Charles Neate (musician)

Charles Neate (28 March 1784 – 30 March 1877^[1]) was a British pianist and composer; he was a founder member of the Royal Philharmonic Society and a friend of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Early life

He was born in London, and studied the piano with John Field and composition with Joseph Wölfl. On 2 March 1806 he was admitted as a member of the Royal Society of Musicians. In 1813 he was one of the original members of the Royal Philharmonic Society; he became a director of the Society, and he sometimes performed or conducted there.^[1][2]

In Vienna

From 1815 he lived abroad for two years. For a few months he lived in Munich, studying counterpoint with Peter Winter. In May 1815 he visited Vienna, and stayed there until February 1816. A Viennese merchant, Johann Hering, who was also a musician, introduced him to Beethoven. Beethoven, unable to give lessons to Neate, recommended him to Emanuel Aloys Förster, but regularly supervised Neate's musical studies; they met in Baden bei Wien, where Beethoven stayed during the summer of 1815.^[1][2][3]

Later career

Returning to London, Neate brought with him three overtures by Beethoven to play at the Philharmonic Society: the overtures to The Ruins of Athens op. 113 and King Stephen op. 117, and Zur Namensfeier op. 115; however these were not well received by the Society. He brought back other works which Beethoven hoped could be published in England. Correspondence between Neate and Beethoven continued, about publication of works and performance of works by the Philharmonic Society. Neate, George Thomas Smart and Beethoven's pupil Ferdinand Ries (who lived in London at this period) did much to publicize Beethoven's music in London.^[2][3][4][5]

Neate became well known as a pianist and teacher. As a composer he wrote mainly for the piano. He was the first to play in England, at the Philharmonic Society's concerts, Beethoven's Piano Concertos No. 3 and No. 5.^[1]

He died in Brighton in 1877, after many years in retirement.^[1]

References