The Chapel Royal: Organists and organ staff

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

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'The Chapel Royal: Organists and organ staff', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 288-290. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp288-290 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

Organists 1660–1837

The organists were appointed by the dean of the chapel and sworn in by the sub dean. There were three organists from 1660 to 1674, four from 1674 to 1687, three again from 1687 to 1697 (one position being Extraordinary 1695 to 1697); and two thereafter (one such position being held jointly from 1704 to 1707). Francis Pigot received £100 in 1700. In 1704, the organists are listed at £73 per annum apiece, divided into wages of £11 8 s 1 1/2d and of £61 11s 10 1/2d. (fn. 1) By the early-nineteenth century Sir George Smart was established at £58 per annum.

1660 Child, W.
1660 Lowe, E.
1660 19 June Gibbons, C.
1674 16 Mar. Blow, J.
1676 26 Oct. Dusharoll, J. C.
1682 14 July Purcell, H.
1697 24 Mar. Pigot, F.
1704 25 May Clark, J. (joint)
1704 25 May Croft, W. (joint)
1707 5 Nov. Croft, W.
1708c. 18 Oct. Weldon, J.
1727 4 Sept. Green, M.
1736 21 June Martin, J.
1737 10 May Travers, J.
1756 13 Jan. Nares, J.
1758 23 June Boyce, W.
1779 24 Mar. Dupuis, T. S.
1783 1 Mar. Arnold, S.
1796 25 July Knyvett, C.
1802 4 Nov. Smith, J. S.
By 1804 Cook, R.
1822 8 Feb. Smart, Sir G. T.
1836 29 Sept. Attwood, T.

Organist in Extraordinary 1695–1697; 1700–1704

1695 11 Dec. Pigot, F.
1700 7 July Clark, J. (Gentleman - joint)
1700 7 July Croft, W. (Gentleman - joint)

Organ Staff 1660–1837

The organ blower, organ maker and tuner of the regals were appointed by the lord chamberlain via warrants to the gentlemen ushers, daily waiters. The organ blower made £10 on the Establishment of 1689, raised to £20 on that of 1702. (fn. 3) The organ maker received £20 per diem in 1660 but is listed as unsalaried in 1720. (fn. 4) The tuner of the regals, etc., made £56 per annum for keeping the organs in repair in 1702. (fn. 5)

Organ Blower 1687–1837

[?1687] 22 Mar. Wyatt, G.
1689 28 Nov. Shelley, M.
1717 12 Feb. Clay, S.
1727 28 July Ray, J.
1774 6 May Leech, T.
1798 10 Mar. Davies, E.
1803 7 Apr. Mussitt, H.
1818 21 Dec. Marson, E.

Organ Maker 1661–1830

1661 8 May Farr, J.
1681 30 May Smith, B.
1708 3 Apr. Schrider, C., sen.
1740 9 Dec. Schrider, C., jun.
By 1765 Byfield, J.
1799 4 Nov. Broadwood, J.
1820 5 Apr. Lincoln, H. C.
1831 12 Oct. Bishop, J. C.
1835 13 Oct. Hill, W.

Tuner of the Regals, Organs, Flutes, Recorders and Winds 1660–?1789

1660 2 July Hingston, J.
1683 17 Dec. Purcell, H.
1695 30 Nov. Blow, J. (joint)
1695 30 Nov. Smith, B. (joint)
1708 3 Apr. Blow, J.
1709 22 Mar. Croft, W.
1727 21 Aug. Gates, B.
1774 5 Jan. Gordon, J.

Keeper, Mender, Maker, Repair and Tuner of the Regals, Organs, Virginals, Flutes, etc. in Extraordinary

1673 10 June Purcell, H.

Footnotes

  • 1. Chamberlayne (1700) III, 484; ibid. (1704) III, 511;RECM II, 73 citing Add. MSS. 14407, f. 16; LS 13/44, f. 20.
  • 2. Lovegrove MS., p. 62.
  • 3. LS 13/39, p. 34; LS 13/258, f. 26v; see also Lovegrove MS., p. 27.
  • 4. BDECM, p.398; PSBC, p. 42.
  • 5. LS 13/258, f. 25v;CCR (1760), p. 83.