A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stevens, Richard

by William Henry Husk

STEVENS, Richard John Samuel, born in London in 1757 [App. p.796 "March 27"], was educated in St. Paul's Cathedral choir under Richard Savage. He distinguished himself as a glee composer, and obtained prizes from the Catch Club for his glees, 'See, what horrid tempests rise,' 1782, and 'It was a lover and his lass,' 1786. He was appointed organist of the Temple Church, 1786, organist of the Charter House, 1796 (retaining his appointment at the Temple), and on March 17, 1801, was elected Professor of Music in Gresham College. He published three sets of glees and some songs. Nine glees and a catch by him are included in Warren's collections. Among his best glees may be mentioned 'Ye spotted snakes,' 'Blow, blow, thou winter wind,' 'Crabbed age and youth,' 'Sigh no more, ladies,' 'The cloud-capt towers,' 'From Oberon in fairy land,' 'Some of my heroes are low,' 'Prithee, foolish boy,' 'To be gazing on those charms,' and 'Strike the harp in the praise of Bragela,' all of which still retain their popularity with lovers of that class of composition. He edited 'Sacred Music for one, two, three and four voices, from the works of the most esteemed composers, Italian and English,' an excellent collection in 3 vols. fol. He died Sept. 23, 1837.

[ W. H. H. ]