Matthew Camidge (1764 - 1844)

Born 25 May 1764 in York, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Shaw) Camidge — married 3 Sep 1789 in Saint Martin's, Coney Street, York, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1844 at age 80 in York, Yorkshire, England

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Biography

Matthew Camidge[3] was christened 25 May 1764 in Holy Trinity Goodramgate, York,.^[1] – the son of John Camidge 1^[2] (bap. 1734–1803) and Elizabeth Camidge. Matthew's father gave Matthew, the sixth son, his early musical training. After some time as a chorister of the Chapel Royal under James Nares, Matthew returned to York where he lived the rest of his life. He served as his father's assistant and in 1799 he succeeded his father as organist of York Minster.^[3]He played an active part in the musical life of York, appearing as a soloist in piano and organ concertos and promoting music festivals in York Minster. After Matthew retired in 1842, his son,, succeeded him as organist. Matthew married Mary Shaw of York in 1789.^[4]They had three sons. One, John, succeeded Matthew on his own retirement, and then passed on the post to his own son. Matthew's other sons took orders, and one of them became canon of York Minster. He died 23 October 1844 in York.

Compositions

Matthew Camidge was known for his brilliant organ improvisations. He organized huge music festivals given at York in 1823, 1825, and later. As a violinist, he led the orchestra of the York Musical Society. He contributed 30 excellent hymn tunes for William Richardson's Collection of Psalms, which in later editions became widely known as The York Psalm and Hymn Book. It is likely that Camidge introduced the practice of psalm chanting to St Michael-le-Belfrey, his other church job, which he obtained in 1801. His sonatas, for piano with accompanying violin and cello, are very pleasant works, and representative of the better English music of the time, though not original. He frankly acknowledged, in the preface to his set of organ concertos published in 1817, that he was writing them in the "so long admired" style of Handel and Corelli. ^[5] Matthew Camidge published works of practical material written for his work as a church musician and teacher as well as anthems and service settings in Cathedral Music, Hymn and psalm tunes, an edition of Henry Lawes' Psalmody for a single voice, Instructions for the Piano forte or Harpsichord and some songs.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NP56-VZ4 : 11 February 2018, Matthew Camidge, 25 May 1764); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 844,555.
2. ↑ "Camidge, John (1735-1803)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camidge_family
4. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV4Y-95M : 10 February 2018), Matthew Camidge and Mary Shaw, 03 Sep 1789; citing Saint Martin Coney Street, York, York, England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 498,811.
5. ↑ Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide

See Also

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQGR-1B9 : 13 December 2017), Mattw Camidge, St Michael Le Belfrey, Yorkshire,Yorkshire West Riding, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2JQ2-76S : 31 December 2014), Matthew Camidge, 1844; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, York, Yorkshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

• "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSQ-PDN9 : 18 March 2018), Matthew Camidge, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing United Kingdom, 09 Nov 1844, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm .

• University of York. Department of Music. Composers. Entry for Matthew Camidge

• wikisource

• Cathedral Organists Past and Present by John Ebenezer West. Novello 1921. p.122

• Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland. Editors Robert Evans, Maggie Humphreys. Bloomsbury Publishing, 1997. p.56

• The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Volume 44. Novello, 1903. p300-.301.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camidge_family