A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Travers, John

TRAVERS, John, commenced his musical education as a chorister of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where he attracted the attention of Dr. Godolphin, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral and Provost of Eton College, by whom he was placed with Maurice Greene as an articled pupil. He soon afterwards made the acquaintance of Dr. Pepusch, who assisted him in his studies to his great advantage. About 1725 he was appointed organist of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and subsequently organist of Fulham Church. On May 10, 1737, he was sworn in organist of the Chapel Royal in the room of Jonathan Martin, deceased, upon which he relinquished his place at Fulham. He composed much church music: his well-known Service in F, a Te Deum in D, and two anthems were printed by Arnold, and another anthem by Page; others are in MS. in the books of the Chapel Royal. He published 'The Whole Book of Psalms for one, two, three, four and five voices, with a thorough bass for the harpsichord,' 2 vols. fol. But the work by which he is best known is his 'Eighteen Canzonets for two and three voices, the words chiefly by Matthew Prior,' which enjoyed a long career of popularity, and two of which—'Haste, my Nanette,' and 'I, my dear, was born to-day'—are still occasionally heard. An autograph MS. by him, containing 4 melodies in some of the ancient Greek modes, for 4 voices with instrumental accompaniments, the fruit, doubtless, of his association with Pepusch, is amongst Dr. Cooke's MS. collections now in the library of the Royal College of Music. Upon the death of Dr. Pepusch he became the possessor, by bequest, of one half of the Doctor's valuable library. He died 1758.

[ W. H. H. ]