A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stanley, John

STANLEY, John, Mus. Bac., born in London in 1713, at two years old became blind by accident, at seven began to learn music from John Reading, organist of Hackney, and a few months later was placed with Maurice Greene, under whom he made such rapid progress that in 1724 he was appointed organist of All Hallows, Bread Street, and in 1726 organist of St. Andrew's, Holborn. On July 19, 1729, he graduated as Mus. Bac. at Oxford. In 1734 he was appointed one of the organists of the Temple Church. In 1742 he published 'Six Cantatas, for a Voice and Instruments,' the words by Hawkins, the future historian of music, which proved so successful that a few months later he published a similar set to words by the same author. In 1757 ne produced his 'Jephthah,' and in 1760 joined J. C. Smith in carrying on the oratorio performances formerly conducted by Handel, for which he composed 'Zimri,' 1760, and 'The Fall of Egypt,' 1774. In 1761 he set to music Robert Lloyd's dramatic pastoral, 'Arcadia, or The Shepherd's Wedding,' written in honour of the marriage of George III. and Queen Charlotte. He published also 'Three Cantatas and Three Songs for a Voice and Instruments,' and three sets, of 12 each, of Organ Voluntaries. In 1774, on the retirement of Smith, he associated Thomas Linley with himself in the conduct of the oratorios. In 1779 he succeeded Dr. Boyce as Master of the King's Band of Music. Burney says he was 'a neat, pleasing, and accurate performer, a natural and agreeable composer, and an intelligent instructor.' He died May 19, 1786. His portrait by Gainsborough was finely engraved by Mary Ann Rigg (afterwards Scott), and another portrait, at the organ, was engraved by Mac Ardell.

[ W. H. H. ]