John Clarke-Whitfeld (13 December 1770 – 22 February 1836) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...

and

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 Def ...

Life

He was born John Clarke at

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east o ...

, and educated at

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under Dr Philip Hayes. In 1789 he was appointed organist of the parish church at

Ludlow Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The ...

. Four years later he took the degree of Mus. Bac. at

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

, and in 1795 he was chosen as organist of

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cathedral, whence he removed in the same year to Dublin, with the appointments of organist and master of the children at St Patrick's Cathedral and Christchurch. Driven from Ireland by the rebellion of 1798, he accepted the post of organist at

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...

and St John's Colleges, Cambridge,. He took the degree of Mus. Doc. at Cambridge in 1799, and in 1810 proceeded to the same grade at Oxford. In 1814 he assumed the surname of Whitfeld, in addition to that of Clarke, in anticipation of an inheritance which failed to materialise. Press cutting - ''Bury & Norwich Post'' 1 June 1814 - ''Tuesdays Gazette: John Clarke, of Emanuel House, Cambridge, Dr. in music, only son and heir of John Clarke, late of Malmesbury, Wilts, Gent, by Amphillis his wife, (who was at length the only surviving child of Henry Fotherly Whitfeld, of Rickmansworth Park, deceased) has his Majesty's licence and authority to take and use the surname and arms of Whitfeld only.'' In 1820 he was elected organist and master of the choristers at

Hereford Cathedral Hereford Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Hereford in Hereford, England. A place of worship has existed on the site of the present building since the 8th century or earlier. The present building was begun in 1079. ...

; and on the death of Dr Haig he was appointed Professor of Music at Cambridge. Three years afterwards he resigned these appointments in consequence of an attack of paralysis. He died at Hereford, on 22 February 1836 aged 65. Whitfeld's compositions were very numerous. Among the best of them are four volumes of anthems, the first three published in 1805, and the fourth soon after his appointment at Hereford Cathedral. He also composed a great number of songs, one of which--"Bird of the Wilderness," written to some well-known verses by

James Hogg James Hogg (1770 – 21 November 1835) was a Scottish poet, novelist and essayist who wrote in both Scots and English. As a young man he worked as a shepherd and farmhand, and was largely self-educated through reading. He was a friend of many ...

, the "Ettrick Shepherd"—attained a high degree of popularity but the great work of his life was the publication, in a popular and eminently useful form, of 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 ...

s of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

, which he was the first to present to the public with a complete pianoforte accompaniment.

Family

On 3 September 1789 John Clarke married Susannah Grainger (born 1768) in

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engla ...

. Their son Henry John Whitfeld (1808–1855) became an alumnus of

Downing College, Cambridge Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge and currently has around 650 students. Founded in 1800, it was the only college to be added to Cambridge University between 1596 and 1869, and is often described as the old ...

and the vicar of

Granborough Granborough (previously Grandborough) is a village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. It is around north of Waddesdon and south-east of Buckingham. The nearest town is Winslow. The village name is Anglo-Saxon in origin, and means ' ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-e ...

. Henry J. Whitfeld was the author of ''Scilly and its Legends'' (1852) and ''Rambles in Devonshire'' (1854).

Notes

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Whitfeld, John Clarke 1770 births 1836 deaths English classical organists British male organists Cathedral organists English classical composers Glee composers Alumni of the University of Oxford Alumni of the University of Cambridge Members of the University of Cambridge Faculty of Music English male classical composers Professors of Music (Cambridge) Male classical organists