A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Whitaker, John

WHITAKER, John, born 1776, was organist of St. Clement, East Cheap, and composer of the music of many popular dramatic pieces, amongst which were 'The Outside Passenger,' 1811; 'Orange Boven,' 1813; 'A Chip of the Old Block,' and 'My Spouse and I,' 1815; 'The Broken Sword,' 1816; 'A Friend in Need,' 1817; 'Three Miles from Paris,' 1818; 'A Figure of Fun,' 1821; 'The Apprentice's Opera,' 'The Rake's Progress,' 'Sixes and Sevens,' etc. He joined Reeve in composing music for 'Who's to have her,' and contributed some songs to 'Guy Mannering' (1816), amongst them the popular 'Oh, slumber, my darling.' He also composed the music for several pantomimes, in one of which (produced at Sadler's Wells on Easter Monday, April 12, 1819) occurred the famous Clown's song, 'Hot Codlins,' written for Grimaldi. His comic songs ('Darby Kelly,' 'Paddy Carey,' and others) were highly popular. He composed some anthems, music for English versions of the Odes of Anacreon and Æsop's Fables, The Seraph Collections of Sacred Music, 2 vols., and 12 Pedal Exercises for the Organ. He died Dec. 4, 1847.

[ W. H. H. ]