Alexander Reinagle

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Alexander Robert Reinagle (b. Portsmouth, England, April 23, 1756 - d. Baltimore, United States, September 21, 1809) was an English and American composer, organist, and theater musician.

Reinagle's father was a Hungarian professional musician and his mother was Scots. Reinagle studied music first with his father, then with Raynor Taylor in Edinburgh. At first, Reinagle made a living in the shipping industry, making several trips to the American colonies during the 1770s. In Edinburgh he taught music and presented several concerts. His first keyboard compositions were published in Glasgow, and became popular in the American colonies.

In 1786 Reinagle decided to try his fortune as a professional musician in the new United States of America. He moved to New York, and, later moved again to Philadelphia, which was the national capital at the time. Reinagle was a moving force in revitalizing the musical life of Philadelphia in the 1790s, introducing that city to the music of Haydn and Mozart, as well as his own original compositions.

One of Reinagle’s admirers was American President George Washington. In 1789 Reinagle composed a “Chorus,” which was performed for President Washington at Trenton, New Jersey, during Washington's journey to his inauguration. Later, in Philadelphia, Nellie Custis, Washington’s step-granddaughter, was one of Reinagle’s music students. Washington was a frequent concertgoer, and could often be seen in the audience at Reinagle’s concerts. Upon Washington’s death in 1799, Reinagle composed a Monody on the Death of George Washington.

In Philadelphia Reinagle worked closely with Thomas Wignell in producing opera ballets with the New Company, at the Chestnut Street Theater. Reinagle and Wignell produced over 75 programs with the New Company. At Wignell’s death in 1803, Reinagle moved to Baltimore, where he became associated with the Holliday Street Theater. He died in 1809. He is buried in Old Saint Paul's Cemetery in Baltimore.

[edit] Reinagle’s Music

Reinagle’s earliest compositions, from his days in Edinburgh, include a set of Duos for two ‘cellos, Opus 2, and Variations on Famous Scots Tunes, published in Glasgow and later again in Philadelphia. He also composed Twenty-four Short and Easy Lessons, a series of teaching pieces for keyboard, which he later used in his teaching in Philadelphia.

Once in America, Reinagle continued to compose short pieces for special occasions, often with titles alluding to American personalities and ideas. Pieces such as his Federal March, President Madison’s March, and Mrs. Madison’s Minuet are usually short and in the binary form associated with dance music of the time.

Of more interest is the set of four keyboard sonatas. Reinagle composed these when he first arrived in Philadelphia; hence they are sometimes called the “Philadelphia Sonatas.” These are the first sonatas composed in the United States. They are substantial works, each in two or three movements. While they show the influence of C. P. E. Bach (one of Reinagle’s idols), they demonstrate Reinagle’s unique approach to form and motivic development.

Much of Reinagle’s theater music was lost when the Chestnut Street Theater burned down in 1820.