John Alcock (11 April 1715,

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 ...

– 23 February 1806) was an English organist and composer. He wrote instrumental music, glees and much church music.

Career

He was a pupil of John Stanley at

St. Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...

, and he earned a doctorate in music at the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

in 1766. Much detail of his life is included in his semi-autobiographical novel, ''The Life Of Miss Fanny Brown'' published under the pseudonym John Piper in 1771. He also held a position as private organist to the Earl of Donegall. He was: *Organist of

St Andrew's Church, Plymouth The Minster Church of St Andrew, also known as St Andrew's Church, Plymouth is an Anglican church in Plymouth, Devon in England. It is the original parish church of Sutton, one of the three towns which were later combined to form the city of Pl ...

1737–1741 *Organist of

St Laurence's Church, Reading St Laurence's Church is a Church of England mission and former parish church in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated alongside the site of Reading Abbey, formerly bounded by the main Compter Gate to the south ...

1741–1750 *Organist of

Lichfield Cathedral Lichfield Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Chad in Lichfield, is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Lichfield, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Lichfield and the principal church of the diocese ...

1750–1766 *Organist of

Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield Holy Trinity Parish Church is the parish church of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England. It is Grade I listed and gives its name to the ward in which it stands, Sutton Trinity. History The first church on the site is thought to have been ...

1761–1786 *Organist of St. Editha's Church, Tamworth 1766–1790Cathedral Organists, John E. West, London, Novello and Company, 1899.

Personal life

John Alcock married Margaret Beaumont (1711–1792) on 20 May 1737. They had several children, including their eldest son and fellow composer

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(1740—1791) and youngest son and organist William (1756—1833).

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alcock, John English cathedral organists 1715 births 1806 deaths Glee composers English classical composers of church music 18th-century English classical composers 18th-century English male musicians 18th-century English keyboardists English male classical composers 19th-century English musicians 19th-century English male musicians English male classical organists