Joseph Corfe was Born and died in Salisbury, Corfe spent much of his life at the cathedral as a chorister, and as organist (1792 - 1804). In 1783 he was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and sang in the Handel commemmoration in the following year. He published a volume of church music comprising a service and eleven anthems, three sets of glees, and a Treatise on Thorough Bass which was used well into the nineteenth century.