A Lost Legacy
Donald Macleod considers how true was the image of Arne as an unsavoury character who failed to capitalise properly on his talent.
Arne has often been written off as an unsavoury character who failed to capitalise properly on his talent, but today Donald Macleod explores how much of this composer's story remains untold.
Thomas Arne is remembered today, if he's remembered at all, by just a handful of popular songs. Even so, these are some of Britain's most enduring melodies. 'Rule Britannia' has its annual outing at the Last Night of the Proms, and his setting of Shakespeare's 'Where the bee sucks' remains the best known of the very many versions of that song. The lasting appeal of these tunes gives us just a hint of the fame and popularity he enjoyed as one of London's most successful stage composers in the 18th century. He had a knack for entertaining the city's well-to-do middle-classes, and wasn't afraid to pander to their more low-brow tastes if that was what put bums on seats.
His friends and colleagues, while full of praise for his art, scorned his ungentlemanly character. His self-cultivated image as a 'man of pleasure' was combined with an unscrupulous head for business that Arne inherited from his father. We can all too easily imagine him drooling with anticipation, as he took under his wing yet another talented young actress, dreaming of the riches her voice might bring him. His reputation as a lecher and a bad husband did him no favours, though, and rather tarnished his professional career.
History has not been kind to his memory. The masques and plays that served as vehicles for his music were not designed for posterity and much of his legacy has been lost. Plus, he had the misfortune to live and work alongside England's brightest musical genius, George Frederick Handel, whose brilliance consigned a whole generation of British composers to shadowy obscurity. Nevertheless, even though his story is full of missing chapters, Arne is revealed as one British music's most vibrant characters.
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Thomas Arne
Artaxerxes - opera Act 3;
Singer: Christopher Robson. Singer: Ian Partridge. Singer: Patricia Spence. Singer: Richard Edgar鈥怶ilson. Singer: Catherine Bott. Singer: Phillipa Hyde. Singer: Charles Gibbs. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.- HYPERION : CDD-22073.
- HYPERION.
- 18.
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Thomas Arne
The Street intrigue for 3 voices
Ensemble: Deller Consort.- Anon: He that will an alehouse keep.
- VANGUARD.
- 28.
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Thomas Arne
The Street intrigue for 3 voices
Ensemble: Deller Consort.- Anon: He that will an alehouse keep.
- VANGUARD.
- 28.
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Thomas Arne
Elegy on the death of Mr Shenstone for chorus
Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HM-901153.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 17.
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Thomas Arne
Elegy on the death of Mr Shenstone for chorus
Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HM-901153.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 17.
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Thomas Arne
Thou soft-flowing Avon - ode for voice, strings & bc [upon dedicating a building
Singer: Emma Kirkby. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.- HYPERION : CDA-66237.
- HYPERION.
- 6.
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Thomas Arne
Thou soft-flowing Avon - ode for voice, strings & bc [upon dedicating a building
Singer: Emma Kirkby. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.- HYPERION : CDA-66237.
- HYPERION.
- 6.
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Thomas Arne
Concerto no. 3 in A major for keyboard and orchestra
Director: Paul Nicholson. Orchestra: Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra.- HELIOS : cdh-55251.
- HELIOS.
- 10.
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Thomas Arne
Artaxerxes - opera Act 3;
Singer: Christopher Robson. Singer: Ian Partridge. Singer: Patricia Spence. Singer: Richard Edgar鈥怶ilson. Singer: Catherine Bott. Singer: Phillipa Hyde. Singer: Charles Gibbs. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.- HYPERION : CDD-22073.
- HYPERION.
- 18.
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Thomas Arne
Concerto no. 3 in A major for keyboard and orchestra
Director: Paul Nicholson. Orchestra: Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra.- HELIOS : cdh-55251.
- HELIOS.
- 10.
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Thomas Arne
The Street Intrigue
Performer: The Deller Consort
- Vanguard, 08503971.
- 28.
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Thomas Arne
Elegy on the death of Mr Shenstone
Performer: The Hilliard Ensemble
- Harmonia Mundi, HM901153.
- 17.
-
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Thomas Arne
Ode upon dedicating a building to Shakespeare
Performer: Emma Kirkby (soprano) Performer: The Parley of Instruments Performer: Roy Goodman (conductor)
- Hyperion CDA66237.
- 6.
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Thomas Arne
Piano Concerto in A major
Performer: Paul Nicholson (piano/director) Performer: The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra
- Helios CDH55251.
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Thomas Arne
Artaxerxes (Act III, Scenes 6-11)
Performer: Christopher Robson (Artaxerxes, countertenor) Performer: Ian Partridge (Artabanes, tenor) Performer: Patricia Spence (Arbaces, mezzo-soprano) Performer: Richard Edgar-Wilson (Rimenes, tenor) Performer: Catherine Bott (Mandane, soprano) Performer: Philippa Hyde (Semira, soprano) Performer: Colin Campbell (bass) Performer: Charles Gibbs (bass) Performer: The Parley of Instruments Performer: Roy Goodman (conductor)
- Hyperion, CDD22073.
Broadcasts
- Fri 12 Mar 2010 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Fri 12 Mar 2010 22:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Fri 18 Apr 2014 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Fri 18 Apr 2014 18:30成人快手 Radio 3
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