Hawkins, Sir John
Hawkins, Sir John
Hawkins, Sir John, eminent English music historian; b. London, March 29, 1719; d.there, May 21, 1789. He studied law while serving as a clerk, and soon was able to actas an attorney. An ardent devotee of music, he entered the musical society of the time and was on friendly terms with Handel; he also participated in literary clubs, and knew Samuel Johnson, Goldsmith, and others. A wealthy marriage (1753) enabled him to devote his leisure to literature and music. In 1761 he became a magistrate, and in 1763 chairman of the Quarter Sessions. He was knighted in 1772. His first publication dealing with music was Memoirs of the Life of Sig. Agostino Steffani (1758). He then brought out An Account of the Institution and Progress of the Academy of Ancient Music (1770). The culmination of 16 years of labor was his monumental A General History of the Science and Practice of Music (5 vols., 1776). The first vol. of Burney’s General History of Music appeared at the same time; thus, Hawkins undoubtedly held priority for the first general history of music publ. in England. However, its reception was rather hostile; Burney himself derided Hawkins in an unpubl. poem. Yet the Hawkins work contained reliable information, particularly dealing with musical life in London in the 18th century. Hawkins died of a paralytic stroke and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Bibliography
P. Scholes, The Life and Activities of Sir J. H. (London, 1953); B. Davis, A Proof of Eminence: The Life of Sir J. H. (Bloomington, Ind., and London, 1973).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire