Photo: Thomas Hudson · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Johann Christoph Pepusch
Person · male · Germany · Berlin · born 1668 · died 1752 · recording since 1992
German composer (1667–1752)
Also known as J.C. 佩普施 · John Christopher Pepusch · ヨハン・クリストフ・ペープシュ
Timeline
6 events▣ Album 3◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1660s
1750s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Songs from the Beggars's Opera
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography515 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1345375454
Biography
Johann Christoph Pepusch (German pronunciation: [ˈjoːhan ˈkʁɪstɔf ˈpeːpʊʃ]; 1667 – 31 July [O.S. 20 July] 1752), also known as John Christopher Pepusch (English: ) and Dr Pepusch, was a German-born Baroque composer who spent most of his working life in England.
Early life
Pepusch was born in Berlin, son of a Protestant minister. He studied music theory under Martin Klingenberg, cantor of the Marienkirche in Berlin. At the age of 14, he was appointed to the Prussian court where he gave music lessons to the future Frederick William I of Prussia. He resigned this position in 1698 after witnessing the execution of an officer without trial.
He then first went to Amsterdam. In 1704, he settled in England, but continued to publish in Amsterdam until 1718.
Career
At first, Pepusch earned a living playing the viola, then as a theatre director, music theoretician, teacher and organist. In 1726, Pepusch founded The Academy of Vocal Music with others; in around 1730–1, it was renamed The Academy of Ancient Music. In Joseph Doane's Musical directory for the year 1794, the founding of the academy is discussed. On page 76, Doane states:
In the year 1710 (memorable for Handel's first appearance among us) a number of the most eminent composers and performers in London [agreed] to concert a plan of an Academy for the study and practice of Vocal and Instrumental Music, which was no sooner announced than it met the countenance and support of the principal persons of rank. Among the foremost in this undertaking were Mr. John Christopher Pepusch, Mr. John Earnest Galleard, an excellent composer and performer on the Oboe, Mr. Bernard Gates of the Queen's Chapel, Henry Niedler, etc.
He also founded the Madrigal Society. Both were devoted to researching the history of music but specifically music of the Elizabethan period. In 1713 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Oxford. Pepusch remained Director of the academy until his death in 1752, and had established England as an important location for the study of music history. He was succeeded at the academy by Benjamin Cooke, one of his pupils. His many pupils also included William Boyce and John Bennett.
For a period of twenty years, Pepusch also directed the musical establishment at Cannons, a large stately home at Edgware, Middlesex, northwest of London. He was employed there by James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos. For a few years, he worked alongside George Frideric Handel, who had a role described as composer in residence. Both men were at Cannons in 1717/18.
Amongst English musicologists, Pepusch is considered significant foremost for his teaching role, but is best known for his arrangement of the music for The Beggar's Opera (1728) — to the libretto of John Gay. He composed works of all forms, including stage and church music as well as concertos and continuo sonatas. He often made use of popular dance forms, such as the gigue and sarabande.
Personal life
Pepusch was married to Margherita de l'Epine who also performed in some of his theatrical productions. He died in London at the age of 85.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 5 | 78.9th |
| Studio albums | 3 | 80.9th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 6 | 80.8th |
| Recording span (years) | -240 | 2.6th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (5 release groups · 3 studio albums)
Albums · 3
Songs from the Beggars's Opera
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 59 tracks · 1:14:29
1The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Through All the Employments of Life"1:072The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "'Tis Woman That Seduces All Mankind"2:063The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "If Any Wench Venus' Girdle Wear"1:274The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "If Love the Virgin's Heart Invade"1:285The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "A Maid Is Like the Golden Ore"0:516The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Virgin Are Like the Fair Flower in Its Lustre"2:497The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Our Polly Is a Sad Slut!"0:458The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Can Love Be Control'd by Advice?"1:229The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "O Polly, You Might Have Toy'd and Kissed"0:5110The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "I Like a Ship in Storms Was Tossed"0:5911The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "A Fox May Steal Your Hens, Sir"1:0212The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "O, Ponder Well! Be Not Severe"0:4913The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "The Turtle Thus With Plaintive Crying"1:1914The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Pretty Polly, Say"1:3215The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "My Heart Was So Free"0:5316The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "Where: I. Laid on Greenland's Coast"1:3317The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "O What a Pain It Is to Part!"1:2118The Beggar's Opera: Act: I. "The Miser Thus a Shilling Sees"1:0819The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Fill Every Glass, for Wine Inspires Us"1:1320The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "If the Heart of a Man Is Deprest With Cares"1:0221The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Youth's the Season Made for Joys"0:5922The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Before the Barn Door Crowing"1:1323The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "The Gamesters and Lawyers Are Jugglers Alike"0:4324The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "At the Tree: I. Shall Suffer With Pleasure"0:4925The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Man May Escape From Rope and Gun"0:5626The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Thus When a Good Huswife Sees a Rat"0:4327The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "How Cruel Are the Traitors"1:0728The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "The First Time at the Looking-Glass"0:5829The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "When You Censure the Age"0:4830The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Is Then His Fate Decreed, Sir?"1:1231The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "You'll Think E'Er Many Days Ensue"1:0632The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "If You at an Office Solicit Your Due"1:1333The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Thus When the Swallow Seeking Prey"1:1434The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "How Happy Could: I. Be With Either"0:4535The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "I'm Bubbled"0:3136The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Cease Your Funning"1:2737The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Why How Now, Madam Flirt?"0:4838The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "No Power on Earth Can E'Er Divide"1:2339The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "I Like the Fox Shall Grieve"1:2640The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "When Young at the Bar You First Taught Me to Score"2:0041The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "My Love Is All Madness and Folly"1:0642The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Thus Gamesters United in Friendship Are Found"1:3043The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "The Modes of the Court So Common Are Grown"1:1644The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "What Gudgeons Are We Men!"1:1645The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "In the Days of My Youth"1:1646The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "I'm Like a Skiff on the Ocean Tossed"0:5847The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "When a Wife's in Her Pout"1:0548The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "A Curse Attends That Woman's Love"1:4749The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Among the Men, Coquets We Find"1:1850The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Come, Sweet Lass"1:2051The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Hither, Dear Husband, Turn Your Eyes"0:5552The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Which Way Shall: I. Turn Me"0:4753The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "When My Hero in Court Appears"1:2954The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "When He Holds Up His Hand"1:3555The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Our Selves, Like the Great, to Secure a Retreat"1:1756The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "The Charge Is Prepar'd"1:0057The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "O Cruel, Cruel, Cruel Case!"4:0358The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Would: I. Might Be Hang!"1:2459The Beggar's Opera: Act: II. "Thus: I. Stand Like the Turk"2:092016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 40 tracks · 1:24:39
1Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Overture: Allegro - Adagio e cantabile - Allegro4:362Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: Hail! Bright Aurora!0:543Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: How Pleasant is Ranging the Fields3:154Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: But Soft! What Nymph Is This?0:145Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: Ah! Sweet Adonis, Form'd for Joy!3:526Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: O! Bounteous Goddess!0:167Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: With Her Alone I'll Live and Die3:088Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: Your Leave, Bright Goddess0:209Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: Swain, Thy Foolish Sports Give Over2:0110Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: In vain of Love you praise the Joy0:4911Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: Cease Your Vain Teazing2:4712Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Accompagnato: Ah! Venus Lost!0:3213Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: Cupid! Cupid! bend thy Bow2:5714Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: Alas! Alas! it will not be!0:2515Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: Hark! How the Cheerful Horn0:4016Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: How Silly's the Heart of a Woman2:3517Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Recitativo: Such Scorn and Insult Can I Bear?0:4118Venus and Adonis: First Interlude: Aria: Farewel, Venus! Welcome Pleasures!4:1719Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Prelude: Allegro1:2520Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: From War's Alarms0:2521Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: Beauty now alone shall move him4:0222Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: Down to these Woods descending1:2723Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: Gentle Slumbers4:3324Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: This way the jolly Huntsmens Hollow1:1425Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: Chirping Warblers4:2726Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: But Soft! he moves2:1527Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: What Heart Could now refuse thee5:2528Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: Ah! ruin'd! lost!0:2629Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: Thus the Brave from War returning1:5730Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: Ah! cruel Mars!3:2231Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: On love what greater Curse can fall2:5832Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Chorus of huntsman, Recitativo: Hark! Hark! Adonis, hark away!1:4633Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Accompagnato: O fading joy!0:4934Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: O! Mars, unkind!0:3835Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: O! believe me!4:0236Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo: He's Gone!1:0537Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: O! welcome! welcome! gentle Death!2:4138Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Recitativo & accompagnato: He's gone. The flitting Soul is fled!1:4339Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Aria: Let every tender Passion1:5540Venus and Adonis: Second Interlude: Chorus: No more let mortal Heart1:452023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 27 tracks · 1:03:34
1Rejoyce in the Lord – I. [Sinfonia]2:322Rejoyce in the Lord – II. Chorus: Rejoyce in the Lord O Ye Righteous2:453Rejoyce in the Lord – III. Duet: Praise the Lord With Harp3:054Rejoyce in the Lord – IV. Chorus: Sing Unto the Lord a New Song3:175Rejoyce in the Lord – V. Duet: For Faithfull Is the Word of God3:026Rejoyce in the Lord – VI. Recitative: By the Word of the Lord Were the Heavens Made0:287Rejoyce in the Lord – VII. Chorus: The Swelling Floods Together Roll’d1:468Rejoyce in the Lord – VIII. Duet: Thy Royall Seat O Lord for Ever Shall Remain2:329Rejoyce in the Lord – IX. Chorus: Let Earth and All That Well Therein Before Him Trembling Stand1:1910Rejoyce in the Lord – X. Chorus: O Praise the Lord and Be Joyfull1:5711Magnificat – I. [Sinfonia]2:3012Magnificat – II. Chorus: My Soul Doth Magnifie the Lord2:2713Magnificat – III. Aria: For He Hath Regarded the Lowliness of His Hand Maiden2:4014Magnificat – IV. Chorus: For Behold From Henceforth3:0215Magnificat – V. Aria: For He That Is Mighty Hath Magnified Me2:5116Magnificat – VI. Chorus: He Hath Shewed Strength With His Arm3:5717Magnificat – VII. Duet: He Hath Put Down the Mighty From Their Seat2:4318Magnificat – VIII. Chorus: He Hath Filled the Hungry With Good Things1:3319Magnificat – IX. Duet: He Remembering His Mercy Has Holpen His Servant Israel2:3020Magnificat – X. Chorus: Glory Be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost3:4821Concerto for Oboe Solo in B-flat major3:3122O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – I. Chorus: O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord1:2223O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – II. Recit: Ye That Stand in the House of the Lord0:2224O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – III. Trio: O Praise the Lord, for the Lord Is Gracious2:1925O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – IV. Accomp. Recitative: For I Know That the Lord Is Great0:4126O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – V. Aria: Thy Name O Lord Endureth Forever2:2327O Praise the Lord, Laud Ye the Name of the Lord – VI. Chorus: Praise the Lord Ye House of Israel2:12
Album · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Early 18th Century Oboe SonatasSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 31:091Sonata in A Minor (from Der Getreue Musik-Meister): I. Siciliana3:34 2Sonata in A Minor (from Der Getreue Musik-Meister): II. Spirituoso1:57 3Sonata in A Minor (from Der Getreue Musik-Meister): III. Andante2:25 4Sonata in A Minor (from Der Getreue Musik-Meister): IV. Vivace1:36 5Sonata in G Minor, Op.1 No.6: I. Larghetto3:12 6Sonata in G Minor, Op.1 No.6: II. Allegro1:25 7Sonata in G Minor, Op.1 No.6: III. Adagio2:36 8Sonata in G Minor, Op.1 No.6: IV. Allegro1:12 9Sonata in G, Op.1 No. 2: I. Grave2:03 10Sonata in G, Op.1 No. 2: II. Allegro1:30 11Sonata in G, Op.1 No. 2: III. Largo2:12 12Sonata in G, Op.1 No. 2: IV. Allegro1:13 13Sonata in D Minor: I. Largo2:14 14Sonata in D Minor: II. Allegro1:51 15Sonata in D Minor: III. Largo0:50 16Sonata in D Minor: IV. Allegro1:19 | Compilation | — | |
| — | The Lonely ShepherdSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 26 tracks · 1:03:051Corydon: Recitativo "While Corydon, the lonely shepherd"0:48 2Corydon: Aria "Gay charmer, to befriend thee"3:59 3Corydon: Recitativo "The Shepherd rose, he gaz'd around"0:42 4Corydon: Aria "Who, from Love his Heart securing"3:27 5The Division Flute: Ground for alto recorder & continuo2:59 6Love frowns in Beauteous Myra's Eyes: Aria "Love frowns in Beauteous Myra's Eyes"5:42 7Love frowns in Beauteous Myra's Eyes: Recitativo "Mark how when sullen Clouds appear"0:50 8Love frowns in Beauteous Myra's Eyes: Aria "Love and the graces smiling"3:52 9Sonata for recorder & continuo in F major1:44 10Cleora: Recitativo "Cleora sat beneath a Shade"0:31 11Cleora: Air "Sure time and Love are both a sleep"5:17 12Cleora: Recitativo "Dorus wing'd with Swift desire"0:17 13Cleora: Aria "Fly Care and Anguish far away"3:00 14Sonata for recorder & continuo in D minor: I. Grave1:41 15Sonata for recorder & continuo in D minor: II. Allegro1:03 16Sonata for recorder & continuo in D minor: III. Vivace1:33 17When Loves soft Passion: Recitativo "When Loves soft passion had usurp'd my breast"0:33 18When Loves soft Passion: Aria "O Love thou know'st my anguish"7:02 19When Loves soft Passion: Recitativo "The God of Love who hear'd my pray'r"0:23 20When Loves soft Passion: Aria "Why shou'd I Love the fair that fly's me"3:28 21The Fairy Queen, Act III. Air "If love's a Sweet Passion"2:29 22Morlake Ground3:55 23Menaloas: Recitativo "Menaloas, once the gayest Swain"0:29 24Menaloas: Aria "Beware my Thyrsis how you prove"2:51 25Menaloas: Recitativo "Soon alass, the heedless youth"0:24 26Menaloas: Aria "Ah, simple Boy, your boasted sence"4:06 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Johann Christoph Pepusch head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 5 | 78.9th |
| Studio albums | 3 | 80.9th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 6 | 80.8th |
| Recording span (years) | -240 | 2.6th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Fellow of the Royal Society | won |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Christopher_Pepusch_by_Thomas_Hudson.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cdd9a9bf-cc44-40a3-978e-941a228cecc0discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cdd9a9bf-cc44-40a3-978e-941a228cecc0core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q371825genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q371825seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Pepuschbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Pepusch
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Thomas Hudson · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q371825 · MusicBrainz: cdd9a9bf-cc44-40a3-978e-941a228cecc0
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