Jump to content

Mr John Foster (Musician)


Guest Lakin

Recommended Posts

Guest Lakin

There was a man called John Foster who lived in high green house. He lived there with is wife Sarah from 1782 & died in 1822. He was a coroner of west riding for 40 years & an influential man who, according to Dr Gatty, Repressed the cruel bull & bear baiting which took place in the parish. He was a well known local musician. He played the violin cello & published a book of sacred music which he had composed. & one of the tunes was called High Green. I am trying to find this book he published. Does anyone know were to start to find it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Lakin

George chambers from newton chambers & co also lived in this house. I went to school with a lad who lived in this house but have forgot is name. I went in this house just before it was flattened to make way for the westwood estate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was a man called John Foster who lived in high green house. He lived there with is wife Sarah from 1782 & died in 1822. He was a coroner of west riding for 40 years & an influential man who, according to Dr Gatty, Repressed the cruel bull & bear baiting which took place in the parish. He was a well known local musician. He played the violin cello & published a book of sacred music which he had composed. & one of the tunes was called High Green. I am trying to find this book he published. Does anyone know were to start to find it.

The Wikipedia article (see link) suggests that the only surviving copies of his book are in the Sheffield Local History Library:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Foster_%28composer_and_magistrate%29

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Lakin

Found a bit more information.

One of the most richly scored pieces in the repertory is by John Foster, gentleman, coroner, humorist and amateur composer of High Green near Sheffield. His setting of Psalm 47 became yet another version of ‘While Shepherds Watched’, and is still sung in a cut-down version as part of the pub carolling tradition around Sheffield. The original, published around 1820, has remarkably Haydnesque instrumental passages, scored for a full classical orchestra. It was probably written for one of the choral festivals that were a feature of musical life in northern England in the early nineteenth century.

It is possible that ‘Old Foster’ was written for a music festival but it is in the vernacular tradition of carol singing around Sheffield that it has had approaching two centuries of vigorous life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is Revd Alfred Gatty's note about Mr Foster, taken from his 1884 book about his life at St.Mary's Ecclesfield - "A Life at One Living"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John Foster

Sacred Music consisting of anthems, psalms and hymns,

Composed and respectfully dedicated by permission

To the Rt Hon the Earl of Scarborough

 

Published in 1820 -  There are 2 copies in Sheffield Local Studies.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...