A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Hall, Henry
HALL, Henry, son of Capt. Henry Hall of Windsor, where he was born about 1655, was a chorister of the Chapel Royal under Capt. Cooke. He is said to have studied under Dr. Blow, but this is doubtful. In 1674 he succeeded Theodore Coleby as organist of Exeter Cathedral, an appointment which he resigned on becoming organist and vicar choral of Hereford Cathedral. It is said that about 1696 Hall took deacon's orders to qualify himself for some preferment in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Hereford. He composed a Te Deum in E flat, a Benedicite in C minor, and a Cantate Domino and Deus Misereatur in B flat, all which, together with 5 anthems, are included in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MSS. 7340 and 7342), and other anthems of considerable merit. The Te Deum has been printed with a Jubilate by William Hine, and an Evening Service by Dr. W. Hayes. Some songs and duets by Hall are included in 'Thesaurus Musicus,' 1693, and 'Deliciæ Musicæ,' 1695, and some catches in 'The Monthly Masks of Vocal Music' for 1704 and 1707. Hall cultivated poetry as well as music; commendatory verses of some merit by him are prefixed to both books of Purcell's 'Orpheus Britannicus,' 1698 and 1702, and to Blow's 'Amphion Anglicus,' 1700. He died March 30, 1707, and was buried in the cloister of the vicars choral at Hereford.
His son, Henry Hall, the younger, succeeded his father as organist and vicar choral of Hereford. He does not appear to have been a composer, but in poetical ability he excelled his father. Many of his poems, among them a once well-known ballad, 'All in the land of cyder,' are included in 'The Grove,' 1721. He died Jan. 22, 1713, and was buried near his father.