He was a music director, organist and composer born in Dublin, Ireland, to a Scottish coachbuilder. When he was 14 he became a choirboy and received tutoring at the city’s Christ Church Cathedral. He received a stipend that same year from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and then in 1781 Christ Church Cathedral also gave him one.
In 1783 he attained the position of vicar choral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and seventeen years later he would take the same post at the Christ Church Cathedral. Becoming highly thought of in his field the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle appointed him as musical director and first organist.
A popular composer his wrote many songs and tunes often to poetry written by Thomas Moore and O’Keeffe among others. His compositions include many songs such as “The Last Rose of Summer” and “Faithless Emma”, symphonies, numerous anthems, odes, operas, air accompaniments and the music for the comic opera Love in a Blaze.
In 1791 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Dublin and in 1803 he received a knighthood for his composition You Ladies of Our Lovely Isle by Philip Yorke who was Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
He died in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, when he was 70 or 71 and a marble cenotaph was sculpted in his honour at Christ Church Cathedral and a stained glass window fitted to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Thomas Moore/Sir John Stevenson recordings
The Last Rose of Summer
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Telarc CD-80571 (CD: A Celtic Spectacular)
Conductor – Erich Kunzel
Arranger – Leroy Anderson
Tenor – John McDermott
Fiddle – Liz Knowles
Silver Arm Celtic Band
Pipes – Kieran O’Hare
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