A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sanderson, James

by William Henry Husk

SANDERSON, James, born in 1769 at Workington, Durham, had from early childhood a passion for music, and, without the assistance of masters, so qualified himself that in 1783 he was engaged as violinist at the Sunderland Theatre. In 1784 he went to Shields as a teacher of the violin and pianoforte, and met with much success. In 1787 he was engaged as leader at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Theatre, and in 1788 at Astley's Amphitheatre. In 1789 he made his first attempt at dramatic composition by writing instrumental interludes to illustrate the several parts of Collins's 'Ode on the Passions,' which the eminent tragedian, George Frederick Cooke, was to recite on his benefit night at Chester. His next work was 'Harlequin in Ireland' at Astley's in 1792. In 1793 he was engaged at the Royal Circus, afterwards the Surrey Theatre, as composer and music director, a post which he retained for many years. His principal productions during that period were 'Blackbeard,' 1798; 'Cora,' 1799; 'Sir Francis Drake,' 1800 (in which was the song, 'Bound 'prentice to a waterman,' which became so great a favourite with stage representatives of British sailors that it was constantly introduced into pieces in which a seaman formed one of the characters for fully half a century), and 'Hallowe'en.' His 'Angling Duet,' originally composed for 'The Magic Pipe,' a pantomime produced at the Adelphi, also enjoyed a long popularity. He composed many pieces for the violin. He died in or about 1841.

[ W. H. H. ]