A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pittman, Josiah

PITTMAN, Josiah, the son of a musician, born Sept. 3, 1816. He began to study both theory and practice at an early age, and became a pupil of Goodman and of S. S. Wesley on the organ; and at a later date, of Moscheles on the piano. He held the post of organist at Sydenham (1831), Tooting (1833), and Spitalfields (1835) successively—the last of the three for 12 years. Feeling the need of fuller instruction in theory he visited Frankfort in 1836 and 7, and studied with Schnyder von Wartensee. In 1852 he was elected organist to Lincoln's Inn: the service was in a very unsatisfactory condition, but Mr. Pittman's zeal, perseverance and judgment improved it greatly, and he remained there for 12 years. It was in support of this reform that he wrote a little book entitled 'The People in Church,' which at the time excited much attention. He also composed many services and anthems for the Chapel. Since then Mr. Pittman has been connected with the Opera as accompanyist, first at Her Majesty's (1865–68) and since at Covent Garden. His early predilections were for the German organ music, and like Gauntlett, Jacob, and the Wesleys he worked hard by precept, example and publication to introduce Bach's fugues, and pedal organs, into England. When Mendelssohn came here he lost no opportunity of hearing him play and of profiting by his society. For several years Mr. Pittman delivered the annual course of lectures on music at the London Institution. [App. p.749 "date of death April 23, 1886."]

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