James Heseltine (also spelled Hesletine; c. 1690 – 20 June 1763) was organist of

Durham Cathedral Durham Cathedral, formally the , is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Durham, England. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Durham and is the Mother Church#Cathedral, mother church of the diocese of Durham. It also contains the ...

Life

Heseltine was a pupil of

John Blow John Blow (baptised 23 February 1649 – 1 October 1708) was an English composer and organist of the Baroque period. Appointed organist of Westminster Abbey in late 1668,Chapel Royal A chapel royal is an establishment in the British and Canadian royal households serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the royal family. Historically, the chapel royal was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarc ...

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 ...

, leaving the chapel choir when his voice broke in 1707. Early in the century he was organist at

St Katharine's by the Tower The Royal Foundation of St Katharine is a religious charity based in the East End of London. The Foundation traces its origins back to the medieval church and monastic hospital St Katharine's by the Tower (full name ''Royal Hospital and Collegia ...

, in London. In January 1711 he was elected organist of

, retaining his London appointment. He composed anthems and other works, but because of a misunderstanding between him and the dean and chapter of the cathedral, he destroyed a large part of them. However six were published in ''A Collection of Anthems'' (1749). In 1730 Heseltine married Frances, daughter of

George Wheler George Wheler may refer to: * Sir George Wheler (travel writer) (1651–1724), English clergyman and travel writer * George Wheler (politician) George Wheler (September 2, 1836 – July 6, 1908) was a mill owner and political figure in Ontar ...

, canon of Durham. He remained as organist of the cathedral until his death in 1763. He was buried in the Galilee chapel of the cathedral. His pupil

Thomas Ebdon Thomas Ebdon (1738–1811) was a British composer and organist born in Durham. He was a chorister at Durham Cathedral Durham Cathedral, formally the , is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Durham, England. The cathedral is the seat ...

succeeded him as organist. His wife predeceased him, and there were no children; his property was claimed by a nephew and niece in America.

References

External links

"Mr. James Heseltine (oil on canvas)"
at

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heseltine, James 1690 births 1763 deaths 18th-century keyboardists English classical organists 18th-century classical composers 18th-century British male musicians Musicians from County Durham English male classical organists Cathedral organists