Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707) was a pupil of John Blow and a contemporary of Henry Purcell. He was best known in his time as the organist at St. Paul's Cathedral and later at the Royal Chapel. In that position, he composed many services and anthems and, on the side, incidental music for the stage along with many short harpsichord pieces. Among a group of harpsichord works published in 1700 was a piece Clarke entitled The Prince of Denmark's March, a bright and brilliant work whose arpeggiated theme was instantly unforgettable. After Clarke's death by suicide in 1707 (he was disappointed in love), his The Prince of Denmark's March was arranged by Henry Wood for trumpet and organ and renamed Trumpet Voluntary. Unfortunately, while Clarke's theme was instantly unforgettable, Wood forgot who wrote the original and misattributed it to Henry Purcell.

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