Robert Cooke (1768 – 22/23 August 1814) was an English organist and composer, from 1802 organist of Westminster Abbey.

Life

Cooke was born in Westminster, London, son of the organist and composer

Benjamin Cooke Benjamin Cooke (1734 – 14 September 1793) was an English composer, organist and teacher. Cooke was born in London and named after his father, also Benjamin Cooke (1695/1705 – 1743), a music publisher based in Covent Garden (active from 1 ...

; he succeeded his father as organist of the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1793. He was appointed organist at Westminster Abbey on the death of

Samuel Arnold Samuel Arnold may refer to: *Samuel Arnold (composer) (1740–1802), English composer and organist * Samuel Arnold (Connecticut politician) (1806–1869), U.S. Representative from Connecticut * Samuel Arnold (conspirator) (1834–1906), co-conspira ...

in 1802, and was master of the choristers of the Abbey by 1805. On 22 or 23 August 1814 he drowned in the River Thames near

Millbank Millbank is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. Millbank is located by the River Thames, east of Pimlico and south of Westminster. Millbank is known as the location of major government offices, Burberry headquarters, the Millb ...

; it was assumed to be suicide. He was buried in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey.Benjamin and Robert Cooke
Westminster Abbey, accessed 20 February 2023.

Compositions

Cooke wrote an Evening Service in C (1806), and a collection of chants for the choir of the Abbey. He also wrote an "Ode to Friendship", and several songs and glees, of which a collection of eight was published in 1805.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Robert 1768 births 1814 deaths English classical organists British male organists 18th-century keyboardists 19th-century organists Glee composers 19th-century classical composers Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey Burials at Westminster Abbey 19th-century British male musicians Male classical organists