A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stokes, Charles

STOKES, Charles. This excellent musician was born in 1784, and received his first instructions as a chorister in St. Paul's Cathedral. He was afterwards a pupil of Mr. Webbe, senior, the glee composer, who was his godfather—and of other masters; but he was most indebted for his musical knowledge to Mr. Samuel Wesley, with whom he was long and intimately acquainted. Mr. Stokes officiated for several years as assistant-organist to Dr. Callcott, at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and for Mr. Bartleman at Croydon; but he latterly preferred the quiet pursuit of his own studies, in domestic retirement, to the exertion and fatigue of public engagements. Yet his musical acquirements were of the highest order. Vincent Novello speaks of him as a most able teacher, an excellent organist, a delightful pianoforte-player, a refined and tasteful composer, and one of the most profound musical theorists now [App. p.796 "then"] living. His name was little known, and his published music was almost confined to the pieces printed in Novello's 'Select Organ Pieces' (from which this notice is derived). That collection contains 10 pieces by Stokes, full of quiet feeling, and real, though somewhat antiquated, musicianship. Novello also published an Anthem of his, 'I will lay me down in peace.' [App. p.796 "add date of death, April 14, 1839."]

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