Maurice Greene (12 August 1696 – 1 December 1755) was an English

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 Defi ...

and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

Biography

Born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, the son of a clergyman, Greene became a

choirboy A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble. As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" (also derisively) refers to someone who is considered honora ...

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

under

Jeremiah Clarke Jeremiah Clarke (c. 1674 – 1 December 1707) was an English baroque composer and organist, best known for his ''Trumpet Voluntary,'' a popular piece often played at wedding ceremonies or commencement ceremonies. Biography The exact date of Cla ...

and Charles King. He studied the organ under Richard Brind, and after Brind died, Greene became organist at St Paul's. With the death of

William Croft William Croft (baptised 30 December 1678 – 14 August 1727) was an English composer and organist. Life Croft was born at the Manor House, Nether Ettington, Warwickshire. He was educated at the Chapel Royal under the instruction of John Blow ...

in 1727, Greene became organist at the

Chapel Royal The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also applie ...

, and in 1730 he became Professor of Music at

Cambridge University , 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 1735 he was appointed

Master of the King's Musick Master of the King's Music (or Master of the Queen's Music, or earlier Master of the King's Musick) is a post in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. The holder of the post originally served the monarch of England, directing the court orch ...

. At his death, Greene was working on the compilation ''Cathedral Music'', which his student and successor as Master of the King's Musick,

William Boyce William Boyce may refer to: *William Boyce (composer) (1711–1779), English-born composer and Master of the King's Musick * William Binnington Boyce (1804–1889), English-born philologist and clergyman, active in Australia *William Waters Boyce ( ...

, was to complete. Many items from that collection are still used in

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

services today. He wrote very competent music in the Georgian style, particularly long Verse Anthems. His acknowledged masterpiece, ''Lord, let me know mine end'', is a representative example. Greene sets a text full of pathos using a polyphonic texture over a continuous instrumental walking bass, with a particularly effective treble duet in the middle of the work. Both this section and the end of the anthem contain superb examples of the Neapolitan sixth chord. He died in 1755 aged 59 and was initially buried at St Olave Old Jewry until after the church's demolition in 1887 when he was reburied in

."Memorials of St Paul's Cathedral" Sinclair, W. p. 471: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.

Works

Greene wrote a good deal of both sacred and secular vocal music, including: * the

anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...

'' Hearken Unto Me, Ye Holy Children'' (1728) * the

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...

''The Song of Deborah and Barak'' (1732) * the

''Jephtha'' (1737) * the

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

'' Florimel'' (1734) * settings of

sonnet A sonnet is a poetic form that originated in the poetry composed at the Court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the Sicilian city of Palermo. The 13th-century poet and notary Giacomo da Lentini is credited with the sonnet's invention, ...

s from

Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser (; 1552/1553 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for ''The Faerie Queene'', an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of ...

's ''Amoretti'' (1739) * a collection of

s (1743), of which the best-known is ''Lord, let me know mine end''. * the opera '' Phoebe'' (completed 1747) He also published keyboard music, including: *''Choice Lessons'', for harpsichord or spinet (London, 1733) *''6 Overtures … in Seven Parts'', arranged for harpsichord or spinet (London, 1745) *''A Collection of Lessons'', for harpsichord (London, 1750) *''Twelve Voluntarys'', for organ or harpsichord (London, 1779)

References

* Johnstone, H. Diack. "Greene, Maurice",
Grove Music Online
' ed. L. Macy (Accessed 4 October 2004).

External links

Free scores

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Greene, Maurice 1696 births 1755 deaths 18th-century classical composers 18th-century English composers 18th-century keyboardists 18th-century British male musicians Professors of Music (Cambridge) British male organists Cathedral organists Classical composers of church music English Baroque composers English classical composers English male classical composers English opera composers English classical organists Male opera composers Masters of the King's Music Members of the Academy of Ancient Music Musicians from London People educated at St. Paul's Cathedral School Male classical organists