A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Courteville, Raphael
COURTEVILLE, Raphael, was one of the gentlemen of the Chapel Royal in the reign of Charles I. He lived through the interregnum, resumed his place in the chapel on its re-establishment in 1660, and died Dec. 28, 1675.
His son Raphael, was brought up as a chorister in the Chapel Royal. As a composer of songs his productions abound in the collections published in the latter part of the 17th century and at the commencement of the next. His first printed work was 'Six Sonatas for two Violins,' and he also produced, about 1685, Sonatas for two Flutes. In 1691 he was appointed the first organist of St. James's church, Piccadilly, for which he composed the psalm tune well known by the name 'St. James's.' In 1696 [App. p.600 "1695"] he was one of the composers associated with Henry Purcell in setting the third part of D'Urfey's 'Don Quixote.' He is supposed to have died about the year 1735.
His son Raphael, succeeded his father as organist of St. James's church. He was a political writer of some repute and believed to be the author of some articles in "The Gazetteer,' a paper which supported Sir Robert Walpole's administration, whence he was nicknamed by the opposite party, 'Court-evil.' He died in 1771.
[App. p.600 & 601 "The statement that he died and was succeeded by his son in 1735 is without confirmation. The vestry registers of the Church of St. James's, Piccadilly, show no entry of a change of organists between 1691 and 1771, and as several entries imply that Courteville had been for many years before the latter date unable to perform his duties, it is highly probable, if not actually certain, that one person of the name held the post for eighty years. He seems to have married in 1735 a lady of large fortune. (Notes and Queries, sec. II. x. 496.) In 1738 he published 'Memoirs of Lord Burleigh,' signing it only with initials. A pamphlet by him on Insolvency was published in 1761, and a satire on his writings appeared in the 'Westminster Journal' of Dec. 4, 1742, bearing his signature, with the appended titles, 'Organ-blower, Essayist, and Historiographer.' He died early in June, 1772, and was buried on the 10th of the month."]
John Courteville, probably the brother of Raphael the elder, was the composer of several songs which appeared in 'The Theater of Music,' 1685–87.[ W. H. H. ]