A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Hilton, John

by William H. Husk

HILTON, John, Mus. Bac., first appears as a composer in 'The Triumphes of Oriana,' 1601, to which he contributed the 5-part madrigal, 'Faire Oriana, beautie's queene.' He graduated at Cambridge in 1626. In 1627 he published 'Ayres, or Fa las for three voyces,' dedicated 'To the worshipful William Heather, Doctor of Musicke,' reprinted in score by the Musical Antiquarian Society. In 1628 Hilton was elected organist and parish clerk of St. Margaret's Westminster. It is presumed that he was deprived of the first-named appointment when the organ was taken down pursuant to the Parliamentary ordinances of 1644, but that he continued to hold the latter. In 1652 he published the collection called 'Catch that Catch can, or, A Choice Collection of Catches, Bounds and Canons for 3 or 4 voyces.' He was buried at S. Margaret's, Westminster, March 21, 1657. Hawkins's statement that he lies in the Abbey Cloisters, and that an anthem was sung in the Abbey before his body was brought out of his house for interment can therefore at best be only partially true. Besides the above-named compositions Hilton produced a Service in G minor, printed in Rimbault's Cathedral Music, a second Service in the same key, and some anthems which remain in MS. 'Lord, for Thy tender mercies,' usually given to Farrant, has been attributed to Hilton. The copies in which it is so attributed have a few additional bars on the word 'Amen,' which may possibly be of Hilton's composition. (See Harl. MS. 7340.) Several songs, dialogues, catches, canons and rounds by him are contained in a volume in the British Museum (Add. MS. 11,608). An Elegy on William Lawes composed by Hilton for 3 voices is printed in Henry and William Lawes' 'Choice Psalmes,' 1648. His portrait is in the Music School, Oxford, and is engraved by Hawkins (chap. 121).

[ W. H. H. ]