A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Heighington, Musgrave

by William H. Husk

HEIGHINGTON, Musgrave, Mus. Doc., born 1680, son of Ambrose Heighington, of White Hurworth, Durham, and grandson of Sir Edward Musgrave, of Hayton Castle, Cumberland, Bart., embraced the profession of music and in 1738 was organist at Yarmouth. On Aug. 12, 1738, he was admitted a member of the Gentlemen's Society at Spalding, a literary and antiquarian body corresponding with the Society of Antiquaries. In 1739, being then organist at Leicester, he produced at the Society's anniversary an ode composed by him for the occasion. He composed the vocal music in 'The Enchanter, or, Harlequin Merlin,' a pantomime published in Dublin, together with the instrumental music, a circumstance which, coupled with the facts of his wife being an Irish lady and his son born in Dublin, leads to the inference that he at some time pursued his profession in that city. He also composed 'Six Select Odes,' and some minor pieces. He is said to have obtained his degree at Oxford, but his name is not to be found in the records there, nor in the catalogues of graduates at Cambridge or Dublin. He died at Dundee about 1774.

[ W. H. H. ]