Richard Charke
Encyclopedia
Richard Charke was an English violin
ist, composer
, operatic
baritone
, and playwright
.
. He initially worked as a dancing-master before being appointed by Colley Cibber
as leader of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
in 1729. Soon thereafter he began performing as a solo violinist and singing in small roles at the theatre. He eventually graduated to lead roles in the musical productions at Drury Lane, starring in such productions as Henry Carey
’s The Contrivances (1729) and Cibber’s Damon and Phillida (1729).
Charke possessed a good sense of humor and had a talent for wit, which he ultimately made use of in pantomimes, mostly as a composer but also as a writer. He wrote several amusing "Medley Overtures" that became highly popular for pantomime performances during the 1730s and 1740s. He authored only one pantomime Harlequin Restored or The Country Revels, which contained music by both himself and Thomas Arne and premiered at Drury Lane on 14 December 1732 (although the Burney Collection of newspapers showing contemporary playbills give the date as 20 March 1732).
In addition to his contribution to pantomimes, Charke composed one ballad opera
, The Festival, which premiered in 1734 and starred Susannah Maria Cibber. He also contributed songs to W.R. Chetwood's The Lovers Opera (1729) and The Generous Freemason (1730), and to James Miller
's The Humours of Oxford (1730).
Charke's private life was somewhat tragic. In 1730 he married his manager’s youngest daughter, Charlotte Cibber
, with whom he quarreled incessantly. Only a few months into their marriage he began to pursue affairs with other women. He also had a penchant for gambling and for spending money frivolously. In the summer 1736 he fled England for Jamaica
in order to avoid his gambling debts and debtor's prison
. He became ill shortly after arriving in Jamaica, dying in either late 1737 or early 1738.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, operatic
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Biography
Charke was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He initially worked as a dancing-master before being appointed by Colley Cibber
Colley Cibber
Colley Cibber was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber describes his life in a personal, anecdotal and even rambling style...
as leader of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in 1729. Soon thereafter he began performing as a solo violinist and singing in small roles at the theatre. He eventually graduated to lead roles in the musical productions at Drury Lane, starring in such productions as Henry Carey
Henry Carey
Henry Carey may refer to:*Henry Charles Carey , American economist*Henry Carey , dramatist and songwriter*Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon , politician, general and potential illegitimate son of Henry VIII of England*Henry Carey, 1st Earl of Dover Henry Carey may refer to:*Henry Charles Carey...
’s The Contrivances (1729) and Cibber’s Damon and Phillida (1729).
Charke possessed a good sense of humor and had a talent for wit, which he ultimately made use of in pantomimes, mostly as a composer but also as a writer. He wrote several amusing "Medley Overtures" that became highly popular for pantomime performances during the 1730s and 1740s. He authored only one pantomime Harlequin Restored or The Country Revels, which contained music by both himself and Thomas Arne and premiered at Drury Lane on 14 December 1732 (although the Burney Collection of newspapers showing contemporary playbills give the date as 20 March 1732).
In addition to his contribution to pantomimes, Charke composed one ballad opera
Ballad opera
The term ballad opera is used to refer to a genre of English stage entertainment originating in the 18th century and continuing to develop in the following century and later. There are many types of ballad opera...
, The Festival, which premiered in 1734 and starred Susannah Maria Cibber. He also contributed songs to W.R. Chetwood's The Lovers Opera (1729) and The Generous Freemason (1730), and to James Miller
James Miller (playwright)
James Miller was an English playwright, poet, librettist, and minister.-Biography:Miller was born in Dorset, the son of a clergyman who possessed two considerable livings in the county...
's The Humours of Oxford (1730).
Charke's private life was somewhat tragic. In 1730 he married his manager’s youngest daughter, Charlotte Cibber
Charlotte Charke
Charlotte Charke was an English actress, playwright, novelist, autobiographer, and noted transvestite. She acted on the stage from the age of 17, mainly in breeches roles, and took to wearing male clothing off the stage...
, with whom he quarreled incessantly. Only a few months into their marriage he began to pursue affairs with other women. He also had a penchant for gambling and for spending money frivolously. In the summer 1736 he fled England for Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in order to avoid his gambling debts and debtor's prison
Debtor's prison
A debtors' prison is a prison for those who are unable to pay a debt.Prior to the mid 19th century debtors' prisons were a common way to deal with unpaid debt.-Debt bondage in ancient Greece and Rome:...
. He became ill shortly after arriving in Jamaica, dying in either late 1737 or early 1738.
Sources
- Roger Fiske and Linda Troost: "Richard Charke", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed December 11, 2008), (subscription access)