Sir Thomas Augustine Arne Biography

Dromo's Den

ARNE, Sir Thomas Augustine (1710-78). An eminent English composer. He was born in London, 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 skillful as a violin player, forming his style chiefly on the model of Corelli; and his zeal in the study of music induced his sister (afterward celebrated as Mrs. Cibber) 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 afterward 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, is of his composition. He composed also two oratorios, Abel and Judith, a number of operas, including Artaxerxes, in the Italian style (1762). His genius was better adapted to simple pastoral melody than to great dramatic compositions, and he wrote many glees, catches, canons, and songs, and the music to Garrick's "Ode to Shakespeare" for the Jubilee at Stratford-on-Avon in 1769. His son, Michael (1741-86), was also a composer. He died in London. Consult W. A. Barrett, English Glee and Port Songs (London, 1886); Horner, Life and Works of Dr. Arne (London, 1893).

The New International Encyclopaedia Vol. II (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 166.