Thomas Linley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Linley (January 17, 1733–November 19, 1795), English musician, was born at Wells, Somerset, and studied music at Bath, where he settled as a singing-master and conductor of the concerts.

From 1774 he was engaged in the management at Drury Lane theatre, London, composing or compiling the music of many of the pieces produced there, besides songs and madrigals, which rank high among English compositions.

His eldest son Thomas (Thomas (Tom) Linley, the Younger) (1756-1778) was a remarkable violinist, and also a composer, who assisted his father; and he became a warm friend of Mozart. Tom Linley was apprenticed at a young age to Dr William Boyce, the Master of the King's Musick, after which (between 1768 and 1771) he journeyed to Italy to study violin and composition with Nardini. The music historian Charles Burney wrote of his travels through Italy in 1770 that: "The Tommasino, as he is called, and the little Mozart, are talked of all over Italy, as the most promising geniusses of this age." ^[1] His works, with some of his father's, were published in two volumes, and these contain some lovely madrigals and songs. He died in a boating accident at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire.

Another son, William (1771-1835), who held a writership at Madras, was devoted to literature and music and composed glees and songs.

Three daughters were similarly gifted, and were remarkable both for singing and beauty; the eldest of them Elizabeth Ann (1754-1792), married Richard Brinsley Sheridan in 1773, and thus linked the fortunes of her family with his career.