Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Richardson, Vaughan
RICHARDSON, VAUGHAN (1670?–1729), organist and composer, was present, when a child of the Chapel Royal, at the coronation at Westminster of James II and Queen Mary on 23 April 1685. In June 1693 he was appointed organist of Winchester Cathedral. He composed in 1697 ‘An Entertainment of New Musick on the Peace of Ryswick.’ Owing perhaps to his enthusiasm, a series of musical celebrations of St. Cecilia's day was held annually at Winchester, the festival for 1703 being announced to take place on 22 Nov. at the Bishop of Winchester's palace ‘called Woolsey, near Winchester, where (in honour of St. Cecilia) will be performed a new set of vocal and instrumental musick composed by Mr. Vaughan Richardson, organist of the cathedral’ (Husk). He had already published in his ‘Collection of New Songs,’ 1701, music for the ode ‘Ye tuneful and harmonious choir,’ but he is better remembered as the composer of a ‘Service in C’ (Tudway, MS. Collection, vol. vi.), and some fine anthems, ‘O Lord God of my salvation’ (ib. vol. v.) and ‘O how amiable,’ published in the first volume of Page's ‘Harmonia Sacra’ and other collections.
Richardson died, aged about 59, before 26 June 1729, at Winchester. A daughter survived him.
[Hawkins's History, pp. 764, 771; Sandford's Coronation, p. 69; Husk's Celebrations, pp. 92, 93; Grove's Dict. iii. 127, iv. 772; P. C. C. Admon, Grants, 1729.]