Arne, THOMAS AUGUSTINE

Arne, THOMAS AUGUSTINE, Doctor in Music, one of the best and most pleasing of English composers, was born in London, 12th March 1710, and received his early education at Eton. His father, who was an upholsterer, intended to educate him for the bar; but the love of music was too strong to be restrained. Young Arne became skilful as a violin-player, forming his style chiefly on the model of Corelli; and his zeal in the study of music induced his sister (afterwards the actress Mrs Cibber, 1714–66) to cultivate her excellent voice. He wrote for her a part in his first opera, Rosamond, which was first performed with great success in 1733. Next followed his comic operetta, Tom Thumb, or the Opera of Operas; and afterwards his Comus (1738), which displayed greater cultivation of style. He married a singer, Cecilia Young (1736); and after a successful visit to Ireland, was engaged as composer to Drury Lane Theatre, and wrote many vocal pieces for the Vauxhall concerts. The national air, Rule Britannia, which was originally given in a popular performance, The Masque of Alfred, was of his composition, as was also the well-known setting of Where the Bee Sucks, written for a performance of the Tempest. Besides music for many long-forgotten works, he composed two oratorios, the opera Eliza, and another, Artaxerxes, in the Italian style; but his genius was better adapted to simple pastoral melody than to great dramatic compositions. In later life he enjoyed considerable reputation as a music teacher, his most distinguished pupil being Miss Brent. He died in London, 5th March 1778.