A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Aldrich, Henry
ALDRICH, Henry, D.D., was born in 1647, and educated at Westminster School. In due course he passed to Christ Church, Oxford, of which foundation he was afterwards so distinguished a member. He was admitted a student in 1662, and took his degree as Master of Arts in 1669. He then took holy orders, and was elected to the living of Wem, in Shropshire, but continued to reside in his college and became eminent as a tutor. In February 1681 he was installed a Canon of Christ Church, and in May following he took his degrees as Bachelor and Doctor in Divinity. In 1689 he was installed Dean of Christ Church. He was as remarkable for the zeal with which he discharged the duties of his station as for the urbanity of his manners. His college was his first consideration, and he sought by every means to extend its resources and uphold its reputation. He closed his career Dec. 14, 1710.
Dr. Aldrich was a man of considerable attainments, a good scholar, architect, and musician. He wrote a compendium of logic, which is still used at Oxford, and a number of tracts upon theology, the classics, etc., the titles of which may be seen in Kippis (Biog. Brit.). He was also one of the editors of Clarendon's History of the Rebellion. Of his skill in architecture Oxford possesses many specimens; amongst others Peckwater quadrangle at Christ Church, the chapel of Trinity College, and All Saints' church. He cultivated music with ardour and success. 'As dean of a college and a cathedral he regarded it as a duty, as it undoubtedly was in his case a pleasure, to advance the study and progress of church music. His choir was well appointed, and every vicar, clerical as well as lay, gave his daily and efficient aid in it. He contributed also largely to its stock of sacred music; and some of his services and anthems, being preserved in the collections of Boyce and Arnold, are known and sung in every cathedral in the kingdom.' He formed a large musical library, in which the works of the Italian composers, particularly of Palestrina and Carissimi, are prominent features. This he bequeathed to his college, and it is to be regretted that a catalogue has not been printed. Catch-singing was much in fashion in the Dean's time; nor did he himself disdain to contribute his quota towards the stock of social harmony. His catch, 'Hark the Bonny Christ Church Bells,' in which he has made himself and his college the subject of merriment, is well known. He afterwards wrote and used to sing a Greek version of this catch. He was an inveterate smoker, and another of his catches in praise of smoking is so constructed as to allow every singer time for his puff.
Dr. Aldrich's compositions and adaptations for the church are 'A Morning and Evening Service in G' (printed by Boyce); 'A Morning and Evening Service in A' (printed by Arnold); and about fifty anthems, some original, others adaptations from the Italian. Some of these are to be found in the printed collections of Boyce, Arnold, and Page; others in the Ely, the Tudway, and the Christ Church MSS. (Hawkins, History; Biog. Dict. U.K.S.; Hayes, Remarks on Avison, etc.).