A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Catch Club

CATCH CLUB. This society, the full title of which was 'The Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club,' was formed in 1761 for the encouragement of the composition and performance of canons, catches, and glees, and the first meeting took place in November of that year, when there were present the Earls of Eglinton, Sandwich, and March, Generals Rich and Barrington, the Hon. J. Ward, and Messrs. H. Meynell and R. Phelps. These gentlemen, with the Duke of Kingston, the Marquesses of Lome and Granby, the Earls of Rochford, Orford, and Ashburnham, Viscounts Bolingbroke and Weymouth, Lord George Sutton, Colonels Parker, Windus, and Montgomery, Sir George Armytage, and Messrs. H. Penton, W. Gordon, and J. Harris, who joined in 1762, were the original members, and all subsequently enrolled were balloted for. Among distinguished persons afterwards admitted to the Club were George IV (elected when Prince of Wales in 1786), William IV (elected when Duke of Clarence in 1789), the Dukes of Cumberland (1786), York (1787), Cambridge (1807), and Sussex (1813). The professional members elected into the Society of the Catch Club included Beard, Battishill, Arne, Hayes, Atterbury, Paxton, S. Webbe, Piozzi, Knyvett, Stevens, Callcott, Danby, Greatorex, Bartleman, R. Cooke, Horsley, Goss, Walmisley, and Turle. In 1763 the Club offered its first prizes, one for two catches, a second for two canons, and a third for two glees, and they were awarded to Baildon, Marella, Dr. Hayes, and G. Berg. From its foundation to 1794 the prizes were competed for annually, and among the winners were Arne, Hayes, J. S. Smith, Danby, S. Webbe, Lord Mornington, Paxton, Atterbury, Dr. Cooke, R. Cooke, Dr. Alcock, Stevens, Spofforth, and Callcott. In 1787, in consequence of Dr. Callcott having submitted nearly 100 compositions in competition for the prizes, a resolution was passed that 'in future no composer should send in more than three compositions for one prize.' From 1794 to 1811 no prizes were offered, and after being awarded for two years they were again discontinued, until in 1821 they were once more revived, a gold cup taking the place of the medals. The rules of the Club required the members to take the chair in turns at the dinners which were held at the Thatched House Tavern every Tuesday from February to June, except in Passion and Easter weeks. The successive secretaries of the Club were Warren (1761–94), S.Webbe (1794–1812), Sale (1812–28), R. Leete (1828–36), Jas. Elliott (1836–52), O. Bradbury (1852–73), E. Land (1859–76). Webbe's glees 'Hail! Star of Brunswick' and 'The Mighty Conqueror' were composed specially for George IV, who invariably took his call and sang in his glee; and the late Duke of Cambridge attended to the last year of his life and rarely omitted his call, one of his favourite glees being Webbe's 'Glorious Apollo.' In 1861 the Club celebrated its centenary with much vigour, and to commemorate the event offered a silver goblet for the best four-part glee, which was awarded to Mr. W. H. Cummings for 'Song should breathe.' The present subscription is ten guineas each season, and the meetings are held fortnightly at Willis's Rooms from Easter to July.

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