William Tuckey
Encyclopedia
William Tuckey was an American composer, who exerted important influence on the musical life of the Colonial United States. He was one of the first American composers to gain notability, and was also a choir master and organist. Tuckey debuted Handel
's Messiah
in the Americas for the first time in 1770.
of the Bristol Cathedral
, and clerk of the Parish
. He emigrated to New York City
in 1753. Upon arrival to New York, he was appointed a clerk of Trinity Church. He then convinced the vestry
of Trinity that music should be taught to the students of the Charity School, which had been established in 1739 by the church. In this way, he acquired a choir to sing for him in services. He also continued composing. Despite his efforts to establish regular choral singing in America, the time was not ripe for his labors.
Tuckey also wrote an anthem called Thanksgiving Anthem, which was sung for Jeffery Amherst in 1760, upon his return to New York after the Conquest of Canada. He wrote another anthem called Anthem from the 97th Psalm, which was later known as Liverpool, and anonymously included in James Lyon's Urania, a collection of psalm tunes. Tuckey also may have written a piece called Ode on Masonry.
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
in the Americas for the first time in 1770.
Life
Before moving to New York, Tuckey was an Englishman who had been Lay ClerkLay clerk
A lay clerk, also known as a lay vicar, song man or a vicar choral, is a professional adult singer in a Cathedral or collegiate choir in the United Kingdom. The Vicars Choral were substitutes for the Canons...
of the Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
, and clerk of the Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. He emigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1753. Upon arrival to New York, he was appointed a clerk of Trinity Church. He then convinced the vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
of Trinity that music should be taught to the students of the Charity School, which had been established in 1739 by the church. In this way, he acquired a choir to sing for him in services. He also continued composing. Despite his efforts to establish regular choral singing in America, the time was not ripe for his labors.
Works
Though the only surviving works of Tuckey are those in psalm collections, his music was well known in his time. Through advertisements for subscriptions, it can be known what Tuckey wrote:Tuckey also wrote an anthem called Thanksgiving Anthem, which was sung for Jeffery Amherst in 1760, upon his return to New York after the Conquest of Canada. He wrote another anthem called Anthem from the 97th Psalm, which was later known as Liverpool, and anonymously included in James Lyon's Urania, a collection of psalm tunes. Tuckey also may have written a piece called Ode on Masonry.