James Hewitt musician

James Hewitt (June 4, 1770 – August 2, 1827) was an American conductor, composer, and music publisher. Born in Dartmoor, England, he lived in London from 1791 to early 1792 before moving to New York City in September 1792. He stayed there until 1811, conducting theater orchestras, composing and arranging music for local events, and running a "musical repository" where he sold musical instruments and publications. In 1805, he began participating in Boston's musical activities and moved there permanently in 1811. He spent the remainder of his life traveling between New York and Boston, continuing his musical work. After an unsuccessful operation in New York in early 1827, he was taken to Boston, where he died a few months later; his burial place is unknown. Hewitt published works by British composers such as William Shield, James Hook, Haydn, and Mozart and also published approximately 160 of his own compositions, including instrumental, keyboard, and vocal pieces. He authored several pedagogical books, similar to other music teachers of his era. One of his most famous works is *The Battle of Trenton*, a keyboard sonata written in 1797 and dedicated to George Washington. The piece features descriptive sections, such as "The Army in Motion" and "Yankee Doodle," and was revived in 1940 by harpsichordist Ralph Kirkpatrick. It has since been arranged for band performances, including recordings by the Goldman Band and organist E. Power Biggs. Hewitt was highly influential in New York's musical life during the early nineteenth century. Four of his children ...