A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Smith, John Stafford

by William Henry Husk

SMITH, John Stafford, son of Martin Smith, organist of Gloucester Cathedral from 1743 to 1782, was born at Gloucester in 1750. He obtained his earliest musical instruction from his father, and was soon afterwards sent to London to study under Dr. Boyce, and also became a chorister of the Chapel Royal under James Nares. On quitting the choir he sedulously pursued his studies, and became an able organist, an efficient tenor singer, an excellent composer, and an accomplished musical antiquary. In 1773 he was awarded two prizes by the Catch Club, one for a catch, 'Here flat,' and the other for a canon, 'remember not the sins.' In the next four years he gained prizes for the following compositions; 'Let happy lovers fly,' glee, 1774; 'Since Phillis has bubbled,' catch, and 'Blest pair of syrens,' glee (5 voices), 1775; 'While fools their time,' glee, 1776; and 'Return, blest days,' glee, 1777. He rendered great assistance to Sir John Hawkins in the production of his History, not only by reducing ancient compositions into modern notation, but also by the loan of some valuable early MSS. from his extensive and curious library, from which Sir John culled several pieces to enrich his Appendix. In 1779 he published 'A Collection of English Songs, in score, for three and four voices, composed about the year 1500. Taken from MSS. of the same age'; among which is the very interesting historical song, 'Our king went forth to Normandy,' commemorative of the victory of Agincourt. In 1780 he won another prize from the Catch Club by his ode, 'When to the Muses' haunted hill.' He published at various times five collections of glees, containing compositions which place him in the foremost rank of English glee composers. Besides his prize glees they include 'As on a summer's day,' 'What shall he have that killed the deer?' 'Hark, the hollow woods resounding,' and the madrigal 'Flora now calleth forth each flower.' 14 glees, 14 catches, 4 canons, 2 rounds, an ode, a madrigal, and a motet by him are given in Warren's collections. He also published a collection of songs, and 'Twelve Chants composed for the use of the Choirs of the Church of England; On Dec. 16, 1784, after having for many years officiated as a deputy, he was appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and on Feb. 22, 1785, a lay vicar of Westminster Abbey, being installed, after his year of probation, April 18, 1786. In 1790 he was engaged as organist at Gloucester Festival. In 1793 he published a volume of 'Anthems, composed for the Choir Service of the Church of England.' In 1802, upon the death of Dr. Arnold, he was appointed one of the organists of the Chapel Royal, and on May 14, 1805, upon the resignation of Dr. Ayrton, succeeded him as Master of the Children. In 1812 he produced his interesting work 'Musica Antiqua.' [See Musica Antiqua.] In June 1817 he resigned the Mastership of the Children of the Chapel Royal. Besides the before-named compositions he produced 'An Ode on the First of April,' for voices and instruments, which was never published. A MS. 'Introduction to the Art of composing Music,' by him is in the library of the Sacred Harmonic Society, which also contains his Musical Commonplace Book. He died Sept. 20, 1836. By his will, dated Jan. 21, 1834, he bequeathed all his property to his only surviving daughter, Gertrude Stafford Smith, and appointed her sole executrix. She proved the will Oct. 20, 1836 (personalty sworn under £12,000), and took possession of the property. A few years afterwards she became insane, and in 1844 the Commissioner in Lunacy ordered that her property should be realised and the proceeds invested for her benefit. Through ignorance or carelessness the contents of her house (which included her father's valuable library, remarkably rich in ancient English musical manuscripts), were entrusted for sale to an auctioneer who, however well qualified he might have been to catalogue the furniture, was utterly incompetent to deal with the library. It was sold April 24, 1844, such books as were described at all being catalogued from the backs and heaped together in lots, each containing a dozen or more works; 2191 volumes were thrown into lots described as 'Fifty books, various,' etc. The printed music was similarly dealt with; the MSS. were not even described as such, but were lumped in lots of twenties and fifties, and called so many 'volumes of music.' 578 volumes were so disposed of, and there were besides five lots each containing 'a quantity of music.' The sale took place at an out-of-the-way place in the Gray's Inn Road; Smith's name did not appear on the catalogue; nothing was done to attract the attention of the musical world, and two dealers, who had obtained information of the sale, purchased many of the lots at very low prices. These after a time were brought into the market, but it is feared the greater part of the MSS. are altogether lost.

[ W. H. H. ]