THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE (1710–1778) English Composer. Thomas Augustine Arne Free midi doanloads.

THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE
12^th March 1710 --- 5^th March 1778

Thomas Augustine Arne was a English born composer, was born in London, being a son of an pholsterer. Intended for the legal
profession, he was educated at Eton. His Inclination for music however proved to irresistible to him, his father after strongly
opposing his wishes for a time, eventually provided the means for his training. On March 1773, he produced his first work at
Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, a setting of Adsison's Rosamond, the heroine's part being proformed by his sister Susannah Maria
who arterwards became celebrated as Mrs Cibber. This proving a success, was immediately followed by aburletta, entitled The
Oprea of Opera'a based on Fielding's Tragedy of Tragedies. The part of Tom Thumb was played by Arne's younger Brother, and
the opera was produced at the Haymarket Theatre the Masque Dido and Aeneas a subject which Purcell had treated more then
a half century earlier in such a memorable fashion.

Arne's individuality of style first distinctly asserted itself in the music to Dr.Dalton's adaptation of Milton's Comos, which was
performed at Drury Lane in 1738 and speedily established his reputation. In 1740 he wrote the music for Thomson and Mallets
Masque of Alfred, which if otherwise unnoteworthy, will always be remembered as containing Rule Britrannial. In 1740 he also
wrote his beautiful settings of the songs Under the Greenwood tree, Blow blow, thou Winter wind and Whhen the daisies pied,
for a performance of Shakespeare's As you like it.

Then in 1745 he composed his most successful pastoral dialogue, Colin and Phoebe and in 1746, in connection with a revival of
Shakespeare's Tempest at Drury Lane, one of the most delightful of his songs Where the bee sucks. In 1760 he transferred his
services to Covent Garden Theatre, where on Nov 28th he produced his Artaxerxes, an opera in the Italian style with recitative
instead of spoken dialogue the popularity of which is attested by the fact that it was continued to be performed at intervals for
upwards 80 years. The libretto, by Arne himself, was very poor translation of Metastasio's Artaserse. In 1762 he also produced
the ballard-opera Love in a village. His oratorio Judith, of which the first performance was February 1761, at Drury Lane, was
revived at the Chapel of the Lock Hospital, Pimlico, February 1764 in which year was also performed his setting of Metastasio's
Olimpiade preformed in the original language at the King's Theatre in Haymarket. At a later performance of Judith at Covent
Garden Theatre February 1773, Arne for the first time introduced female voices into the oratorio chorues.

1769 he wrote the musical parts for Garrick's ode for the Shakespeare jubilee at Statford-on-Avon, and in 1770 Arne then gave
a mutilated version of Purcell's King Arthur. One of his last dramatic works was the music to Mason's Caractacus, published in
1775. Dr.Arne died March 1778 and was buried at St Paul's Convent Garden.

Though not to be reckoned the equal of his great predecessor Purcell, Arne has none the less his claim to fame, There is true
inspiration in such airs as Blow, blow, thou winter winds, and Where the bee sucks, while Rule Britannia will last, it is hardly
too much to say, as long as the English language. If as a writer of glees Arne does not take high rank, he deserves notice as a
leader in the revival of that peculiarly English form of composition. It may be added that he was auther as well as composer of
the Guardian Outwitted, The Rose, The Contest of Beauty and Viture and Phoebe at court.
©1953 Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated on 2020
By Steven

And now for the Music

NEW (3086) "Where the Bee Sucks, Vocal Quintet, arranged by Julian Savory". Sequenced by Austen Redman.

NEW (3081) "Where the Bee Sucks, Piano version". Sequenced by Austen Redman.

NEW (3084) "Shakespeare's Carol". Sequenced by Austen Redman.

NEW (3082) "Rule Brittania, Orchestral Version". Sequenced by Andrew Purdam.

NEW (3083) "Rule Brittania, Piano Version". Sequencer Unknown.

NEW (3085) "Unkown piece, no title sorry". Sequencer Unknown.

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