Edward Finch (1664–1738) was an English composer.

Life

He was the fifth son of Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, and was educated at

Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 170 graduate students. The college was founded by William Byngham in 1437 as ...

, proceeding M.A. in 1679, and becoming a fellow of Christ's. He represented the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in the parliament of 1689–90. He was ordained deacon at York in 1700, became rector of Wigan, was appointed prebendary of York 26 April 1704, and resided in the north end of the treasurer's house in the Close, taking an active interest in musical matters, as appears from the family correspondence. Finch was installed prebendary of Canterbury 8 Feb. 1710. He died 14 February 1738, aged 75, at York, where a monument erected by him in the minster to his wife and brother (Henry, dean of York) bore a bust and inscription to his memory.

Works

Finch's "Te Deum" and anthem "Grant, we beseech Thee", both written in five parts, were included in

Thomas Tudway Thomas Tudway (died 1726) was an English musician and Professor of Music at Cambridge University. He is known as a composer, and for his compilation of a collection of Anglican church music. Life Tudway was born probably before 1650, as he becam ...

's ''Collection of Services'' (Harleian MSS. 7337–42); "A Grammar of Thorough Bass", with examples, a manuscript of 66 pages, went to the Euing Library at Glasgow. In Finch's manuscript letters is one addressed to his brother Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, and dated Winwick, 12 July 1702; he there enunciated his views on

sinecure A sinecure ( or ; from the Latin , 'without', and , 'care') is an office, carrying a salary or otherwise generating income, that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service. The term originated in the medieval chu ...

s and discusses other questions of preferment.

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Finch, Edward 1664 births 1738 deaths 17th-century classical composers 18th-century classical composers 18th-century British male musicians English Baroque composers English classical composers Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge 18th-century English Anglican priests Members of the pre-1707 Parliament of England for the University of Cambridge Alumni of Christ's College, Cambridge English male classical composers 17th-century male musicians