Thomas Linley the younger

Thomas Linley junior ( born May 7, 1756 in Bath, Somerset; † August 5, 1778 in Grimsthorpe, Lincolnshire ) was an English composer and violinist.

Life

Thomas Linley was the son of harpsichordist, composer and singing teacher Thomas Linley senior. He played at the age of 7 years violin concertos and was already an experienced composer, before he went to Italy to study with Pietro Nardini. In Florence he met, among others, the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

1771 he returned to London and quickly became a leading figure in London's musical life. Here he had his father's position with the orchestra of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane ( 1773), who also co-owned since 1774 and was the musical director, numerous opportunities to perform as concertmaster and violinist and could bring compositions for performance.

In the following years Linley wrote acclaimed works, including an Anthem for the Three Choirs Festival ( ' Let God do arise '), the oratorio The Song of Moses as well as the most important choral work the Lyric Ode of the Fairies, Aerial Beings and Witches (Shakespeare Ode ).

In 1775, he achieved the greatest success of his short life when he composed most of the music for the play The Duenna his brother Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the experienced 75 performances in the first season.

Thomas Linley Jr. drowned at the age of 22 years on a boat trip and was in the church of Edenham, Lincolnshire, buried.