English composer Jeremiah Clarke died on this day in 1707. Like many people of his day, his exact birthdate (perhaps around 1674) was not recorded, nor much about his early life.
By 1785, the year of the coronation of James II, he was a boy chorister at the Chapel Royal. As an adult he sang at St. Paul's Cathedral in London and studied with John Blow. In later years, he was the organist at the Chapel Royal and Master of the Choristers at St. Paul's. He composed mostly choral music and some hymn tunes, but also pieces for keyboard and instruments, and at least one opera with Daniel Purcell (brother of Henry).
Despondent at the refusal of his marriage proposal by a “titled lady,” he killed himself on that December day. 302 years ago. Accounts differ as to whether he is buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral (unlikely for a suicide) or in unconsecrated ground outside the cathedral graveyard.
Clearly not planning ahead, I have already used Clarke's most familiar tunes here:
Clark's most familiar composition is undoubtedly his Trumpet Voluntary or the Prince of Denmark's March, which you will probably recognize as soon as you click on the video below. It is frequently used at weddings, which seems ironic given the circumstances of Clarke's suicide.
O thou whose gracious presence shone, A light to bless all humankind, To thee we fondly turn again As to a friend that we have known.
Thy grace and truth, thy life that shed Undying radiance through all time, Thy tender love, thy faith steadfast, Remembering these, we break the bread.
And lo! again we seem to hear Thy blessing on the loaf and cup, The presence that was given then Again to loving hearts brought near.
Our humble lives, thus touching thine, Are joined with all the glad and good, In truer, nobler unity That lifts the world to realms divine.
Marion Franklin Ham, 1912; alt. Tune: BROMLEY (L.M.) Jeremiah Clarke, 1700
Marion Franklin Ham (1867 - 1956) was a Unitarian minister who served churches from Texas to Massachusetts. He shares a February 18 birthday with a more prominent hymnwriter, Martin Luther.
It may seem unusual for a communion hymn to come from a Unitarian origin, but most Unitarian and Universalist hymnals of the past did contain a section of such hymns. Even today the rite is still practiced in some UU churches, though it's controversial in many others.
