Batten, Adrian

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Batten, Adrian

Batten, Adrian, English organist and composer; b. Salisbury (baptized), March 1, 1591; d. London, 1637. He studied at Winchester with the Cathedral organist John Holmes, and in 1614 he went to London as vicar choral of Westminster Abbey. In 1626 he became vicar choral and organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. A prolific composer, he left 15 services and 47 anthems in MS. Some of his pieces are included in Boyce’s Cathedral Music. A modern reprint of one of his services is included in The Choir; several anthems have been publ. by Novello. Batten also transcribed into organ score numerous sacred choral works, some of which have come down to us only through his transcriptions. His organ book is described in Tudor Church Music (1922, Vol. II).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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