PECH, James (peck), musician, born in Rochester, England, 23 December, 1830. He is the son of a major in the British army. James was a chorister in Rochester cathedral, and subsequently assistant organist. At the age of fourteen he was admitted as a student in the Royal academy of music, London, and he afterward studied at Oxford, where he was given the degree of doctor of music, he subsequently received the same degree by diploma from the archbishop of Canterbury. He then travelled and studied in France, Germany, "rod Austria, and on his return to London became a member of the Drury Lane theatre orchestra, under the leadership of Carl Anehutz. When the latter came to the United States, Pech succeeded him as musical director. He afterward led the "People's Philharmonic Concerts" at Exeter hall, and was also a conductor of the London orchestral association. In 1866 he arrived in New York city, where he was appointed an organist of Trinity parish. During his connection with that corporation he did much to encourage the study of church music. He subsequently established the Church music association, by which Mozart's "Requiem " and Beethoven's "Mass in D," with an orchestra of ninety and a chorus of 400, were produced for the first time in this country. He also conducted the oratorios that were given by the Santley concert troupe, and was one of the leaders at the Beethoven centennial in New York city in 1871. Dr. Pech has since resided partly in Europe and partly in New York city. He has delivered a course of lectures on aesthetics at St. Francis Xavier and other colleges, and has received the degree of LL.D. from the University of the State of New York. Besides producing many musical compositions and writing on music and cognate subjects, he is the author of several volumes printed privately. Dr. Pech also wrote the analytical and critical programmes of the Church music association.