|
Home
Word
of the Day
Archives
Clever
Clue of the Month
The
Cruciverbalist
Links
Daily
Email
|
|
ARNE
(ahrn)
English
composer Common clues: English composer; Composer Thomas;
“Rule, Britannia" composer; Handel contemporary; “Tom
Thumb” composer Crossword
puzzle frequency:
6 times a year Frequency
in English language:
58480 / 86800 Video: Rule
Britannia from the Old Time Music Hall Finale
Thomas
Augustine Arne (March, 1710-March 5, 1778) was an English
composer, best known for the popular patriotic song, Rule
Britannia,
which is still frequently sung, notably at the Last Night of the
Proms; and also his musical settings of songs from the plays of
William Shakespeare.
Arne
was born in the Covent Garden area of London, to a family that
had prospered in the upholstery business. He was educated at Eton
College, and was interested in music from his earliest youth. A
chance meeting with Michael Festing gave him the opportunity to
indulge his interest, though his father still wanted him to
become a lawyer.
Arne's
sister, Susannah Maria Arne, was a famous contralto who performed
in some of his works, including his first opera, Rosamund,
performed in 1733. She had been taught to sing by her brother,
and had first performed with him in 1732, along with their
brother Richard. In 1736, Arne married another singer, Cecilia
Young (whose sister, Isabella, married the composer John
Frederick Lampe). Arne's operas and masques became very popular,
and he received the patronage of Frederick, Prince of Wales, at
whose country home, Cliveden, the Masque
of Alfred,
containing "Rule, Britannia", was first performed.
In
1750, after an argument with David Garrick, Susannah left Drury
Lane for Covent Garden Theatre, and her brother followed. In
1755, he separated from his wife, who, he alleged, was mentally
ill. He had in the meantime begun a relationship with one of his
pupils, a Miss Brent, who performed in some of his works. She
later married a violinist. In 1777, shortly before his death,
Arne and his wife were reconciled. They had one son, Michael
Arne.
This
article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia
article "Thomas Arne".
|
|
|