Ii. Larghetto - Music

Thomas Augustine Arne March 12 1710 – March 5 1778 Was An English Baroque Composer Best Known For The Song “Rule Britannia!” And His Musical Settings Of Songs From The Plays Of William Shakespeare. Arne Was Born In The Covent Garden Area Of London To A Family That Had Prospered In The Upholstery Business. He Was Educated At Eton College And Was Interested In Music From His Earliest Youth. A Chance Meeting With Michael Festing Gave Him The Opportunity To Indulge His Interest Though His Father Still Wanted Him To Become A Lawyer. Arne’s Sister Susannah Maria Arne Was A Famous Contralto Who Performed In Some Of His Works Including His First Opera Rosamund Performed In 1733. He Taught Her To Sing And She First Performed With Him In 1732 Along With Their Brother Richard. In 1736 Arne Married Singer Cecilia Young Whose Sister Isabella Married The Composer John Frederick Lampe. Arne’s Operas And Masques Became Very Popular And He Received The Patronage Of Frederick Prince Of Wales At Whose Country Home Cliveden The Masque Of Alfred Featuring “Rule Britannia” Was First Performed. In 1750 After An Argument With David Garrick Susannah Left Drury Lane For Covent Garden Theatre And Her Brother Followed. In 1755 He Separated From His Wife Who He Alleged Was Mentally Ill. He Had In The Meantime Begun A Relationship With One Of His Pupils Charlotte Brent A Soprano And Former Child Prodigy Who Performed In Some Of His Works. She Later Married A Violinist. In 1777 Shortly Before His Death Arne And His Wife Were Reconciled. They Had One Son Michael Arne. He Is Buried At St Paul’s Covent Garden London. Wikipedia read less