Charles William Hempel (1777–1855) was an English organist.

Life

Hempel was born at Chelsea, Middlesex, on 28 August 1777, and showing very early indications of musical talent was placed under the tuition of his relative, Augustus F. C. Kollmann, organist and composer. He made rapid progress, and at the age of eight performed during the service at the king's German chapel, St. James's. He was placed later at a boarding-school in Surrey, where all his leisure time was devoted to music and drawing. In 1793–4 he was on the continent, chiefly at

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and

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, where he cultivated his taste for music. Not finding employment in London, he removed to

Truro Truro (; kw, Truru) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cornwall, England. It is Cornwall's county town, sole city and centre for administration, leisure and retail trading. Its ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, where in May 1804 he was elected organist of St. Mary's Church (which later became

Truro Cathedral The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Truro, Cornwall. It was built between 1880 and 1910 to a Gothic Revival design by John Loughborough Pearson on the site of the parish church of St Mary. It i ...

). He held this post for forty years, supplementing his income by teaching music. In 1805 he composed and printed ''Psalms from the New Version for the use of the Congregation of St. Mary's'', and in 1812 ''Sacred Melodies'' for the same congregation. These melodies became very popular, and some of them are still found in musical collections. ''A Morning and Evening Service, twenty Original Melodies, and two Anthems'', dedicated to the Hon. George Pelham,

bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...

, was published in 1820. For the use of his pupils in 1822 he printed an ''Introduction to the Pianoforte, comprising Elementary Instruction, with a series of Practical Lessons''. Commercial tourist IR Cruikshank

Hempel also became known as a poet in 1822 by his work entitled ''The Commercial Tourist, or Gentleman Traveller, a satirical poem in four cantos''. This book was embellished with coloured engravings designed and etched by J. R. Cruikshank, and in 1832 went to a third edition. In his later life he moved to

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

, where he made an improvident second marriage. His death is involved in some obscurity. The ''West Briton'' states that he died at his son's residence, Wolsingham Place, Kennington Road, London, on 14 March 1855; but a more trustworthy source, the registrar-general's return, says that after acting as a banker's clerk he died in the workhouse, Prince's Road, Lambeth, London, on 14 March 1855. His eldest son was Charles or Carl Frederick Hempel.

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hempel, Charles William 1777 births 1855 deaths English organists British male organists