Composer. He was the first distinguished musician to emerge from England's Restoration Period. Blow was organist of Westminster Abbey from 1669 to 1680, when he was replaced by his great pupil, Henry Purcell. He resumed the post after Purcell's death in 1695. In 1685 he was named a private musician to King James II, for whom he wrote his only stage work, the masque "Venus and Adonis" (c. 1687); he became choirmaster of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1687, and in 1699 was appointed to the newly created position of Composer to the Chapel Royal. From 1683 to 1700 he wrote the music for London's annual New Years' Day celebration. Of Blow's other compositions some 14 religious services and over 100 anthems are known, as well as the "Amphion Anglicus" (1700), a collection of chamber pieces.
Composer. He was the first distinguished musician to emerge from England's Restoration Period. Blow was organist of Westminster Abbey from 1669 to 1680, when he was replaced by his great pupil, Henry Purcell. He resumed the post after Purcell's death in 1695. In 1685 he was named a private musician to King James II, for whom he wrote his only stage work, the masque "Venus and Adonis" (c. 1687); he became choirmaster of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1687, and in 1699 was appointed to the newly created position of Composer to the Chapel Royal. From 1683 to 1700 he wrote the music for London's annual New Years' Day celebration. Of Blow's other compositions some 14 religious services and over 100 anthems are known, as well as the "Amphion Anglicus" (1700), a collection of chamber pieces.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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