Hook, James (1746–1827)

English organist and composer. He studied under Garland, the Norwich Cathedral organist, had success in London in early manhood and in 1769 became organist and composer at Marylebone Gardens; he held the same posts at Vauxhall 1774–1820. He married Miss Madden around 1766 and wrote music for her play, The Double Disguise, in 1784. In 1795 and 1797 he did the same for two libretti by his son James (1772–1828), Jack of Newbury and Diamond cut Diamond, and from 1805 for several works by his second son, Theodore Edward (1788–1841). Of his vast output of songs for Vauxhall, some are still remembered, for example ‘The Lass of Richmond Hill’.

Works musical plays Love and Innocence (1769), Country Courtship (1772), The Lady of the Manor (1778), Too Civil By Half (1782), The Triumph of Beauty, The Peruvian, The Soldier's Return (1805), The Siege of St Quintin (1808), Hannah Moore's The Search after Happiness, etc.; odes, cantatas, catches.