Peter Pelham (9 December 1721 – 28 April 1805) was an English-born American organist,

harpsichordist A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord. Harpsichordists may play as soloists, as accompanists, as chamber musicians, or as members of an orchestra, or some combination of these roles. Solo harpsichordists may play unaccompanied son ...

, teacher and composer. Pelham was born in London. His father, also named

Peter Pelham Peter Pelham (; – December 1751) was an American portrait painter and engraver, born in England. London Born c. 1695 in London, Pelham was one of several London artists who learned the then new technique of the mezzotint engraving. Of his ...

, was an engraver and an artist. Around 1730 the Pelhams immigrated to

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, where the father apprenticed his son to

Charles Theodore Pachelbel Charles Theodore Pachelbel (baptized Carl Theodorus, also spelled Karl Theodor, on ;Redway, "Charles Theodore Pachelbell, Musical Emigrant", p. 33 buried 15 September 1750) was a German composer, organist and harpsichordist of the late Baroque era ...

. The latter left for

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

in 1736 and Pelham followed him. He remained in Charleston for some time, studying with Pachelbel and later becoming a

harpsichord A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a musical keyboard, keyboard. Depressing a key raises its back end within the instrument, which in turn raises a mechanism with a small plectrum made from quill or plastic that plucks one ...

teacher himself. In 1744 Pelham became first organist of Trinity Church in Boston. Around 1750 he moved to

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It had a population of 15,425 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern par ...

, where in 1755 he became organist of

Bruton Parish Church Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1674 by the consolidation of two previous parishes in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Epi ...

. He held that post for almost 50 years, until 1802. Pelham actively participated in the city's musical life, giving concerts and conducting. He also supported himself and his family by running a small music store, as well as engaging in some non-musical activities: he was supervisor for the printing of currency from 1758 to 1775 and superintended the Public

Gaol A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where people are imprisoned under the authority of the state, usually as punishment for various cri ...

from 1770 to 1780. In 1802 Pelham became blind. His daughter Elizabeth succeeded him for a brief period as organist of Bruton Church. Pelham died in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

. Although several collections he compiled of music by other composers are extant, almost none of his own music survives, save for a short harpsichord

minuet A minuet (; also spelled menuet) is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually written in time. The English word was adapted from the Italian ''minuetto'' and the French ''menuet''. The term also describes the musical form tha ...

References

* H. Joseph Butler. "Pelham, Peter", ''

Grove Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language '' Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and t ...

'', ed. L. Macy, grovemusic.com (subscription access). * John Ogasapian. "Music of the Colonial And Revolutionary Era". Greenwood Press, 2004. P. 180. {{DEFAULTSORT:Pelham, Peter 1721 births 1805 deaths English emigrants to the United States American male composers American composers Composers from London People from Williamsburg, Virginia Musicians from Virginia American organists American male organists Blind classical musicians American blind organists American musicians with disabilities