Philip Hayes (organist)
Encyclopedia
Philip Hayes was a composer, organist, singer and conductor.
His early musical education was overseen by his father William Hayes. He was awarded the degree of B.Mus in 1763 for the masque Telemachus and received his doctorate in 1777. He sang at the Chapel Royal
in London from 1767, but returned to Oxford in 1776 to take up the post of organist at New College and to assist his ailing father, whom he succeeded as professor of music in 1777. He also replaced him as organist of Magdalen College, Oxford
and the University Church, and added the post of organist at St John’s College in 1790. His professorial ‘lectures’ took the form of specially composed odes and oratorios which were performed in the Oxford Music School. In 1780 he was appointed conductor of the annual Festival of the Sons of the Clergy held at St Paul’s Cathedral, and in 1791 he presided over Haydn’s visit to Oxford. As a conductor, he was one of the first English musicians to use a roll of paper with which to beat time. But he was best known for his difficult personality and corpulence. His frequent trips to London in a post chaise did not go unnoticed by the Oxford wags who had little difficulty in punning a nickname from 'Phil Hayes' -- thus he was fondly known as 'Fill Chaise'. A cartoon of him, entitled simply '--- From Oxford', was etched by Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg in 1790 (see right).
Hayes's musical language combined a respect for late Baroque idioms as practiced by composers such as Handel
, together with a clear grasp of early classical styles. He was also interested in the music of earlier generations – notably Purcell
and his contemporaries – and added considerably to the wide-ranging music library inherited from his father. His works show an imaginative approach to instrumentation: from 1763 he made frequent use of clarinets, and his six keyboard concertos (1769) were the first published in England to offer the option of performance on the early piano. After his death the manuscripts of his unpublished music, along with the works of his father, were passed to the Bodleian Library
, Oxford.
Six Sonatas, 'for Harpsichord or Pianoforte with an accompaniment for Violin', op.2, (London, 1774)
The Muses Delight, Catches, Glees, Canzonets and Canons (London, 1786)
Sixteen Psalms, (Oxford, 1788)
Catches and Glees: The Muses Tribute to Beauty (London, 1789)
Eight Anthems, (Oxford, 1803)
Over 20 songs issued separately between 1769 and 1794
His early musical education was overseen by his father William Hayes. He was awarded the degree of B.Mus in 1763 for the masque Telemachus and received his doctorate in 1777. He sang at 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:...
in London from 1767, but returned to Oxford in 1776 to take up the post of organist at New College and to assist his ailing father, whom he succeeded as professor of music in 1777. He also replaced him as organist of Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
and the University Church, and added the post of organist at St John’s College in 1790. His professorial ‘lectures’ took the form of specially composed odes and oratorios which were performed in the Oxford Music School. In 1780 he was appointed conductor of the annual Festival of the Sons of the Clergy held at St Paul’s Cathedral, and in 1791 he presided over Haydn’s visit to Oxford. As a conductor, he was one of the first English musicians to use a roll of paper with which to beat time. But he was best known for his difficult personality and corpulence. His frequent trips to London in a post chaise did not go unnoticed by the Oxford wags who had little difficulty in punning a nickname from 'Phil Hayes' -- thus he was fondly known as 'Fill Chaise'. A cartoon of him, entitled simply '--- From Oxford', was etched by Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg in 1790 (see right).
Hayes's musical language combined a respect for late Baroque idioms as practiced by composers such as Handel
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....
, together with a clear grasp of early classical styles. He was also interested in the music of earlier generations – notably Purcell
Purcell
Henry Purcell was an English composer.Purcell may also refer to:*Purcell, Indiana, an unincorporated community in Johnson Township, Knox County, Indiana*Purcell, Missouri, a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States...
and his contemporaries – and added considerably to the wide-ranging music library inherited from his father. His works show an imaginative approach to instrumentation: from 1763 he made frequent use of clarinets, and his six keyboard concertos (1769) were the first published in England to offer the option of performance on the early piano. After his death the manuscripts of his unpublished music, along with the works of his father, were passed to the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford.
Main Published Works
Six Concertos, 'for the Organ, Harpsichord or Forte-Piano', (London, 1769)Six Sonatas, 'for Harpsichord or Pianoforte with an accompaniment for Violin', op.2, (London, 1774)
The Muses Delight, Catches, Glees, Canzonets and Canons (London, 1786)
Sixteen Psalms, (Oxford, 1788)
Catches and Glees: The Muses Tribute to Beauty (London, 1789)
Eight Anthems, (Oxford, 1803)
Over 20 songs issued separately between 1769 and 1794
Discography
- Organ Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Stephen Farr, London Bach Consort, 1995, (Meridian CDE 84295)
- Piano Concerto No. 4 in A major, Paul Nicholson, Parley of Instruments, 1993, (Hyperion: Helios CDH55341)
- Piano Concerto No. 4 in A Major, David Owen Norris, Sonnerie, 2002, (Avie AV0014)