Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1733

Death

:

1795

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Thomas Linley (the Elder) was a prominent English composer and musician of the 18th century. He was born on January 17, 1733, in the city of Bath, England. His father, William Linley, was a music teacher and composer, and his mother, Mary Johnson, was a singer. Thomas was the eldest of their twelve children, and he showed an early interest in music. Thomas received his early musical education from his father, who taught him to play the violin and the harpsichord. He also received singing lessons from his mother, who was a renowned soprano. Thomas showed exceptional talent and quickly became a skilled musician. He made his public debut as a singer at the age of six, and he performed in concerts and operas throughout his childhood. In 1748, when Thomas was fifteen years old, he was appointed as the organist at the Octagon Chapel in Bath. This was a prestigious position, and it gave him the opportunity to compose and perform his own music. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented composer, and his works were performed in concerts and operas throughout England. One of Thomas's most significant achievements was his composition of the opera "The Persian Princess," which premiered in London in 1755. The opera was a great success, and it established Thomas as one of the leading composers of his time. He went on to compose several other operas, including "The Royal Merchant" and "The Duenna," which were also well-received. In addition to his work as a composer, Thomas was also a skilled violinist. He performed in concerts throughout England, and he was known for his virtuosic playing. He was also a respected music teacher, and he taught several prominent musicians, including his own children. Thomas's personal life was marked by tragedy. In 1754, he married Mary Johnson, who was also a singer and the daughter of a prominent Bath family. They had ten children together, including the composer Thomas Linley (the Younger) and the artist Mary Linley. However, several of their children died in infancy, and Mary herself died in 1787. Despite these personal losses, Thomas continued to compose and perform music throughout his life. He was a prolific composer, and his works included operas, cantatas, sonatas, and other instrumental pieces. His music was known for its elegance and sophistication, and it was highly regarded by his contemporaries. One of Thomas's most famous works is his "Lyric Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings, and Witches of Shakespeare," which he composed in 1755. The piece is a setting of a poem by William Collins, and it features a solo soprano accompanied by a small orchestra. The piece is notable for its beautiful melodies and its evocative depiction of the supernatural world of Shakespeare's plays. Another notable work by Thomas is his "Concerto for Violin and Strings in G Major," which he composed in 1764. The piece is a virtuosic showcase for the violin, and it features a lively and energetic first movement, a lyrical second movement, and a lively and playful third movement. The concerto is still performed today and is considered one of Thomas's finest works. Thomas's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1795. He was traveling to London to attend a concert when he fell from his horse and suffered a fatal head injury. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Michael's Church in Bath, where a memorial plaque was erected in his honor.

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