English composer and organist. 
He probably received early
music training at Magnus Song School in Newark; later he was a choirboy at the
Chapel Royal under Henry Cooke 1659-63. In the 1660s he was a pupil of Christopher Gibbons. He was appointed organist at Westminster Abbey in 1668 at age 19. He was appointed Musician on the virginalls to Charles II, replaced Giles Tompkins 1669. In 1674 he became a Gentleman of the Chapel and the same year succeeded Pelham Humfrey as Master of the Children. This position he held for the rest of his life. Among his pupils were William Croft and Henry Purcell. In 1676 he was made one of the Chapel Royal organists; the following year he received the D.Mus. from the Dean of Canterbury. During the next years he composed many of his best-known works, including most of the anthems with string accompaniment and the masque Venus and Adonis.He was appointed Musician in Ordinary for the Private Musick in 1685, and choirmaster at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1687. From 1689 he was Composer in the Private Musick. In 1695 he was named 'Tuner of the regalls, organs, virginalls' etc., with 'Father' Smith; finally in 1699 he became First Composer in Ordinary to the Chapel Royal, the official Chapel Royal composer, the first to hold such a post. He composed eleven services (edited in William Boyce, Cathedral Music, 3 vols., London, 1760-73); some 115 anthems (eleven are in Boyce's collection); ten Latin church works; Venus and Adonis;thirty-six known odes (including
several for St. Cecilia's Day; "Great Sir, the joy of all our hearts"; "Ode on the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell"); many songs and catches; pieces for string ensemble; organ; harpsichord works.
He also authored Rules for Playing of a Thorough Bass upon Organ and Harpsicon.