The artistic establishment: Musicians 1660?1837

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

'The artistic establishment: Musicians 1660?1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 185-199. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp185-199 [accessed 24 April 2024]

Musicians 1660–1837

At the beginning of the period, the royal musicians played on great ceremonial occasions such as New Year's Day and royal birthdays; and also, in smaller groups, for court balls and theatricals; at the King's dinner, and, under Charles II only, in accompaniment to the Sunday services of the chapel royal.

Musicians were appointed by the lord chamberlain, usually by warrants to the gentleman usher daily waiter. (fn. 1) Under Charles II, some musicians held their places by patent for life and pay varied widely from musician to musician (the standard fee seems to have been £46 10s 10d or 12s 8d). That pay was usually in arrears, often for years at a time. There were separate consorts for the twenty-four violins; the wind band; the broken consort; the private music for lutes, voices, theorbos and virginalls and the French and Italian musics. Favored individuals could hold multiple positions in one band or several, irrespective of their instrumental specialty. (fn. 2) In 1685, the life tenures were abolished and these consorts were consolidated into one consisting of thirty-three players and vocalists and one instrument keeper paid £40 per annum plus £16 2s 6d for livery apiece, called the 'Private Music'. (For purposes of the following list and the personal index, however, musicians heretofore members of one of these consorts reappointed to the consolidated band in 1685 are dubbed simply 'Musician'). (fn. 3) Musicians were also allowed 3s per diem in riding wages. (fn. 4) In 1689 the number of musicians rose to thirty-nine, including eight vocalists and three composers, but on 2 May 1690 the band was reduced to twenty-four, which remained its established number for the remainder of the period. From that date, William III also maintained a separate establishment of eight vocalists. By the end of the period, pay rose to £45 14s plus fees. (fn. 5)

By the mid-eighteenth century, places in the band of 24 musicians were frequently awarded as sinecures to non-musicians and the court came increasingly to rely upon a private ensemble, paid out of the privy purse, for its musical entertainment. In 1815 the Treasury requested an inquiry into the state of the band, 'it appearing extremly desirable that this Band should if continued upon the Establishment be rendered efficient.' By 1841 there were just thirteen efficient members of the band. (fn. 6)

The composer for the violins made £200, that for the private music made £40 paid at the Exchequer. (fn. 7)

The Italian musicians received chains with medals. (fn. 8)

Musicians for the Twenty-Four Violins 1660–1685



1660		Strong, R.
1660		Strong, E.
[1660	16 June]	Howes, W.
1660	18 June	Strong, J.
1660	10 July	Fitz, T.
By 1661		Beeland, A.
1661	Jan.	Hopper, S.
1661	28 Mar.	Bannister, J., sen.
1661	May	Saunders, W.
1661	6 Sept.	Atkyns, J.
1661	6 Sept.	Brockwell, H.
1661	6 Sept.	Clayton, W.
1661	6 Sept.	Singleton, J.
1661	6 Sept.	Staggins, I.
1661	6 Sept.	Yockney, J.
1661	6 Sept.	Young, W.
1661	Dec.	Yockney, W.
1662	24 Mar.	Smyth, H.
By 1663		Bridges, P.F.
By 1663		Dorney, R.
1663	24 Dec.	Bannister, J.
1664	2 Oct.	Fitz, T.
1665	18 July	Tanner, E.
1665	20 July	Beckett, P.
1665	20 July	Blagrave, T.
1668	28 May	Myer, J.
1670	25 June	Fashion, J.
1671	15 Feb.	Finall, T.
1671	6 Nov.	Twyst, J.
1671	21 Dec.	Staggins, N.
1672	19 Mar.	Flower, E.
1674	27 Aug.	Dove, H.
1674	4 Sept.	Farmer, T.
1676	3 May	Thomlinson, R.
1676	8 May	Bannister, J.
1676	12 Aug.	Stevens, G.
1679	6 Nov.	Bannister, J., jun.
1679	22 Dec.	Ayleworth, J.
1680	6 Feb.	King, R.
1681	2 Aug.	Lenton, J.
By 1682		Abell, J.
1682	5 July	Crouch, J.
1684	3 Dec.	Staggins, C.

Musicians for the Violins in Extraordinary 1662–?1685



1662	27 Oct.	Ayleworth, W.
1662	27 Oct.	Bannister, J.
1662	14 Nov.	Myer, J.
1663	28 Feb.	Tanner, E.
1664	27 Aug.	Pagett, W.
1665	20 May	Fynell, T.
1670	5 Dec.	Browne, R.
1670	19 Dec.	Spicer, J.
By 1674		Farmer, T.
1677	10 Apr.	Twyst, J.

Composers in Extraordinary for the Violins 1672–1673; c. 1681–1682



1672	10 Jan.	Humfrey, P. (joint)
1672	10 Jan.	Purcell, T. (joint)
By 1681		Blow, J. (joint)
By 1681		Staggins, N.

Composers for the Violins 1660–1685



1660	16 June	Hudson, G.
1661	Jan.	Locke, M.
1673	15 July	Humfrey, P. (joint)
1673	15 July	Purcell, T. (joint)
1677	10 Sept.	Purcell, H.
1682	10 Aug.	Blow, J. (joint)
1682	10 Aug.	Staggins, N. (joint)

Musicians for the Private Music 1660–1685



n.d.		Blore, -
n.d.		Howes, W.
n. d.		Hopper, S.
1660		Robert, A.
[1660]		Tomkins, G.
1660	9 June	Evans, C.
[1660]	16 June	Becket, P.
[1660]	16 June	Blagrave, T.
[1660]	16 June	Child, W.
[1660]	16 June	Coleman, C., sen.
[1660]	16 June	Comer, H.
[1660]	16 June	Dorney, R., jun.
[1660]	16 June	Gregory, W.
[1660]	16 June	Harding, J.
[1660]	16 June	Hudson, R.
[1660]	16 June	Jenkins, J.
[1660]	16 June	Madge, H.
[1660]	16 June	Mell, D.
[1660]	16 June	Rogers, J.
[1660]	16 June	Smith, J.
1660	19 June	Bates, T.
1660	19 June	Lilly, J.
1660	19 June	Thorndale, G.
1660	20 June	Deering, R., [jun.]
1660	20 June	Marsh, A., sen.
1660	22 June	Watkin, N.
1660	23 June	Hingston, J.
1660	28 June	Gibbons, C.
1660	9 Aug.	Darcy, S.
1660	13 Aug.	Anlaby, W.
1660	13 Aug.	Coleman, C., jun.
1660	31 Aug.	Lawes, H.
1660	13 Sept.	Wing, W.
1660	8 Oct.	Singleton, J.
1660	16 Oct.	Fitz, T.
1660	9 Nov.	Clement, J.
1660	9 Nov.	Coleman, E.
1660	9 Nov.	Cook, H.
1660	15 Nov.	Lanier, T.
By 1661		Bales, A.
By 1661		Steffkin, T.
1661	22 Jan.	Hawes, H.
1661	8 Mar.	Wilson, J.
1661	18 Mar.	Bridges, P.
1661	6 Apr.	Notary, A. (joint0
1661	18 Oct.	De la Volee, J.
1661	23 Dec.	Baltzar, T.
1662	30 Oct.	Evans, L.
1662	14 Nov.	Purcell, H. (joint)
1662	15 Nov.	Purcell, T.
1662	29 Nov.	Steffkin, F. W. (joint)
1662	29 Nov.	Steffkin, T. (joint)
1663	11 Feb.	Ward, P.
1663	20 Mar.	Bannister, J. [sen.]
1663	22 Dec.	Portington, E.
1664	20 Aug.	Goodgroome, J.
By 1666		Lanier, N.
1666	20 May	Humfrey, P.
1666	15 Oct.	Brockwell, H.
1667	16 Nov.	Fitz, T.
1668	19 Oct.	Fashon, J.
1669	15 Jan.	Blow, J.
1669	2 Sept.	Clayton, W.
1671	20 Jan.	Hooten, E.
1672	15 July	Turner, W.
1673	23 May	Young, J.
1673	16 Sept.	Cruys, F.
1674	7 Feb.	Steffkin, F. W.
1674	6 Mar.	Greeting, T.
1674	3 Aug.	Smyth, R.
1675	22 Nov.	Hart, R.
1676	23 Oct.	Heywood, T.
1676	25 Oct.	Preston, C.
1678	19 Apr.	Moss, J.
1678	17 May	Gregory, W.
1678	27 Sept.	Flower, E.
1679	31 May	Abell, J.
1679	6 Nov.	Farmer, T.
1680	6 Feb.	King, R.
1680	22 July	Hall, W.
1681	20 Dec.	Abell, J.
1682	17 Nov.	Goodwin, J.
1682	20 Nov.	French, N.
1683	26 Feb.	Heale, H.
1683	22 Dec.	Carr, R.
1684	26 Nov.	Bowman, J.

[Deputy] Musician for the Private Music 1672–?1685



1672	19 Apr.	Darrant, S.

Musicians for the Private Music in Extraordinary 1662–?1685



1661	18 Jan.	Aylmer, C.
1662	17 Mar.	Wing, W.
1662	4 Nov.	Roberts, H.
1662	15 Dec.	Greeting, T.
1668	7 Jan.	Preston, C.
1669	27 July	Clayton, W.
1670	30 June	Flower, E.
1673	20 June	Smyth, R.
1673	20 Oct.	Garrard, F.
1674	23 Apr.	Heywood, T.
1677	30 Mar.	Hooten, E.

Composer for the Private Music 1660–1685; 1689–1702



[1660]	16 June	Lawes, H.
[1660]	16 June	Locke, M.
1662	4 Nov.	Coleman, C., sen.
1664	7 July	Cooke, H.
1672	15 July	Humfrey, P.
1674	15 July	Blow, J.
1677	8 Oct.	Dyer, E.
1689	5 July	King, R.
1689	18 July	Damascene, A.

Musicians for the Broken Consort 1660–?1663



1660	16 June	Mell, D.
1660	9 Nov.	Hawes, H.

Musicians for the Wind Instruments 1660–1685



1660		Gregory, W.
1660		Lanier, W.
1660	2 July	Blagrave, R.
1660	13 July	Lanier, A.
1660	15 Nov.	Lanier, T.
1660	6 Dec.	Howes, W.
1660	6 Dec.	Madge, H.
1660	6 Dec.	Strong, E.
By 1661		Blagrave, T.
1661	3 Jan.	Beckett, P. (joint)
1661	3 Jan.	Bell, C. (joint)
1661	3 Jan.	Gamble, J.
1661	9 May	Saunders, W.
1661	3 Aug.	Lanier, N.
1661	2 Oct.	Bassano, H.
1661	4 Oct.	Lanier, C.
1661	21 Nov.	Strong, S.
1661	22 Nov.	Child, W.
[1662]	24 Feb.	Mason, J.
1662	12 Mar.	Singleton, J.
1662	17 Mar.	Mell, T.
By 1663		Strong, J.
By 1663		Strong, R.
1663	16 Sept.	Gregory, H.
1664	25 Oct.	Clayton, W.
1665	6 Apr.	Fitz, T.
1665	5 Sept.	Staggins, I.
1665	5 Sept.	Young, W.
1666	7 Dec.	Hooten, E.
1670	7 Nov.	Staggins, N.
1673	10 July	Clayton, W.
1675	4 Sept.	Ayleworth, J.
1676	3 May	Flower, E.
1677	16 Sept.	Garrard, F.
1678	17 May	Robinson, R.
1679	22 Dec.	Crouch, J.
1684	24 Nov.	Wise, M.
1685	27 Jan.	Staggins, C.

Musicians for the Wind Instruments in Extraordinary 1662–1663



1662	3 Feb.	Gregory, H.

Composer for the Wind Music 1661–?



1661	19 Mar.	Child, W.

Musicians in Extraordinary

(1661; 1671–1687; 1692–?1702; 1709–1713; by 1722, 1736–?; by 1764–1765; 1767–1774)



1661	18 Apr.	Yockney, W.
1671		Kydwell, W.
1672	10 Sept.	Dyer, E.
1676	28 Mar.	Thomlinson, R.
1685	20 Jan.	Lewis, R.
1692	27 Feb.	Clayton, T.
1694	22 June	Lewis, R.
1695	27 Mar.	Tollet, T.
1695	28 Mar.	Eccles, J.
1695	29 Mar.	Shore, J.
1695	30 Mar.	Williams, W.
1695	2 Nov.	Parkinson, T.
1696	14 Jan.	Keiling, J. G.
1696	18 Dec.	Jones, A.
1697	4 Jan.	Clinch, H.
1697	26 Feb.	Robert, A.
1697	27 Feb.	Williams, T.
1698	3 June	Chock, G.
1709	26 Dec.	Corbett, W.
By 1722		Cuthbert, T.
1736	23 Jan.	Peat, G.
1737	17 Oct.	Abingdon, J., sen.
1740	11 Mar.	Bosch, F.
1740	12 Mar.	Lyne, J.
By 1764		Adams, R.
1767		Burney, C.

Musicians for the French Music 1663–?



1663	19 Oct.	De Grange, C.
1663	19 Oct.	De Florence, F.
1663	19 Oct.	De la Volee, J.
1663	19 Oct.	Fleuri, N.
1663	19 Oct.	Guigat, E.
1663	19 Oct.	Lantre, G.

Master of the Italian Music 1670–?1673



1670	15 Mar.	Sebenico, G.

Musicians for the Italian Music c. 1666–?



1666	Apr.	Sebenico, G.
By 1670		Bataglio, M.
1670	15 Mar.	Cifallo, P.
1670	9 July	Cotterau, S.

Musician for the King's Exercise of Dancing 1660–?



1660	12 Sept.	Hopper, S.

Musicians 1685–1837



1685	31 Aug.	Abell, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Ayleworth, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Bannister, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Blow, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Bowman, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Carr, R.
1685	31 Aug.	Clayton, W.
1685	31 Aug.	Coleman, C., jun.
1685	31 Aug.	Crouch, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Farmer, T.
1685	31 Aug.	Eccles, S.
1685	31 Aug.	Fashion, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Fitz, T.
1685	31 Aug.	Flower, E.
1685	31 Aug.	French, N.
1685	31 Aug.	Goodwin, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Gostling, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Greeting, E.
1685	31 Aug.	Hall, W.
1685	31 Aug.	Heale, H.
1685	31 Aug.	Heywood, T.
1685	31 Aug.	Hooten, E.
1685	31 Aug.	King, R.
1685	31 Aug.	Le Riche, F.
1685	31 Aug.	Lenton, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Mariens, F.
1685	31 Aug.	Paisible, J.
1685	31 Aug.	Purcell, H.
1685	31 Aug.	Readinge, B.
1685	31 Aug.	Thomlinson, R.
1685	31 Aug.	Turner, W.
1685	31 Aug.	Twyst, J.
1687	25 Apr.	Akeroyde, S.
1687	17 July	Lewis, R.
1687	3 Aug.	Powell, C.
1688	8 Dec.	Bowmaster, J. A.
1689	4 July	Bingham, G.
1689	5 July	Manship, J.
1689	7 July	Richardson, T. (vocalist)
1689	11 July	Snow, M. (vocalist)
1689	16 July	Clayton, T.
1689	16 July	Robert, A. (vocalist)
1689	17 July	Eccles, H.
1689	17 July	Woodsen, L. (vocalist)
1689	18 July	Bouchér, J. (?vocalist)
1689	19 July	Cruyse, F.
1689	18 July	Damasceen, A. (vocalist and composer)
1689	19 July	Davenport, J.
1689	19 July	Harris, M.
1689	19 July	Steffkin, C.
1689	19 July	Steffkin, F.W.
1689	20 July	Marsh, A., jun.
1689	27 July	De la Toure, A.
1692	27 Feb.	Short, D.
1693	8 July	Clayton, T.
1694	22 June	Bradley, R.
1694	28 Sept.	Ridgeley, J.
1695	21 Feb.	Lewis, R.
1696	9 Jan.	Tollet, T.
1696	4 Apr.	Gorton, W.
1696	2 Sept.	Eccles, J.
1697	28 Jan.	Shore, J.
1697	23 Mar.	Howell, J.
1697	6 Nov.	Williams, W.
1700	25 Apr.	Smith, C.
1700	21 May	Abrahall, G.
1700	16 July	Parkinson, T.
1701	25 Jan.	Jones, F.
1703	9 Nov.	Hooton, C.
1704	23 Dec.	Smith, T.
1705	10 Nov.	Bradley, R., jun.
1705	24 Nov.	Hill, G.
1706	18 Apr.	Kremberg, J.
1706	3 May	Roberts, T.
1708	2 Nov.	Cox, R.
1709	11 Jan.	Wells, W.
1709	13 Sept.	Jones, C.
1709	24 Dec.	Babell, W.
1710	6 Oct.	Sexton, T.
1711	2 Apr.	Ayleworth, J.
1711	2 Aug.	Simonds, H.
1711	27 Oct.	Goodsens, F.
1712	12 Sept.	Randall, P.
1713	7 May	Corbett, W.
1714	16 Dec.	Tollet, C.
1715	23 Sept.	Moor, J.
1717	28 Feb.	Bradley, A.
1717	20 Aug.	Young, T.
1719	17 Jan.	Norton, F.
1719	3 Apr.	Lund, T.
1719	13 May	Williams, J.
1722	31 Jan.	Jackson, T.
1722	19 Apr.	Cuthbert, T.
1723	16 Jan.	Powell, G.
1723	28 Sept.	Burgess, H.
1723	1 Nov.	Jones, J.
1724	31 Mar.	Sale, B.
1725	29 Dec.	Nicholson, J.
1726	4 Nov.	Festing, M.
1726	7 Dec.	Barnard, J.
1727	21 Aug.	Bradley, G.
1728	22 Jan.	Vincent, T.
1730	2 Dec.	Hudson, J.
1733	29 Jan.	La Serre, J.
1736	17 Jan.	Rawlings, T.
1737	25 Aug.	Peat, G.
1740	12 Mar.	Abington, J.
1741	18 Nov.	Lyne, J.
1744	16 May	Gregory, J.
1744	1 June	Jones, T.
1746	8 Jan.	Morgan, G.
1746	6 Feb.	Thompson, J.
1747	6 Jan.	Snow, V.
1748	30 Jan.	Gibbs, E.
1748	18 Mar.	Rose, H.
1749	18 July	Young, J.
1751	16 Aug.	Cox, J.G.
1751	30 Dec.	Vincent, T.
1752	5 Aug.	Brown, A.
1753	19 Feb.	Terry, G.
1754	8 Feb.	Howard, W.
1758	21 Feb.	Hebden, J.
1758	24 Mar.	Perkins, J.
1759	10 Nov.	Gordon, J.
1760	6 Oct.	Philpot, S.
1761	2 June	Dell, J.
1762	15 Feb.	Benell, P.
1765	18 Mar.	Compton, R.
1765	18 Mar.	Adams, R.
1765	16 May	Schola, C.
1767	14 Apr.	Jones, S.
1767	9 May	Nusson, F.
By 1769		Hayes, P.
1770	21 June	Christian, B.
1770	14 Dec.	Attwood, T.
1773	13 Jan.	Rawlings, R.
1773	16 July	Fleming, F.
1774	11 May	Burney, C.
1774	20 May	Saison, P.
1775	26 July	Atterbury, L.
1775	2 Sept.	Robertson, A.
1778	27 Mar.	Thackeray, T.
1778	7 May	Laud, S.
1779	27 Mar.	Simpson, R.
1779	16 Aug.	Hay, R., jun.
1779	23 Nov.	Crosdill, J.
By 1780		Webber, A.
1781		Hackwood, F.
1784	15 Apr.	Dance, W.
1785	29 Jan.	Allden, S.
1785	6 Sept.	Blunt, W.
1785	27 Dec.	Bearda, T.
1786	16 Feb.	Blake, B.
By 1786		Clements, J.
By 1787		Porter, S.
By 1787		Shield, W.
By 1788		Thompson, M.
By 1788		Parke, J.
By 1789		Mason, J.
By 1789		Newby, T.
By 1791		Rawley, T.
1793	5 Nov.	O'Kell, S.H.
1794	17 Apr.	Wiggs, D.
1796	10 June	Evans, J.
1796	4 Nov.	Scott, J.
1797	13 May	Napier, W.
1797	7 Aug.	Leach, T.
1798	6 June	Harrison, J.
1801	8 Nov.	Taylor, D.
1803	11 Sept.	Relfe, L.
1804	21 July	Cole, W.
1805	15 Oct.	Relfe, J.
1812	29 July	Brett, T.
1814	13 Apr.	Strubel, G.
1816	Oct.	Churchill, C.
1817	21 July	Turner, T.
1817	30 Sept.	Anderson, G.
1818	26 May	Mencke, J. C.
1818	4 Dec.	Rehn, A.
By 1819		Thomas, J.
1821	9 Feb.	Tuckwell, S.
1821	20 Feb.	Andre, J., sen.
1821	14 Apr.	Calkin, J.
1822	4 Mar.	Colquhoun, H.
1825	13 July	Andre, F.
1825	20 July	Eisart, C.F.
1825	7 Oct.	Spellenberg, E.
1825	17 Dec.	Attwood, T.
1828	26 June	Sandell, E.
1828	6 Oct.	Siller, C.
1829	26 Jan.	Behrens, G.
1829	5 Aug.	Andre, F., jun.
1831	23 Aug.	Jones, C.
1831	23 Aug.	Godfrey, C.
1833	28 Jan.	Hopkins, E.
1834	21 June	Youngman, W.
1835	4 Nov.	Floyd, W.
1835	13 Oct.	Best, W.
1837	24 Mar.	Lee, J.

Composer in Ordinary 1689–1690



1689	4 July	Lenton, J.