Edmund Ayrton
Encyclopedia
Edmund Ayrton was an English organist
who was Master of the Children
of the Chapel Royal
.
and baptised on 19 November 1734. His father was Edward Ayrton (1698-1774), a 'barber chirurgion,' who became an alderman in Ripon on 14 August 1758, and mayor in 1760. Edward Ayrton's eldest son, William (baptised 18 November 1726), was organist of Ripon Minster from 7 June 1748 until his death on 2 February 1799. By his wife Catherine (who died at Chester on 19 September 1819) he had two sons, both of whom were organists of Ripon Minster. The elder of these, William Francis Morel, was born in 1778, and succeeded to his father's post on 25 June 1799. Soon after he moved to Chester, where he died on 8 November 1850. His brother, Thomas, was born in 1782, and was organist of Ripon Minster for nearly twenty years before his death on 24 October 1822. Edmund Ayrton, the second son of Edward Ayrton, the barber-surgeon, was originally destined for the church but, displaying considerable musical talent, was placed under Dr. James Nares
, the organist of York Minster
. He succeeded Samuel Wise as organist, auditor, and rector chori of Southwell Minster in 1755. Here he married, on 20 September 1762, Ann, the daughter of Benjamin Clay, by whom he had fourteen children, several of whom died in infancy. Dr. Ayrton's wife died on 14 May 1800.
Ayrton died on 22 May 1808, at 24 James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster
. He had managed to rent a large house with a garden of three acres for a low rent because others believed it to be haunted. He was buried in the west cloisters of Westminster Abbey
on 28 May. His sister married Nicholas Thomas Dall
, the Danish painter.
on 2 June 1765 (Records of Roy. Soc. of Musicians). In 1764 he was appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal
, and soon after became a vicar choral of St. Paul's Cathedral, and a lay vicar of Westminster Abbey. He succeeded Nares as master of the children of the Chapel Royal in 1780. Ayrton took the degree of Mus. Doc. at Cambridge in 1784, on which occasion the anthem he wrote as an exercise was performed in the church of Great St. Mary's, and afterwards in London at the peace thanksgiving at St. Paul's on 29 July 1784. The Oxford degree of Mus. Doc. (ad eundem) was conferred upon him in 1788. He resigned the mastership of the children
in 1805.
He was:
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...
who was Master of the Children
Master of the Children
Master of the Children is a title awarded to an adult musician who is put in charge of the musical training, and in some cases the general education of choir boy , as was common in major church choirs, often attached to a cathedral,...
of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
.
Life
Ayrton was born at RiponRipon
Ripon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
and baptised on 19 November 1734. His father was Edward Ayrton (1698-1774), a 'barber chirurgion,' who became an alderman in Ripon on 14 August 1758, and mayor in 1760. Edward Ayrton's eldest son, William (baptised 18 November 1726), was organist of Ripon Minster from 7 June 1748 until his death on 2 February 1799. By his wife Catherine (who died at Chester on 19 September 1819) he had two sons, both of whom were organists of Ripon Minster. The elder of these, William Francis Morel, was born in 1778, and succeeded to his father's post on 25 June 1799. Soon after he moved to Chester, where he died on 8 November 1850. His brother, Thomas, was born in 1782, and was organist of Ripon Minster for nearly twenty years before his death on 24 October 1822. Edmund Ayrton, the second son of Edward Ayrton, the barber-surgeon, was originally destined for the church but, displaying considerable musical talent, was placed under Dr. James Nares
James Nares
James Nares was an English composer of mostly sacred vocal works, though he also composed for the harpsichord and organ....
, the organist of York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
. He succeeded Samuel Wise as organist, auditor, and rector chori of Southwell Minster in 1755. Here he married, on 20 September 1762, Ann, the daughter of Benjamin Clay, by whom he had fourteen children, several of whom died in infancy. Dr. Ayrton's wife died on 14 May 1800.
Ayrton died on 22 May 1808, at 24 James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. He had managed to rent a large house with a garden of three acres for a low rent because others believed it to be haunted. He was buried in the west cloisters of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on 28 May. His sister married Nicholas Thomas Dall
Nicholas Thomas Dall
Nicholas Thomas Dall was a native of Denmark, who settled in London as a landscape painter, about the year 1760. He painted some excellent scenes for Covent Garden Theatre, and his engagements in that branch of art prevented him from painting many pictures. In 1768 he obtained the first premium...
, the Danish painter.
Career
Ayrton became a member of the Royal Society of MusiciansRoyal Society of Musicians
The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain is a charity in the United Kingdom that supports musicians. It is the oldest music-related charity in Great Britain, founded in 1738 as the "Fund for Decay'd Musicians" by a declaration of trust signed by 228 musicians, including Edward Purcell ,...
on 2 June 1765 (Records of Roy. Soc. of Musicians). In 1764 he was appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
, and soon after became a vicar choral of St. Paul's Cathedral, and a lay vicar of Westminster Abbey. He succeeded Nares as master of the children of the Chapel Royal in 1780. Ayrton took the degree of Mus. Doc. at Cambridge in 1784, on which occasion the anthem he wrote as an exercise was performed in the church of Great St. Mary's, and afterwards in London at the peace thanksgiving at St. Paul's on 29 July 1784. The Oxford degree of Mus. Doc. (ad eundem) was conferred upon him in 1788. He resigned the mastership of the children
Master of the Children
Master of the Children is a title awarded to an adult musician who is put in charge of the musical training, and in some cases the general education of choir boy , as was common in major church choirs, often attached to a cathedral,...
in 1805.
He was:
- Organist of Southwell MinsterSouthwell MinsterSouthwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
1755 - 1764 - Gentleman of the Chapel Royal 1764
- Vicar Choral of St. Paul's Cathedral, 1767
- Lay Vicar of Westminster Abbey 1780
- Master of the Choristers of the Chapel Royal 1780 - 1805