James Hook (composer)
Encyclopedia
James Hook was an English
composer
and organist
.
, the son of James Hook, a razor-grinder and cutler. He displayed a remarkable musical talent at an early age, playing the harpsichord by the age of four and performing concertos in public at age six. He began performing regularly by the time he was 10 years old, including benefit concerts. He held many jobs to earn money, including teaching, composing, transcribing music and tuning keyboard instruments.
Sometime between June 1763 and February 1764 Hook moved to London
. There he became the organist
at White Conduit House, Pentonville, one of the tea gardens that were popular in 18th-century London. He worked as an organist, teacher and composer, and gained a reputation for composing vocal music. He married the artist and writer Elizabeth Jane Madden on May 29, 1766, at St. Pancras Old Church.
Hook was appointed organist and composer to Marylebone Gardens
in 1768. In addition to his performances as an organist, and occasionally on the harpsichord, he was now invited to perform concertos between the main works in the theatres, and his short musical entertainments and comic operas were being produced for the pleasure gardens
and in the London theaters.
He was appointed organist of St Johns Horselydown, Bermondsey, in 1772, and frequently played concerts on newly built organs, both in London and in nearby counties, often playing his own compositions, he was highly successful as a teacher of organ and harpsichord. Hook remained at Marylebone Gardens until the end of the 1773 season, and a year later was engaged in a similar position at Vauxhall Gardens
, where he worked until 1820.
Throughout these years he composed operas and other musical works, most of which were produced at Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres. On October 18, 1805, Hook's wife died, and a year later, on November 4, 1806, he married his second wife, Harriet Horncastle James. In 1820 he unexpectedly left his position at Vauxhall, after almost a half century of service, and he died seven years later in Boulogne.
Large Vocal Works
Chamber Music
Keyboard Sonatas
Concerti
Songs
Pedagogical works
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and organist
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...
.
Life and musical career
He was born in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, the son of James Hook, a razor-grinder and cutler. He displayed a remarkable musical talent at an early age, playing the harpsichord by the age of four and performing concertos in public at age six. He began performing regularly by the time he was 10 years old, including benefit concerts. He held many jobs to earn money, including teaching, composing, transcribing music and tuning keyboard instruments.
Sometime between June 1763 and February 1764 Hook moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There he became the organist
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...
at White Conduit House, Pentonville, one of the tea gardens that were popular in 18th-century London. He worked as an organist, teacher and composer, and gained a reputation for composing vocal music. He married the artist and writer Elizabeth Jane Madden on May 29, 1766, at St. Pancras Old Church.
Hook was appointed organist and composer to Marylebone Gardens
Marylebone Gardens
Marylebone or Marybone Gardens was a London pleasure garden sited in the grounds of the old manor house of Marylebone and frequented from the mid-17th century, when Marylebone was a village separated from London by fields and market gardens, to the third quarter of the 18th century...
in 1768. In addition to his performances as an organist, and occasionally on the harpsichord, he was now invited to perform concertos between the main works in the theatres, and his short musical entertainments and comic operas were being produced for the pleasure gardens
Pleasure gardens
A pleasure garden is usually a garden that is open to the public for recreation. They differ from other public gardens in that they serve as venues for entertainment, variously featuring concert halls or bandstands, rides, zoos, and menageries.-History:...
and in the London theaters.
He was appointed organist of St Johns Horselydown, Bermondsey, in 1772, and frequently played concerts on newly built organs, both in London and in nearby counties, often playing his own compositions, he was highly successful as a teacher of organ and harpsichord. Hook remained at Marylebone Gardens until the end of the 1773 season, and a year later was engaged in a similar position at Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens was a pleasure garden, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London, England from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. Originally known as New Spring Gardens, the site was believed to have opened before the Restoration of 1660 with the first mention being...
, where he worked until 1820.
Throughout these years he composed operas and other musical works, most of which were produced at Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres. On October 18, 1805, Hook's wife died, and a year later, on November 4, 1806, he married his second wife, Harriet Horncastle James. In 1820 he unexpectedly left his position at Vauxhall, after almost a half century of service, and he died seven years later in Boulogne.
Works
Stage works- Trick Upon Trick (pantomime), July, 1772, Op. 3
- Cupid's Revenge (pastoral farce), June 12, 1772, Op. 8
- The Lady of the Manor (comic opera), November 23, 1778, Op. 20
- Too Civil by Half (farce), November 5, 1782, Op. 25
- The Double Disguise (farce), March 8, 1784, Op. 32
- The Fair Peruvian (comic opera), March 18, 1786, Op. 45
- The Feast of Anacreon (serenata), May 24, 1788, Op. 53
- Look ere you Leap (serenata), June 2, 1792, Op. 69
- Jack of Newbury (comic opera with masqueMasqueThe masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
), May 6, 1795, Op. 80 - Diamond Cut Diamond, or Venetian Revels (comic opera), May 23, 1797, Op. 89
- The Wreath of Loyalty, or British Volunteer (serenata), July 31, 1799, Op. 94
- Wilmore Castle (comic opera), October 21, 1800, Op. 96
- The Soldier's Return or What Can Beauty Do? (comic opera), April 23, 1805, Op. 108
- The Invisible Girl (operatic farce), April 28, 1806, Op. 112
- Catch him who Can (farce), June 12, 1806, Op. 113
- Tekeli, or the Siege of Montgatz (melodrama), Nov 24, 1806, Op. 114
- The Fortress (melodrama), July 16, 1807, Op. 117
- Music Mad (comic sketch), August 27, 1807, Op. 119
- The Siege of St Quintin, or Spanish Heroism (drama), November 10, 1808, Op. 122
- Killing no Murder (farce), August 21, 1809, Op. 129
- Safe and Sound (comic opera), August 28, 1809, Op. 130
- Sharp and Flat (operatic farce), August 4, 1813, Op. 140
Large Vocal Works
- Many oratorios and odes
Chamber Music
- Six Sonatas For Violoncello and Piano, 1783
- Six Solos for Flute and Harpsichord, ca.1774
Keyboard Sonatas
- Six Familiar Sonatas, 1798
Concerti
- Works for the clarinet, organ, fortepiano, etc.
Songs
- Over 2,000 Songs, most notably The Lass of Richmond Hill
Pedagogical works
- Guida di musica, Being a Complete Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte … to which is added 24 Progressive Lessons (c1785), Op. 37
- Guida di musica, Second Part, Consisting of Several Hundred Examples of Fingering … and *Six Exercises … to which is added, a Short … Method of learning Thoro’ bass … (?1794), Op. 75
- The Preceptor for the Piano-Forte, Organ or harpsichord … Favorite Airs … a Collection of Progressive Lessons … [and] Two Celebrated Lessons (?1795)
- New Guida di musica, Being a Compleat Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte … to which is added 24 Progressive Lessons (1796), Op. 81