KENT, JAMES, a distinguished and deservedly popular oomposer of English church music, was born at Winchester in 1700, and at an early age placed as a chorister in the cathedral of that city, but soon removed to London, and admitted as one of the Children of the Chapel Royal, under the celebrated Dr. Croft, then Master of the Children.
After completing his education, he was chosen organist of Finden, in Northamptonshire, and subsequently was appointed organist of Trinity College, Cambridge, whence he removed, in 1737, upon being elected to fill the same situation in the cathedral of his native place—an office which he resigned in favour of his pupil, Mr. Fussell, in 1774. He died deeply regretted in 1776.
Mr. Kent was very serviceable to Dr. Boyce while the latter was preparing his magnificent work, the Collection of Cathedral Music,' and his assistance is duly acknowledged by that learned editor. In
1773 he published his now well-known volume of Twelve Anthems,' among which are—' Hear my Prayer," When the Son of Man," My Song shall be of Mercy,' and others familiar to and the delight of the congregations of our cathedrals. Upon presenting a copy of this work to Trinity College, the Master and Fellows voted him a valuable piece of plate. After his decease, a ' Morning and Evening Service, and Eight Anthems,' composed by him for the Winchester choir, were collected and printed by Mr. Corfe of Salisbury ; but the probability is that that the author never intended them for publication, for only the service and one of the anthems admit of comparison with the productions he himself gave to the world. He was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the ablest players on the organ of his time.