Webbe, Samuel W

Composer

the elder (snr), b ?London 1740, d London 1816. He had little formal education; apprenticed to a cabinet maker at 11, he left that trade after his 7-year duty, to study languages and become a ms copier at a Soho music shop. There he met the organist Barbandt, receiving his first-ever music education, and was encouraged to begin organ lessons at the Bavarian Embassy in London, becoming active in composition by 1763. He also sang bass, and became organist at the Portuguese Embassy from 1776; he played also at Spanish and Sardinian Embassies, for all of which he composed liturgical and instrumental music which was widely used among 19th-c RCs. Also wrote part-songs, glees and catches, holding office in the Glee Club (as Librarian) and the ‘Noblemen’s and Gentlemen’s Catch Club’ (as Secretary). With his son Samuel W the younger (jr) compiled A Collection of Motetts or Antiphons; probable editor of a 1782 essay on plainchant. No.82=317, 119F=947.