Jacob, Benjamin

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Jacob, Benjamin

English organist and composer; b. London, May 15, 1778; d. there, Aug. 24, 1829. He was a pupil of Willoughby, Shrubsole, and Arnold (1796). He served as organist at various churches, finally at Surrey Chapel (1794–1825). With Wesley and Crotch, he gave organ recitals (1808–14), which were attended by large crowds. He conducted a series of oratorios in 1800, and the Lenten Oratorios at Covent Garden in 1818. Jacob was very active in spreading the Bach cult in London (see O. Mansfield, “J.S. Bach’s First English Apostles,” Musical Quarterly, April 1935). He publ. National Psalmody (London, 1819) and other collections, as well as glees and catches.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Jacob, Benjamin

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