Thomas Roseingrave

Thomas Roseingrave (* 1690 in Winchester , † June 23, 1766 in Dunleary Ireland) was an English composer , organist and harpsichordist of the High Baroque.

Life

Thomas Roseingrave was born as the son of a cathedral organist from Ireland, Daniel Roseingrave (* around 1655 - 1727). He sent his son, whose first musical training he took himself over, to Trinity College in Dublin in 1707 . Thomas Roseingrave did not complete his studies, because as early as 1709 he was sent to Italy by the direction of St. Patrick's Cathedral for further music studies. In Venice he met Domenico Scarlatti , who impressed Roseingrave so much that he reported: I thought that “ten hundred devils had been at the instrument”, that he could not touch an instrument for a month. Roseingrave made a close friendship with Scarlatti and followed him on trips to Rome and Naples. During his Italian years he composed his first works, which he performed in Dublin in 1713 after his return. In 1720 he staged Domenico Scarlatti's opera Narciso in London , which was performed at the Haymarket Theater . In 1725 Roseingrave became organist for a modest salary at St. George's in Hanover Square, London. This position gave him enough freedom for his compositional work.

According to the music biographer Charles Burney , Roseingrave had the ability to play even difficult pieces by foreign composers flawlessly from sight. Roseingrave's relationship with Scarlatti went so far that he published an English edition of his works. The 95 subscribers included composers such as Arne , Avison , Boyce , Greene , Loeillet , Pepusch and Stanley . Roseingrave's own compositions, however, are only slightly under Scarlatti's influence. His organ music follows the English tradition of John Blow or Henry Purcell .

The later years of his life were marked by increasing mental confusion, Roseingrave had to give up his post as organist and retired to Dublin in 1750, where he staged his last work, the opera Phaedra and Hippolitus , in 1753 . After his death he was buried in the family grave in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Works (selection)

Printed works

• XII Solos for a German Flute with a through Bass for the Harpsichord (London)
• Eight Suits of Lessons for the Harpsicord or Spinnet (London, 1725)
• Voluntarys and Fugues made on Purpose for the Organ or Harpsichord (London, 1728)
• Introduction in XLII Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin by Domenico Scarlatti (London, 1739)
• Six Double Fugues for the Organ or Harpsicord (London, 1750)
• A celebrated Concerto for the Harpsicord (London, ca.1770 )

Other works

• Several anthems
• 24 cantatas in 2 collections
• 3 minuets for violin and B. c.

media

Gigue from the Sixth Sett from Eight Suits ... ^{? / i}

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Thomas Roseingrave in the International Music Score Library Project

Individual evidence

• The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians. 1980, ISBN 1-56159-174-2 .