Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Aldrich, Rev
Aldrich, Rev. DR. HENRY, appointed dean of Christ's Church, Oxford, in 1389, was a , singular instance of an unprofessional musician. At the same time that he was greatly distinguishing himself as a polemical writer, a polite scholar, a theologian, a profound critic, an architect, and a man of sound judgment and exquisite taste in arts, science, and literature in general, he became so profound and skilled in the theory and practice of harmony, that his compositions, particularly for the church, equal in number and excellence those of the greatest masters of his time. Though not more than five or six of his choral productions continue to be performed, except at Ox-ford, yet he composed nearly forty services and anthems, which are preserved in the third volume of Dr. Tudway's collection, in the British Museum. Besides these, Dr. Aldrich enriched the cathedrals with many admirable compositions, by adapting English words, from the psalms or liturgy, to anthems and motets of Tallis, Bird, Palestrina, Carissimi, Graziani, and Bassani, which were originally set to Latin words, for the Roman Catholic service. Among his compositions of a lighter kind, he amused himself' with setting rounds and catches, of which eight or ten are inserted in the two books of the "Catch Club," or " Merry Companion." The smoking catch, "Good ! good indeed," and the round, "Hark the bonny Christchurch Bells," have been always admired; the first for humor and contrivance, and the second for its pleasing melody and general effect. The admirable choral discipline Dr. Aldrich preserved in his college, at Oxford, for up-wards of twenty years, is still remembered. Indeed, without neglecting more important concerns, he seems to have interested himself in the cultivation and prosperity of the musical art, with as much zeal and diligence as if his studies and pursuits had been circumscribed to that alone. He bequeathed to his college, at his decease, in 1710, an admirable collection of music. Dr. Burney says that, having, in 1778 and 1779, made a catalogue of these musical works, he can venture to say, that, for masses, motets, madrigals, and anthems of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the collection is the most complete of any that he had an opportunity of consulting.