John Eccles

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John Eccles , more rarely Eagles (* probably around 1668 in London , † January 12, 1735 in Hampton Wick ) was an English composer.

Life

John Eccles was the only son of Henry Eccles (around 1640–1711), not to be confused with the violinist and composer of the same name, Henry Eccles . His training is not documented. In 1695 he became a musician at the court of the English king. In 1700 the king appointed him Master of the King's Musick . Eccles thus held the highest position available for musicians at the English court until his death in 1735. In 1700 he finished second in a competition to set William Congreve's The Judgment of Paris , which John Weldon won.

Eccles composed numerous works for the theater, including dramatic music and " masques " (an English form of opera ). In 1693 he became a composer at the Drury Lane Theater in London. When in 1695 some of the actors left these theaters and formed their own ensemble at Lincoln's Inn Fields, he also composed for this theater. Eccles also wrote music for Queen Anne's coronation and some songs.

Eccles spent his old age mainly in Kingston upon Thames , where he composed very little and devoted most of his time to fishing .

Works

  • Masques
    • Macbeth after William Shakespeare (London 1694)
    • The Rape of Europa Masque (London 1694)
    • The Loves of Mars and Venus (with Gottfried Finger , London 1696)
    • Hercules (London 1697)
    • A Musical Entertainment (London 1697)
    • Ixion (London 1697)
    • Europe's Revels for the Peace (London 1697)
    • Rinaldo and Armida (London 1698)
    • The Mad Lover (London around 1700)
    • The Judgment of Paris or The Prize of Music (London 1701)
    • The British Enchanters or No Magic like Love (London 1706)
    • Semele (1707)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Eccles, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Eagles, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English composer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1668
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH January 12, 1735
Place of death Hampton Wick