John Young

History

John YOUNG, active circa 1690-1730, operated his business in London, UK, from the establishment known as "the Dolphin and Crown" in St. Paul's Churchyard. He was recognized as a general music merchant, and his son, Talbot Young, was a notable violin player. Both father and son achieved lasting recognition through their immortalization by Henry Purcell in the first volume of his Catches. The verses read: "You scrapers that want a good Fiddle well strung, You must go to the man that is old while he's Young ; But if this same Fiddle you fain would play bold, You must go to his son, who'll be Young when he's old. There's old Young and young Young, both men of renown, Old sells, and young plays, the best Fiddles in town ; Young and old live together, and may they live long, Young, to play an old Fiddle ; old, to sell a new song." This significant quote is also documented by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in his work Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. Furthermore, Cecie Stainer's A Dictionary of Violin Makers states that John Young was reputed to be a maker of violins and other musical instruments.

Craft

• Instrument Attribution: While no instruments are definitively attributed to John Young, as noted by William Meredith Morris in British Violin Makers, Purcell's verses strongly suggest his role as a maker.
• Label Details: Instruments bearing his label typically read: "Sold by John Young / Musical Instrument Seller at ye / Dolphin and Crown at ye West end / of St Pauls Church London." According to John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, instruments with this label often exhibit characteristics similar to the work of Daniel Parker and other contemporary London makers.

Legacy

• Cultural Immortalization: John Young and his son were famously immortalized in Henry Purcell's collection Catches, a detail also highlighted by George Hart in The Violin.
• Son's Musical Contribution: His son, Talbot Young, a skilled violin player, played a significant role in the establishment of the Castle Concert in Paternoster Row in 1724, as documented by Cecie Stainer.

Further Information

• Primary Workshop Location: John Young conducted his business from the premises identified by the sign of "the Dolphin and Crown" in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, UK.
• Family Connection: His son, Talbot Young, was recognized as a violin player.

Summary

John Young, active circa 1690-1730, was a prominent London-based music merchant and reputed maker of musical instruments, operating from his establishment "the Dolphin and Crown" in St. Paul's Churchyard. He and his son, Talbot Young, a notable violinist, achieved lasting recognition through their immortalization in Henry Purcell's Catches. Although no instruments are definitively attributed to John Young, his labels appear in instruments that often show characteristics of other contemporary London makers.