A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cooke, Benjamin

COOKE, Benjamin, Mus. Doc., the son of Benjamin Cooke, a music publisher in New Street, Covent Garden, was born in 1734. In his ninth year he was placed under the instruction of Dr. Pepusch, and made such rapid progress as in three years time to be able to act as deputy for John Robinson, organist of Westminster Abbey. In 1752 he was appointed successor to Dr. Pepusch as conductor at the Academy of Ancient Music. In September 57, on the resignation of Bernard Gates, he obtained the appointment of master of the choristers of Westminster Abbey, and on Jan. 27, 58, that of lay vicar there. On July 1, 62, on the death of Robinson, Cooke was appointed organist of the Abbey. In 75 he took the degree of Doctor of Music at Cambridge, and in 82 was admitted to the same degree at Oxford. In the latter year he was elected organist of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. In 1789 he resigned the conductorship of the Academy of Ancient Music to Dr. Arnold. He died Sept. 14, 1793, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, where a mural tablet, with a fine canon, records his skill and worth. Dr. Cooke's compositions, which are voluminous, are for the church, concert-room, and chamber. For the theatre he produced nothing except an ode for Dr. Delap's tragedy, 'The Captives,' 1786. His church music comprises the fine service in G, and one composed in 1787 at the request of Lord Heathfield for the use of the garrison in Gibraltar; two anthems composed in 1748 and 49 for the Founder's day at the Charter House; an anthem with orchestral accompaniments for the funeral of William, Duke of Cumberland, 1764; another of the same description, for the installation of the Bishop of Osnaburg, afterwards Duke of York, as Knight of the Bath, 1772; and fourteen others, besides several chants and psalm and hymn tunes. For the Academy of Ancient Music he added choruses and accompaniments to Pergolesi's 'Stabat Mater,' 1759, and to Galliard's 'Morning Hymn' (printed 1773); and composed an Ode for Christmas Day, 1763; 'The Syrens' Song to Ulysses'; Collins's Ode on the Passions (printed 1784); Ode on the Genius of Chatterton, 1786; and Ode on the King's recovery, 1789. But the compositions by which he is best known, and which will convey his name to posterity, are his numerous and beautiful glees, canons, etc. For seven of these (five glees, a canon, and a catch) the Catch Club awarded him prizes. Dr. Cooke published in his life-time a collection of his glees, and a second collection appeared in 1795 under the care of his son Robert. Twenty-nine glees, and eleven rounds catches and canons by Dr. Cooke are printed in Warren's collections. His instrumental compositions consist of organ pieces, concertos for the orchestra, marches, and harpsichord lessons. Apart from his eminence as a composer and practical musician, Dr. Cooke was one of the best and most learned theorists of his time. [App. p.597 adds that "he was an assistant director at the Handel Commemoration in 1784."]

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