James Leach (composer)
James Leach (baptised 25 December 1761, died 8 February 1798) was an English composer of nonconformist church music.[1]
Life[]
He was born in Wardle, Rochdale, Lancashire. He became a hand-loom weaver, but having studied music in his leisure hours, ultimately devoted himself entirely to the art. He early attained proficiency as a player, and was made a member of the king's band. He gained some distinction both as a teacher and choir-leader, and as a countertenor singer took a prominent part in the Westminster Abbey and other musical festivals.[2]
He removed about 1795 to Salford, where he died from the effects of a stage-coach accident on 8 February 1798. He was buried in the cemetery of Union Street Wesleyan Chapel, Rochdale, where his grave is marked by a stone on which is cut his short-metre tune 'Egypt,' in G minor.[2]
References[]
- ^ "Leach, James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16227. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Jump up to: a b This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hadden, James Cuthbert (1892). "Leach, James". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
External links[]
- Free scores by James Leach in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Free scores by James Leach at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- Classical-period composers
- English classical composers
- 1761 births
- 1798 deaths
- People from Wardle, Greater Manchester
- 18th-century classical composers
- 18th-century male musicians
- English male classical composers
- Composer stubs