John Blow

Baroque English Composer and Organist

John Blow was a prominent English Baroque composer and organist, whose career spanned the late 17th century. Born on February 23, 1649, in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, he became a chorister of the Chapel Royal and later, in 1669, was appointed a private musician to King Charles II. Blow is often noted for his role as a teacher to his more famous student, Henry Purcell. In 1673, he was appointed organist of Westminster Abbey and later became Master of the Children there. His compositions include anthems, songs, and instrumental music, with his opera "Venus and Adonis" often considered a precursor to Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas." Blow's music was celebrated for its melodic qualities and its contribution to the development of English Baroque music. He passed away on October 1, 1708, but left a significant legacy through his works and influence on subsequent generations of composers.