Thomas Clayton (composer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Clayton was an English violinist and composer. Like his father, William Clayton, he had been a member of The King's Musick
at the court William III
and then studied in Italy. He composed music for two English language operas which are known to have been professionally performed, Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus (1705) and Rosamond (1707). After the disastrous failure of Rosamond, he composed mainly chamber and vocal music. He was also the proprietor of a concert room at his house in the York Buildings of London (near The Strand
), where he, Charles Dieupart
, and Nicola Haym organized concert performances of his later works. They were advertised for subscription series in 1711 and 1712, but it is unclear how many of them were actually performed there.
, Clayton's works include:
Master of the Queen's Music
Master of the Queen's Music is a post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The holder of the post originally served the monarch of England.The post is roughly comparable to that of Poet Laureate...
at the court William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and then studied in Italy. He composed music for two English language operas which are known to have been professionally performed, Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus (1705) and Rosamond (1707). After the disastrous failure of Rosamond, he composed mainly chamber and vocal music. He was also the proprietor of a concert room at his house in the York Buildings of London (near The Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
), where he, Charles Dieupart
Charles Dieupart
Charles Dieupart was a French harpsichordist, violinist, and composer. Although he was known as Charles to his contemporaries, his real name may have been François. He was most probably born in Paris, but spent much of his life in London, where he settled sometime after 1702/3...
, and Nicola Haym organized concert performances of his later works. They were advertised for subscription series in 1711 and 1712, but it is unclear how many of them were actually performed there.
Works
In addition to his 1710 cantatas with text by John HughesJohn Hughes (poet)
John Hughes was an English poet also noted for his editing of and commentary on the works of Edmund Spenser. Writing at the very end of 17th Century and at the beginning of the 18th, he also translated French drama and poetry, including Molière. Hughes was a favorite of the nobility and...
, Clayton's works include:
- Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus – opera in three acts, librettoLibrettoA libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Peter Motteux after Tomaso Stanzani (premiered London, 1705) - Rosamond – opera in three acts, libretto by Joseph AddisonJoseph AddisonJoseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was a man of letters, eldest son of Lancelot Addison...
(premiered London, 1707) - A Pastoral Mask (1710)
- If Wine and Music have the Power – text by Matthew PriorMatthew PriorMatthew Prior was an English poet and diplomat.Prior was the son of a Nonconformist joiner at Wimborne Minster, East Dorset. His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster School, under Dr. Busby. On his father's death, he left school, and was cared for by his uncle, a vintner in Channel...
(London, 1711) - The Feast of Alexander – libretto by John Hughes after John DrydenJohn DrydenJohn Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
(London, 1711) - The Passion of Sappho – text by William Harrison (London 1711)
- Ode for the Prince's Birthday (London, 1711)
- Ode on the King (London, 1716)
Sources
- De Lafontaine, Henry Cart (1909). The King's Musick: A transcript of records relating to music and musicians (1460-1700). Novello and Company
- McGeary, Thomas (1998). "Thomas Clayton and the Introduction of Italian Opera to England", Philological Quarterly, Vol. 77
- Sadie, Julie Anne (1998) "Clayton, Thomas", Companion to Baroque Music. University of California Press. ISBN 0520214145
External links
- Score for the Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus arias at the University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
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