Edward Miller (musician)
Encyclopedia
Edward Miller was an English musician, composer and historian of Doncaster
. He is most noted as the writer of the hymn tune
s Rockingham and Galway.
in Handel
's orchestra. He was appointed organist of St George's Minster Doncaster in 1756 and continued in the post for 50 years. The University of Cambridge
awarded him a doctorate in 1786.
Miller arranged the tune Rockingham as a hymn tune in 1790, to which Isaac Watts
' hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
" is sung. Miller also wrote the tune Galway, to which Charles Wesley
's hymn "A charge to keep I have" is sung.
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
. He is most noted as the writer of the hymn tune
Hymn tune
A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
s Rockingham and Galway.
Life
Miller was the son of a pavior but left home to study music. For a time he was a flautistFlautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
in Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's orchestra. He was appointed organist of St George's Minster Doncaster in 1756 and continued in the post for 50 years. The University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
awarded him a doctorate in 1786.
Miller arranged the tune Rockingham as a hymn tune in 1790, to which Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
' hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", was written by Isaac Watts, and published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707. It is significant for being an innovative departure from the early English hymn style of only using paraphrased biblical texts, although the first two lines of the second...
" is sung. Miller also wrote the tune Galway, to which Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
's hymn "A charge to keep I have" is sung.
Works
- The Psalms of David Set to New Music, 1774
- Elements of Thorough-bass and Composition, 1787
- The Psalms of David for the Use of Parish Churches, 1790
- Thoughts on the Present Performance of Psalmody, 1791
- The Psalms of Watts and Wesley, 1801
- Sacred Music, 1802
- History of Doncaster, 1804