Stephen Paxton facts for kids

Paxton's name on the Burdett-Coutts Memorial, Old St Pancras Churchyard, London (detail)

Stephen Paxton was a talented musician from the 1700s. He was born in Durham, England, on December 27, 1734, and passed away in London on August 18, 1787. Stephen was known as a cellist, which means he played the cello, and he was also a composer, meaning he wrote music.

He is often remembered alongside his brother, William Paxton (1737–1781). Both brothers wrote many pieces of music for the cello. They were especially famous for writing songs called glees. A glee is a type of song for three or more voices, usually sung without instruments. Back in their time, it was sometimes hard to tell which brother wrote which song, so their works are sometimes mixed up!

Stephen Paxton's Music and Awards

Stephen Paxton was very good at writing glees. He won special awards called London Catch Club prize medals for several of his songs. These included:

• How Sweet, How Fresh (which won in 1779)
• Round the Hapless (which won in 1781)
• Ye Muses Inspire Me (which won in 1783)
• Blest Pow'r Here See (which won in 1784)

These awards showed how much people enjoyed his music during his lifetime.

Where Stephen Paxton is Remembered

Stephen Paxton's name is listed on the Burdett-Coutts Memorial in the churchyard of Old St. Pancras in London. This memorial remembers important people whose graves were lost or moved when the churchyard was changed. It's a way to honor his memory even today.

Finding Stephen Paxton's Music

If you are interested in finding some of Stephen Paxton's musical scores, you can often find them in online music libraries.

• IMSLP