William Flackton

William Flackton (1709–5 January 1798) was an English viola player and composer who is perhaps best known today for his compositions for the viola.

Flackton was born in Canterbury and was the eldest surviving son of John Flackton and Catharine Sharp. He demonstrated a talent for music from an early age and at the age of nine he was admitted as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral.

He worked as an apprentice bookseller until 1730 when he set up his own business and was involved in publishing and second-hand and antiquarian book trade, simultaneously being the organist for the church of St Mary of Charity in Faversham between 1735 and 1752.

Flackton had a particular interest in church music which is demonstrated by his collection of music manuscripts, now held in the British Library. One of the more significant of Flackton's church compositions is "Hymns for Three Voices" which was composed in support of the Sunday school movement. Non-church music composed by Flackton includes "A Glorious Chase" in F major for three voices and horn, which he composed for the Canterbury Catch Club. Many of his works are used as examination pieces by many music schools.

Bibliography

*Sarah Gray, "Flackton, William (bap. 1709, d. 1798)", in "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison (Oxford: OUP, 2004)