Roseingrave

Roseingrave , family of English musicians:

(1) Daniel Roseingrave , organist and composer; b. 1650; d. Dublin, May 1727. He was organist at Gloucester (1679–81), Winchester (1682–92), and Salisbury (1692–98) cathedrals. After settling in Dublin, he was organist and stipendiary at Christ Church Cathedral from 1698. From 1698 to 1719 he was also organist and lay vicar at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He composed several sacred works. He had 2 sons who became musicians:

(2) Thomas Roseingrave , organist, teacher, and composer; b. Winchester, 1688; d. Dunleary, June 23, 1766. He was taken to Dublin by his father, who was his first teacher. He attended Trinity Coll. and then was sent to Italy for further music study in 1709. During his Italian sojourn, he was befriended by Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti. Returning to England about 1714, he was active in London. He promoted the music of Domenico Scarlatti, and presented the composer’s opera Amor d’un’ombra e Gelosea d’un’aura under the title Narciso in 1720, for which he himself wrote 2 arias and 2 duets. He also publ, an edition of 42 of Scarlatti’s sonatas in 1739. In 1725 he became organist at St. George’s, Hanover Square. Ill health restricted his activities from 1744, and about 1749 he returned to Dublin. He was particularly known as a composer of keyboard pieces.

Works

Phaedra and Hippolitus, opera (Dublin, March 6, 1753); Harpsichord Concerto; A Celebrated Concerto for Harpsichord, and other harpsichord pieces; organ music; 12 Italian cantatas (London, 1735); anthems; songs.

(3) Ralph Roseingrave , organist and composer; b. Salisbury, c. 1695; d. Dublin, 1747. He studied with his father, whom he succeeded as organist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1719, a post he officially assumed in 1726. At his father’s death in 1727, he also became his successor at Christ Church Cathedral. He composed sacred music and organ pieces.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire