A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Hart, Joseph

HART, Joseph, born in London in 1794, became in 1801 a chorister of St. Paul's under John Sale. Whilst in the choir he was taught the organ by Samuel Wesley and Matthew Cooke, and the piano by J. B. Cramer. At 11 he acted as deputy for Attwood at St. Paul's. He remained in the choir nearly 9 years, and on quitting it became organist of Walthamstow, and private organist to the Earl of Uxbridge. He left Walthamstow to become organist of Tottenham. At the termination of the war in 1815, when quadrille dancing came into vogue, Hart became an arranger of dance music, and his 'Lancers' Quadrille' has continued in use ever since. From 1818 to 1820 he was chorus master and pianist at the English Opera House, Lyceum. He composed the music for 'Amateurs and Actors,' 1818; 'A Walk for a Wager,' and 'The Bull's Head,' 1819, all musical farces; and 'The Vampire,' melodrama, 1820. In 1829 he removed to Hastings, commenced business as a music seller, and was appointed organist of St. Mary's Chapel. Hart produced 48 sets of quadrilles, waltzes and galopades, and 'An Easy Mode of teaching Thorough-bass and Composition.' He died in December, 1844.

[ W. H. H. ]