A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Nares, James

by William H. Husk

NARES, James, Mus. Doc., born at Stanwell, Middlesex, in 1715 [App. p.728 "he was born shortly before April 19, 1715, on which day he was baptized"], was a chorister in the Chapel Royal under Bernard Gates, and afterwards a pupil of Dr. Pepusch. He acted for some time as deputy for Pigott, organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and in 1734 was appointed, on the resignation of Salisbury, organist of York Minster. On Jan. 13, 1756, he was appointed to succeed Dr. Greene as organist and composer to the Chapel Royal, and in the same year graduated as Mus. Doc. at Cambridge. In Oct. 1757 he was appointed Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal, vice Gates, his old master. In 1770 he gained a prize from the Catch Club for his glee, 'To all lovers of harmony.' He resigned the mastership of the Chapel boys July 1, 1780, died Feb. 10, 1783, and was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster. Dr. Nares published 'Eight Sets of Harpsichord Lessons,' 1748; 'Five Harpsichord Lessons,' 1758; 'Three Easy Harpsichord Lessons'; 'A Treatise on Singing'; 'Il Principio, or, A regular Introduction to playing on the Harpsichord or Organ' (the first set of progressive lessons published on a systematic plan); 'The Royal Pastoral,' a dramatic ode; 'Collection of Catches, Canons, and Glees'; 'Six Organ Fugues'; 'Second Treatise on Singing, with a Set of English Duets'; and 'Twenty Anthems,' 1778. 'A Morning and Evening Service and Six Anthems' were published in 1788, with a portrait of him, ætat. 65, engraved by Ward after Engleheart, prefixed. His Service in F and three anthems are included in Arnold's 'Cathedral Music,' an anthem in Page's 'Harmonia Sacra,' and two anthems in Stevens's 'Sacred Music.' Two canons, two glees, two rounds, and a catch by him are contained in Warren's collections. Nares was a poor composer, but some of his Church Music is still in use in our cathedrals.

[ W. H. H. ]