John Weldon (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Weldon was an English composer.
Born at Chichester
in the south of England, he was educated at Eton, where he was a chorister, and later received musical instruction from Henry Purcell
. By 1694
Weldon had been appointed organist of New College
in Oxford and became well known in the musical life of that city, writing music for masques as well as performing his organist duties.
Some believe he set Shakespeare's play The Tempest
to music in 1695, although others attribute that to Henry Purcell
, and all agree that the style is Purcellian.
Weldon moved to London and in 1701 took part in a competition to set Congreve's libretto The Judgement of Paris
to music. Perhaps surprisingly, Weldon's setting was chosen over contributions by his older, more experienced and better-known competitors, Daniel Purcell
(younger brother of Henry), John Eccles and Godfrey Finger. Even more curiously, Purcell's and Eccles's scores were later published by John Walsh. Weldon's however was not and remains in manuscript, though the lack of recognition of his relatively new name may also have played a part. There is some evidence to suggest that the judges of the competition were not entirely impartial, however it has also been suggested that Weldon's setting was considered less old fashioned than his somewhat older contemporaries. In the same year as the competition, Weldon was made a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
.
Having established his reputation in London, Weldon continued for some years to write music for the theatre. Music for The Tempest, until the mid 1960s believed to have been composed by Henry Purcell, was in all probability written by Weldon for the Drury Lane Theatre, in 1712. Weldon's musical style owes much to Purcell's influence but is more Italianate and also embraces the 'modern' French styles and forms that were becoming increasingly popular at the time.
John Weldon devoted the latter part of his life almost exclusively to the duties of the Chapel Royal
and to writing church music. He succeeded John Blow
(1649-1708) as Chapel Royal organist, and in 1715
was made second composer under William Croft
(1678-1727). He wrote six anthems for the tenor Richard Elford
. From 1714
, Weldon also held the post of organist at two London Churches, St Bride's, Fleet Street
and St Martin-in-the-Fields
. He died on 7 May, 1736 and is buried in St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London.
John Weldon's grandson Samuel Thomas Champnes would follow in his musical footsteps and become one of Handel's soloists. Many of their descendants were involved in the church and took the Weldon surname as their second name, often writing the music for hymns in the Ancient and Modern song book.
Born at Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
in the south of England, he was educated at Eton, where he was a chorister, and later received musical instruction from Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
. By 1694
1694 in music
-Events:*Musician Johannes Kelpius and his group of "mystics" arrive at the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bringing instruments that became an integral part of their church life....
Weldon had been appointed organist of New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
in Oxford and became well known in the musical life of that city, writing music for masques as well as performing his organist duties.
Some believe he set Shakespeare's play The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
to music in 1695, although others attribute that to Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
, and all agree that the style is Purcellian.
Weldon moved to London and in 1701 took part in a competition to set Congreve's libretto The Judgement of Paris
The Judgement of Paris (opera)
The Judgement of Paris is an operatic libretto written by William Congreve. It was set by four British Baroque composers - John Weldon, John Eccles, Daniel Purcell and Gottfried Finger - as part of a music competition held in 1700-1701...
to music. Perhaps surprisingly, Weldon's setting was chosen over contributions by his older, more experienced and better-known competitors, Daniel Purcell
Daniel Purcell
Daniel Purcell was an English composer, the younger brother of Henry Purcell.As a teenager, Daniel Purcell joined the choir of the Chapel Royal, and in his mid-twenties he became organist of Magdalen College, Oxford. He began to compose while at Oxford, but in 1695 he moved to London to compose...
(younger brother of Henry), John Eccles and Godfrey Finger. Even more curiously, Purcell's and Eccles's scores were later published by John Walsh. Weldon's however was not and remains in manuscript, though the lack of recognition of his relatively new name may also have played a part. There is some evidence to suggest that the judges of the competition were not entirely impartial, however it has also been suggested that Weldon's setting was considered less old fashioned than his somewhat older contemporaries. In the same year as the competition, Weldon was made 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:...
.
Having established his reputation in London, Weldon continued for some years to write music for the theatre. Music for The Tempest, until the mid 1960s believed to have been composed by Henry Purcell, was in all probability written by Weldon for the Drury Lane Theatre, in 1712. Weldon's musical style owes much to Purcell's influence but is more Italianate and also embraces the 'modern' French styles and forms that were becoming increasingly popular at the time.
John Weldon devoted the latter part of his life almost exclusively to the duties 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 to writing church music. He succeeded John Blow
John Blow
John Blow was an English Baroque composer and organist, appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669. His pupils included William Croft, Jeremiah Clarke and Henry Purcell. In 1685 he was named a private musician to James II. His only stage composition, Venus and Adonis John Blow (baptised 23 February...
(1649-1708) as Chapel Royal organist, and in 1715
1715 in music
- Events :*Vaudeville is staged for the first time in Paris.*Francesco Geminiani performs at the court of King George I of Great Britain, accompanied by Handel.- Classical music :*Johann Sebastian Bach**Englische Suiten...
was made second composer under William Croft
William Croft
William Croft was an English composer and organist.Croft was born at the Manor House, Nether Ettington, Warwickshire. He was educated at the Chapel Royal, under the instruction of John Blow, and remained there until 1698. Two years after this departure, he became organist of St. Anne's Church, Soho...
(1678-1727). He wrote six anthems for the tenor Richard Elford
Richard Elford
Richard Elford was an English singer, the leading figure in his field in Queen Anne's London.-Life:When young he was a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral, and later sang at Durham Cathedral.. Restless, he came to London to try the stage...
. From 1714
1714 in music
- Events :*A school of dance opens at the Paris Opera.*Michel Richard Delalande assumes full control of the French royal chapel upon the retirement of his last co-sous maîtres....
, Weldon also held the post of organist at two London Churches, St Bride's, Fleet Street
St Bride's Church
St Bride's Church is a church in the City of London, England. The building's most recent incarnation was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672 on Fleet Street in the City of London, though Wren's original building was largely gutted by fire during the London Blitz in 1940. Due to its location on...
and St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
. He died on 7 May, 1736 and is buried in St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London.
John Weldon's grandson Samuel Thomas Champnes would follow in his musical footsteps and become one of Handel's soloists. Many of their descendants were involved in the church and took the Weldon surname as their second name, often writing the music for hymns in the Ancient and Modern song book.
Operas
- The Judgement of Paris (6 May 1701)
- Orpheus and Euridice (ca. 1701)
- Britain's Happines (1704)
- The Tempest (1712)