Biography
Born in Germany, Pepusch served in the Prussian court until age thirty, when he departed for a wiser nation after seeing a soldier executed there for nothing more than insubordination. He arrived in London near 1704 and supported himself initially as a viol player at Drury Lane before taking the harpsichordist post at the same theater. During his time at Drury Lane he staged five masques, assumed the role of music director for the future Duke of Chandos in 1721, and produced numerous verse anthems. When John Gay created “The Beggar’s Opera,” Pepusch supplied the bass lines—likely drawing on his viol expertise—and wrote the overture as well; the overture gained wide favor by weaving in one of the opera’s best-known melodies. He also authored a sequel, “Polly,” which censorship kept from the stage until 1777. His output encompassed many sonatas for violins, flutes, recorders, and harpsichord, yet his deepest commitment remained the exploration of ancient music. Appointed organist at the Charterhouse in 1737, he gained both time and widespread demand for study and instruction. In practice he stepped back from original composition, instead preparing editions of Corelli’s works and issuing “A Treatise on Harmony” along with further musical publications.