Hawkins was a chorister of St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated Mus. Bac. in 1719. In the same year he dedicated his anthem "Behold, O God, our Defender" (a manuscript in the library of the Royal College of Music), "to the Very Rev. Mr. Tomkinson, and the rest of the great, good, and just nonjurors of St. John's." Hawkins succeeded John Ferrabosco as organist of Ely Cathedral in 1682.[1]
He remained at Ely for forty-six years. During that period he carefully arranged in volumes what fragments remained of the old manuscript choir books of the cathedral, many of which had been destroyed and many damaged in the civil war. With these he bound up in manuscript seventeen services and seventy-five anthems of his own composition. Some doggerel lines by Hawkins in praise of Handel, inscribed on one of two copies of Handel's "Jubilate", illustrate the "cheerfulness" recorded in Hawkins's epitaph. He died on 18 October 1729, in his sixty-seventh year, and was buried "among many of his relations" in the cathedral. Under the same black marble was laid in 1732 his wife Mary, "the tender mother of ten children".[1]
Compositionsedit
Vol. vii. of the music manuscripts in the Ely Cathedral library is lettered "Mr. Hawkins' Church Musick." It contains 532 pages of his compositions. These pieces, with others bound up in various volumes in the same library, comprise: Services in A (two: one in Tudway's Collection); A minor (full score); B minor; B minor (chanting); B flat; C; C minor (chanting, founded on a chant ascribed to William Croft, and generally sung in B minor); D (chanting); E minor (two); E flat (two); G (part of it in Tudway's Collection); F minor; "Burial Service"; "Gloria in excelsis".[1]
Of Hawkins's seventy-five anthems, sketches, and fragments, nine are in the collection of Tudway, who was in correspondence with Hawkins (Harl. MSS. 7341–2).[1]
Familyedit
His son, James Hawkins the younger, was organist of Peterborough Cathedral from 1714 to 1750. Manuscript copies of his anthem "O praise the Lord" are preserved both in Tudway's Collection and at Ely.[1]
james, hawkins, organist, james, hawkins, 1662, october, 1729, english, organist, composer, church, music, many, years, organist, cathedral, contents, life, compositions, family, references, external, linkslife, edithawkins, chorister, john, college, cambridge. James Hawkins 1662 18 October 1729 was an English organist and composer of church music He was for many years organist of Ely Cathedral Contents 1 Life 2 Compositions 3 Family 4 References 5 External linksLife editHawkins was a chorister of St John s College Cambridge where he graduated Mus Bac in 1719 In the same year he dedicated his anthem Behold O God our Defender a manuscript in the library of the Royal College of Music to the Very Rev Mr Tomkinson and the rest of the great good and just nonjurors of St John s Hawkins succeeded John Ferrabosco as organist of Ely Cathedral in 1682 1 He remained at Ely for forty six years During that period he carefully arranged in volumes what fragments remained of the old manuscript choir books of the cathedral many of which had been destroyed and many damaged in the civil war With these he bound up in manuscript seventeen services and seventy five anthems of his own composition Some doggerel lines by Hawkins in praise of Handel inscribed on one of two copies of Handel s Jubilate illustrate the cheerfulness recorded in Hawkins s epitaph He died on 18 October 1729 in his sixty seventh year and was buried among many of his relations in the cathedral Under the same black marble was laid in 1732 his wife Mary the tender mother of ten children 1 Compositions editVol vii of the music manuscripts in the Ely Cathedral library is lettered Mr Hawkins Church Musick It contains 532 pages of his compositions These pieces with others bound up in various volumes in the same library comprise Services in A two one in Tudway s Collection A minor full score B minor B minor chanting B flat C C minor chanting founded on a chant ascribed to William Croft and generally sung in B minor D chanting E minor two E flat two G part of it in Tudway s Collection F minor Burial Service Gloria in excelsis 1 Of Hawkins s seventy five anthems sketches and fragments nine are in the collection of Tudway who was in correspondence with Hawkins Harl MSS 7341 2 1 Family editHis son James Hawkins the younger was organist of Peterborough Cathedral from 1714 to 1750 Manuscript copies of his anthem O praise the Lord are preserved both in Tudway s Collection and at Ely 1 References edit a b c d e Middleton Louisa M 1891 Hawkins James In Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds Dictionary of National Biography Vol 25 London Smith Elder amp Co p 212 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Middleton Louisa M 1891 Hawkins James In Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds Dictionary of National Biography Vol 25 London Smith Elder amp Co p 212 Cultural offices Preceded byJohn Ferrabosco Organist and Master of the Choristers of Ely Cathedral1682 1729 Succeeded byThomas KemptonExternal links editJames Hawkins at ChoralWiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Hawkins organist amp oldid 1217997680, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
