John Travers
12 Organ Voluntaries18 CanzonetsCornet VoluntaryFair and UglyWikipediaJohn Travers (ca. 1703 – June 1758) was an English composer who held the office of Organist to the Chapel Royal from 1737 to 1758. Before filling several parochial posts in London he had been a choir boy at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and a pupil of
Johann Christoph Pepusch.
He received his early musical education in the choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. With the support of Henry Godolphin, he was apprenticed to
Maurice Greene. He afterwards studied with John Christopher Pepusch, and copied, according to
Charles Burney, his style. On Pepusch's death Travers was bequeathed some of his musical library.
About 1725 Travers became organist of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and afterwards of Fulham church. On 10 May 1737 he succeeded Jonathan Martin as organist of the Chapel Royal, a post which he held until his death in 1758. Among his pupils was
Jackson of Exeter.
His church music (for example the extended anthem Ascribe unto the Lord) was used into the nineteenth century.
Among his secular compositions are his Eighteen Canzonets, the words being from Matthew Prior.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Travers, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.