John Hingston

Who was John Hingston?

John Hingston was an English composer, organist and viol player.

Oliver Cromwell appointed him court organist and keeper of instruments. After the Restoration, he was kept on as a viol player in the court of Charles II, where he also continued his work as an organ-builder, tuner and keeper of wind instruments until his death. In that capacity he was mentor to his 14-year old godson, Henry Purcell, who was apprenticed to him by a royal warrant issued on 10 June 10, 1673: "...to swear and admit Henry Purcell in the place of keeper, mender, maker, repairer and tuner of the regals, organs, virginals, flutes and recorders and all other kind of wind instruments whatsoever, in ordinary, without fee, to his Majesty, and assistant to John Hingston, and upon the death or other avoidance of the latter, to come into ordinary with fee."

Hingston was an apt model for the young royal chorister. A pupil of Orlando Gibbons, Hingston was also a composer and viol player, in which capacity he had served Charles I and whose daughters he tutored in music, as a member of the court band. He was also teacher of the Baroque composer and organist John Blow.