Joseph Nicholds
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nicholds was a player of the keyed bugle
and a composer of sacred music, today known as West gallery music
.
around 1785, and worked as a limestone-breaker in the Deepfields iron furnaces nearby. He may have also played ophicleide
in the band which accompanied the singing at Providence Baptist Chapel, Coseley.
, where he remained in the capacity of bandmaster for 21 years. The band, one of the very first brass band
s, became famous for producing excellent musicians – so much so that many people came just to hear the music, without paying to go inside to see the animals.
By 1844 he appears to have left Wombwell’s menagerie, as he is described as “formerly director of Wombwell’s band” in a report by The Musical World journal of a performance of his oratorio
The Triumphs of Zion in Wolverhampton
, on 17 September 1844. Only part of this oratorio is known to have survived, along with several of Nicholds’ hymn tunes, in a collection of manuscript
music associated with the Larks of Dean
.
Around 1850 Nicholds moved to the Ebbw Vale
area of Monmouthshire
where he remained for five years. Here he published The Monmouthshire Melodist, a collection of psalm and hymn tune
s and anthem
s, with several pieces by other composers working in the area.
He returned to the Black Country
around 1855, and became proprietor of the Hop & Barleycorn Inn, Coseley. His most famous work, the oratorio Babylon, was first performed in the newly-completed Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1857 – however, it was not published until after his death.
, the Dudley
& Sedgley
Union, Shaver’s End (Burton Road), where he died on 18 February 1860. On 21 February,
The remains of his memorial may be seen in the old Sedgley cemetery (now the Garden of Rest) – only the inscribed tablet survives of what was a 10-ft tall obelisk
-topped monument. It reads:
THIS
MONUMENT WAS ERECTED
IN 1871 BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION,
AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
IN
AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
JOSEPH NICHOLDS
A NATIVE OF COSELEY
WHO DIED FEBY 18TH 1860.
AND WAS AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING
WORKS OF SACRED MUSIC,
THE FRUITS OF BENEVOLENCE.
GABRIELS HARP.
THE TRIUMPHS OF ZION.
THE ORATORIO OF BABYLON.
THE MONMOUTHSHIRE MELODIST.
THE SONGS OF ZION.
“They rest from their labour and their
works do follow them.”
*'Nicholds Close' in Coseley, WV14 9JS, is named after the composer.
Bugle
Bugle is a brass musical instrument.Bugle may also refer to:* Contrabass bugle, lowest-pitched instrument in the drum and bugle corps hornline* Bugle , common names of flowering plant genus Ajuga...
and a composer of sacred music, today known as West gallery music
West gallery music
West Gallery Music, also known as "Georgian psalmody" refers to the sacred music sung and played in English parish churches, as well as nonconformist chapels, from 1700 to around 1850...
.
Early life
Nicholds was born in CoseleyCoseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
around 1785, and worked as a limestone-breaker in the Deepfields iron furnaces nearby. He may have also played ophicleide
Ophicleide
The ophicleide is a family of conical bore, brass keyed-bugles. It has a similar shape to the sudrophone.- History :The ophicleide was invented in 1817 and patented in 1821 by French instrument maker Jean Hilaire Asté as an extension to the keyed bugle or Royal Kent bugle family...
in the band which accompanied the singing at Providence Baptist Chapel, Coseley.
Career
Sometime after 1820 Nicholds and his three sons joined the band attached to Wombwell’s Travelling MenagerieGeorge Wombwell
George Wombwell, , was a famous menagerie exhibitor in the Victorian Britain. He founded Wombwell's Travelling Menagerie.-Life and work:...
, where he remained in the capacity of bandmaster for 21 years. The band, one of the very first brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s, became famous for producing excellent musicians – so much so that many people came just to hear the music, without paying to go inside to see the animals.
By 1844 he appears to have left Wombwell’s menagerie, as he is described as “formerly director of Wombwell’s band” in a report by The Musical World journal of a performance of his oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
The Triumphs of Zion in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, on 17 September 1844. Only part of this oratorio is known to have survived, along with several of Nicholds’ hymn tunes, in a collection of manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
music associated with the Larks of Dean
Larks of Dean
The Larks of Dean were a society of musicians formed in Rossendale, Lancashire in northern England during the mid-eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century...
.
Around 1850 Nicholds moved to the Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
area of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
where he remained for five years. Here he published The Monmouthshire Melodist, a collection of psalm and hymn tune
Hymn tune
A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
s and anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
s, with several pieces by other composers working in the area.
He returned to the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
around 1855, and became proprietor of the Hop & Barleycorn Inn, Coseley. His most famous work, the oratorio Babylon, was first performed in the newly-completed Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1857 – however, it was not published until after his death.
Death
In late 1858, Nicholds was admitted to the local workhouseWorkhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
, the Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
& Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
Union, Shaver’s End (Burton Road), where he died on 18 February 1860. On 21 February,
The remains of his memorial may be seen in the old Sedgley cemetery (now the Garden of Rest) – only the inscribed tablet survives of what was a 10-ft tall obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
-topped monument. It reads:
THIS
MONUMENT WAS ERECTED
IN 1871 BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION,
AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
IN
AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
JOSEPH NICHOLDS
A NATIVE OF COSELEY
WHO DIED FEBY 18TH 1860.
AND WAS AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING
WORKS OF SACRED MUSIC,
THE FRUITS OF BENEVOLENCE.
GABRIELS HARP.
THE TRIUMPHS OF ZION.
THE ORATORIO OF BABYLON.
THE MONMOUTHSHIRE MELODIST.
THE SONGS OF ZION.
“They rest from their labour and their
works do follow them.”
*'Nicholds Close' in Coseley, WV14 9JS, is named after the composer.
Known published work
- Sacred Music, A Selection of Psalm & Hymn Tunes, Adapted to Public Worship and figured for the OrganOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Piano FortePianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
&c. (London: for the Author, 1829). - Gabriel’s Harp, Original Sacred Melodies. lost.
- “Fruits of Benevolence” – Tunes and Pieces adapted for Anniversaries, Charity Sermons, &c. lost.
- Triumphs of Zion – consisting of Airs, Duets, Choruses, &c., with Instrumental Accompaniment. [Oratorio] c.1844. printed copy lost.
- The Songs of Zion. lost.
- The Monmouthshire Melodist: A Select Variety of Congregational Tunes, together with Six Original Anthems. (London: Joseph Hart, c.1850). First edition lost.
- Second (Copyright) Edition of the Monmouthshire Melodist and Supplement: A Work containing original Pieces, suitable for Chapel and Sunday SchoolSunday schoolSunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
Anniversaries; Also, a Variety of ChantChantChant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of notes to highly complex musical structures Chant (from French chanter) is the rhythmic speaking or singing...
s, Tunes, &c. by Various Authors, Especially adapted for Congregational Use; The whole Edited and Arranged for the Organ, Pianoforte, &c., by the late Joseph Nicholds. (BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
: George Sage, and London: John Shepherd, [supplement published BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
: Henry Keeler], c.1869). - Babylon, An Oratorio. Composed c.1857, first published 1861. Several editions, including a revision by Cornelius Ward, and a Tonic sol-faTonic sol-faTonic sol-fa is a pedagogical technique for teaching sight-singing, invented by Sarah Ann Glover of Norwich, England and popularised by John Curwen who adapted it from a number of earlier musical systems...
edition in English and WelshWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, 1866.
- ‘Funeral Hymn: Hear what the voice’, published in Thomas Jarman’s The Voice of Melody, (London: unknown, c.1850).
- 3 anthems (‘The Star of Bethlehem’; ‘Joy to the World’; ‘Arm of the Lord’) in English and Welsh published in D.O. Evans, Temple Gems. (Gemau y Deml.), (Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, OhioYoungstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
: D.O. Evans, 1889). - ‘Dudley Castle’, hymn tune, published in John Fawcett'sJohn Fawcett (of Bolton)John Fawcett began in life as a shoemaker but taught himself to be a musician. In 1825, Fawcett moved to Bolton, in Lancashire, and became an organist, choir leader, and composer.- External links :...
Melodia Divina, (London: F. Pitman, Hart; 3rd edition c.1870).
Works in manuscript
- [The] Redemption, oratorio. In a manuscript (1845–1848) by Moses Heap in the Larks of Dean collection (with Triumphs of Zion, possibly only extracts), LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
Archives, Preston. - Miriam, oratorio. lost.
- The Fall of Babylon, anthem. In a manuscript (1848) by David Lewis in the National Library of WalesNational Library of WalesThe National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
; along with a hymn tune, ‘Nicholds’. - Several psalm & hymn tunes in the Larks of Dean collection, and a few isolated examples in other manuscript collections.
External links
- West Gallery Music Association
- A picture of Wombwell's Menagerie band wagon in 1887.
- National Fairground Archive: Travelling Menageries
- Trevor Herbert, 'Nineteenth-Century Bands: Making a Movement'.
- Valerie Martin, 'Luke Berrington's Coaching Days' – Life of a bugler in Wombwell's Menagerie band.
- The Musical World
- Rachel Cowgill and Peter Holman (eds.), Music in the British Provinces, 1690–1914 (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007)
Video clips
- Courage, hymn sung by Stream of Sound Choir
- Preparation, the hymn sung at Nicholds' deathbed, sung by Stream of Sound Choir
- Union, hymn sung by Stream of Sound Choir