Arne, Thomas (Augustine)

views updated

Arne, Thomas (Augustine) (b London, 1710; d London, 1778). The leading Brit. composer of his day, notable for incidental music to plays, incl. Shakespeare's. His masque Alfred (1740) incl. song ‘Rule, Britannia!’ Operas incl. Artaxerxes (1761), Love in a Village (1762), The Guardian Outwitted (1764), The Fairy Prince (1771), and The Cooper (1772). Wrote 2 oratorios, The Death of Abel (1743) and Judith (1760); 6 cantatas (1755); several kbd. concs. (1750–70); syms.; sonatas for 2 vns. and continuo (1757); 8 kbd. sonatas (1756); and many songs incl. The British Grenadiers.

More From encyclopedia.com