Margherita de ...
.
Life
He received his early musical education in the choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. With the support of
Henry Godolphin
Henry Godolphin (1648–1733) was a Provost of Eton College and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London – a position in which he clashed with Sir Christopher Wren in the period when the new cathedral had reached the finishing touches.
Life
He ...
, he was apprenticed to
Maurice Greene. He afterwards studied with John Christopher Pepusch, and copied, according to
Charles Burney
Charles Burney (7 April 1726 – 12 April 1814) was an English music historian, composer and musician. He was the father of the writers Frances Burney and Sarah Burney, of the explorer James Burney, and of Charles Burney, a classicis ...
, his style. On Pepusch's death Travers was bequeathed some of his musical library.
About 1725 Travers became organist of
St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and afterwards of
Fulham
Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...
church. On 10 May 1737 he succeeded
Jonathan Martin as organist of the Chapel Royal, a post which he held until his death in 1758.
Among his pupils was
Jackson of Exeter
William Jackson (29 May 1730 – 5 July 1803), referred to as Jackson of Exeter, was an English organist and composer.
Life
Jackson was born and died in Exeter, England, the son of an Exeter grocer, who later became master of the city workhouse. ...
.
Works
His church music (for example the extended anthem ''Ascribe unto the Lord'') was used into the nineteenth century.
*''The whole Book of Psalms for one, two, three, four, or five voices, with a thorough bass for the harpsichord'' (1750?)
* ''Twelve Voluntaries for Organ or Harpsichord'', London (1769).
Among his secular compositions are his ''Eighteen Canzonets'', the words being from
Matthew Prior
Matthew Prior (21 July 1664 – 18 September 1721) was an English poet and diplomat. He is also known as a contributor to '' The Examiner''.
Early life
Prior was born in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, where he lived with his father George, a Non ...
.
References
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Notes
External links
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;Attribution
1703 births
1758 deaths
18th-century English composers
18th-century English male musicians
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