A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kemp, Joseph

KEMP, Joseph, Mus. Doc., was born in Exeter in 1778, and was placed as a chorister in the cathedral under William Jackson, with whom he continued as a pupil after quitting the choir. In 1802 he removed to Bristol on being appointed organist of the cathedral. In 1809 he resigned his appointment and settled in London. In 1808 he took the degree of Mus. Bac. at Cambridge, his exercise being a 'War Anthem, A sound of battle is in the land.' In 1809 he was by special dispensation permitted to proceed Doctor of Music; his exercise being an anthem entitled 'The Crucifixion.' On Oct. 25, 1809, 'The Jubilee,' an occasional piece by him, was produced at the Haymarket Theatre. In 1810 a melodrama called 'The Siege of Isca [Exeter], or, The Battles in the West,' written by Dr. Kemp, with music by himself and Domenico Corri, was produced at the theatre in Tottenham Street. In the same year he lectured on his 'New System of Musical Education,' probably the first method propounded in England for teaching music to numbers simultaneously. In 1814 he returned to Exeter, resided there till 1818, then went to France, remained until 1821, and again returned to Exeter. He died in London, May 22, 1824. Dr. Kemp published an anthem, 'I am Alpha and Omega'; 'Twelve Psalmodical Melodies'; 'Twelve Songs'; 'Twenty Double Chants'; 'Musical Illustrations of the Beauties of Shakspeare'; 'Musical Illustrations of The Lady of the Lake'; 'The Vocal Magazine'; 'The New System of Musical Education, Part I.'; and numerous single glees, songs, duets, and trios.

[ W. H. H. ]