Jeremiah Clarke

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Jeremiah Clarke (c. 1674 – 1 December 1707) was an English baroque composer and organist. He is best known as the composer of the Prince of Denmark's March, also called the Trumpet Voluntary.

Life[change | change source]

His early life is unknown. He was a singer at the Chapel Royal by 1685. He was an organist at Winchester College from 1692 to 1695. He became the vicar-choral of St Paul's Cathedral, London. On 15 May 1704, he became an organist at the Chapel Royal with William Croft. He shot himself on 1 December 1707.[1]

Music[change | change source]

Clarke wrote church music, theatre music, and harpsichord music. His most famous work is the Prince of Denmark's March. It was first published as a harpsichord piece in A Choice Collection of Ayres for the Harpsichord in 1700.[1] It was arranged by Sir Henry Wood in the 19th century for an orchestra. He mistakenly thought that Henry Purcell had composed it. It is often played in weddings and ceremonies.[2]

Another famous piece, the Trumpet Tune in D may have also been written by Clarke. It was also mistakenly thought to have been composed by Henry Purcell. It is a movement from The Island Princess, a set of incidental music. It was written together by Clarke and Daniel Purcell, Henry Purcell's younger brother.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Powell, Christopher; Johnstone, H. Diack; Shaw, Watkins (2001). "Clarke [Clark, Clerk], Jeremiah (i)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05874.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Cudworth, C. L. (1953). "Some New Facts about the Trumpet Voluntary". The Musical Times. 94 (1327): 401–403. doi:10.2307/933069. ISSN 0027-4666. JSTOR 933069.