Clarke, Jeremiah

ca 1674-1707

English organist and composer of the Baroque period.

Jeremiah Clarke studied with John Blow.

He wrote church music, chamber music and pieces for the harpsichord.

Jeremiah Clarke was a leading figure of the generation immediately following that of Henry Purcell.

As a boy, he was a chorister of the Chapel Royal under John Blow in London.

When his voice changed in 1692, he became organist of Winchester College.

On June 6, 1699, he was appointed a vicar-choral of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

In 1704, he became organist of the Chapel Royal, jointly with William Croft.

Following a sad love affair, he committed suicide on December 1st, 1707 and was buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.

He composed church music, odes, songs and incidental music for the theater, harpsichord pieces (including The Prince of Denmark's March, also known as the famous Trumpet Voluntary, which has long been attributed to Henry Purcell).