Thomson, John

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Thomson, John

Thomson, John, Scottish composer and writer on music; b. Sprouston, Roxburgh, Oct. 28, 1805; d. Edinburgh, May 6, 1841. He studied in Leipzig with Schnyder von Wartensee, and became a friend of Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Moscheles. In 1839 he was appointed the 1st Reid Prof, of Music at the Univ. of Edinburgh. At the 3rd concert given by the Edinburgh Professional Society (Feb. 1837), an analytical program was issued by Thomson, then conductor; this is the first recorded instance of the use of such programs. He composed the opera Hermann, or The Broken Spear (London, Oct. 27, 1834), the drama The House of Aspen (Edinburgh, Dec. 19, 1829), and the musical play The Shadow on the Wall (London, April 20, 1835); also orch. works, including Overture in C minor (1830) and Allegro maestroso and allegro grazioso for Flute and Orch. (c. 1830), Benedictus and Osanna for Voices and Instruments (1829), chamber music, piano pieces, and songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Thomson, John

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