Category: Biographies

Dr. Arne and Rule, Britannia

The life of Dr. Arne, the composer of "Rule, Britannia," offers to the reader and to the music student an interesting and instructive story, showing that natural ability, even when combined with genius, is not sufficient to ensure a triumphant and successful career. Morality a...

Chapters

6. Part 6

"Cou'd I possibly have suppos'd that after my being so long in no way of earning a Guinea, which (till this Job of Mr. Colman's) was ever since the end of last March, and being...

7. Part 7

"Nov. 17. SIR,--As you have causelessly dropped the friend, I have sense enough to write at a becoming distance. You will undoubtedly hear, by the freshest advice, the _tête-à-t...

5. Part 5

"SIR--The occasion of my troubling you with this arises from a wicked report made by some busy Argus, who having an hundred eyes, and but one of them honest, had ninety-nine too...

2. Part 2

The popularity of "Comus" induced Arne to publish a score of the music in 1740. The title-page of the volume reads: "The Music in the Masque of Comus. Written by Milton. As it w...

3. Part 3

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire commanded a performance of "The Beggar's Opera" on December the 8th, at the Theatre Royal in Aungier Street, when Arne presided at the harpsic...

9. Part 9

Although the libretto of "Alfred" was published a few days after the performance at Cliefden, the music remained in manuscript; possibly Arne did not consider the number of piec...

8. Part 8

"When she was ill and supposed to be dying, notwithstanding their different Communions they [the Barthelemon family] read the Psalms and Lessons together in Mrs. Arne's bedroom,...

1. Part 1

The life of Dr. Arne, the composer of "Rule, Britannia," offers to the reader and to the music student an interesting and instructive story, showing that natural ability, even w...

4. Part 4

In the following February (24-28) the _Journal_ announced: "The Play called the Tempest, or the Inchanted Island (with all the original Musick) is now in Rehearsal at the Theatr...

10. Part 10

[19] Master Norris had been a chorister in Salisbury Cathedral; he was born in 1741, and seems to have continued singing soprano up to 1762. His voice must have been in a transi...