Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Calah, John
CALAH, JOHN (1758–1798), organist and composer, was born in 1758, but his birth-place and early history are alike unknown. In December 1781 he succeeded John Jackson as organist of the parish church and master of the song-school of Newark-on-Trent, where he remained until 1785, on 28 June of which year he was appointed to the offices of organist and master of the choristers in the cathedral church of Peterborough, which were vacant by the resignation of Richard Langdon. Calah remained at Peterborough until his death, which took place on 5 Aug. 1798. He was buried on the 8th of the same month. He composed some unimportant church music, songs, sonatas, &c., but his works are now nearly forgotten.
[Gent. Mag. 1798. p. 728; Appendix to Bemrose’s Choir Chant Book; Burial Register and Chapter Audit Book of Peterborough Cathedral, communicated by the Rev. W. Farley Wilkinson.]