A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Green, Samuel

GREEN, Samuel, a celebrated organ builder, born in 1740, studied the art of organ building under the elder Byfield, Bridge, and Jordan. After commencing business on his own account he erected many instruments in conjunction with the younger Byfield, with whom he was for some years in partnership. Green became the most esteemed organ builder of his day, his instruments being distinguished by peculiar sweetness and delicacy of tone. There exist more cathedral organs by him than any other builder; though most of them have been since altered and added to. He erected those in the cathedrals of Bangor, 1779; Canterbury, 1784; Wells, 1786; Cashel, 1786; Lichfield, 1789; Rochester, 1791; and Salisbury, 1792: in Winchester College chapel, 1780; St. George's chapel, Windsor, 1790; and Trinity College chapel, Dublin: in the following churches, chapels, etc. in London, viz. St. Botolph, Aldersgate; Broad Street, Islington; St. Catherine-by-the-Tower; Freemasons' Hall; The Magdalen Hospital; St. Mary-at-Hill; St. Michael, Cornhill; St. Olave, Hart Street; and St. Peter-le-Poor: in the following provincial cities and towns, Aberdeen; Ardwick, near Manchester; Bath; Bolton-le-Moors; Chatham; Cirencester; Cranbourne; Greenwich Hospital; Helston; Leigh; Loughborough; Macclesfield; Nayland; Sleaford; Stockport (St. Peter's); Tamworth; Tunbridge; Walsall; Walton; Wisbech; Wrexham; and Wycombe: at St. Petersburg, and Kingston, Jamaica. He also repaired the organ erected by Dallans in 1632 in York Minster (destroyed by fire in 1829) and that in New College, Oxford. Green died at Isleworth, Sept. 14, 1796. Although always fully employed he died in straitened circumstances, and left little, if any, provision for his family, having invariably expended his gains in the prosecution of experiments with a view to the improvement of the mechanism of the organ. After his death his widow continued to carry on the business for some years.

[ W. H. H. ]