Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Page, John
PAGE, JOHN (1760?–1812), vocalist and compiler of musical works, was born about 1760. On 3 Dec. 1790 he was elected lay-clerk of St. George's, Windsor, and retained the post until 1795 (Grove). Page had been connected with St. Paul's Cathedral since about 1785, when he described himself on the title-page of the ‘Anthems’ as conductor of the music for the anniversary meeting of the charity children. On other publications, in 1798 and 1800, he described himself as ‘of St. Paul's.’ On 10 Jan. 1801 he was appointed vicar-choral of St. Paul's. He was a professional member of the Catch Club between 1792 and 1797. He died on 16 Aug. 1812, at 19 Warwick Square, Newgate Street.
Page wrote little if any original music, but was an industrious compiler of ‘Harmonia Sacra’ and other less valuable collections of sacred music. Among his publications are: 1. ‘The Anthems and Psalms as performed at St. Paul's Cathedral on the Day of the Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children, arranged for the Organ,’ &c., 1785? 2. ‘Divine Harmony,’ psalm and hymn tunes by Henley and Sharp, 1798. 3. ‘Harmonia Sacra,’ anthems in score by masters of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, 1800. 5. ‘Collection of Hymns by several Composers,’ 1804. 4. ‘Festive Harmony,’ dedicated to members of the Catch Club, 1804. 6. ‘Burial Service, &c., for the Funeral of Nelson,’ 1806. He published also several collections in co-operation with Battishill and Sexton.
[Grove's Dict. ii. 632, where a list of the contents of Harmonia Sacra is given; Gent. Mag. 1812, ii. 196; Baptie's Musical Biography, p. 170.]