Caught in the Act

Young Thomas Arne goes to extreme lengths to conceal his musical talent from his family.

before 1732

King George I 1714-1727 to King George II 1727-1760

Introduction

Thomas Arne (1710-1778) remains one of England’s greatest composers, though overshadowed now by his contemporary George Frideric Handel. He wrote the music for the National Anthem and ‘Rule Britannia!’ and composed dozens of popular songs and operas, but if his father had had his way, Thomas would have been a bored London attorney.

by Charles Burney 1726-1814

abridged

HIS love for Music operated upon him too powerfully, even while he was at Eton, for his own peace or that of his companions; for with a miserable cracked common-flute, he used to torment them night and day. When he left Eton he used to avail himself of the privilege of a servant, by borrowing a livery and going into the upper gallery of the opera, which was then appropriated to domestics.

At home he had contrived to secrete a spinet in his room, upon which, after muffling the strings with a handkerchief, he used to practise in the night while the rest of the family were asleep;* for had his father discovered how he spent his time, he would, probably, have thrown the instrument out of the window, if not the player.

This young votary of Apollo was at length obliged to serve a three years’ clerkship to the law;* but he contrived during his clerkship to acquire some instructions on the violin.

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A spinet is properly speaking a small harpsichord of broadly triangular shape. The design was intended to make it cheaper, quieter, and better suited to domestic spaces. In a harpsichord, the strings stretch directly away from the player; in a virginals, they run left-to-right; in a spinet, they run left-to-right and also away at an angle of about 30°, hence the triangular shape and the name ‘bentside spinet’.

According to Greek mythology, Apollo was the musician among the gods, famous for his lyre. Apollo taught Orpheus to play so beautifully that he charmed his way through the Underworld. See Orpheus and Eurydice.

Précis

Composer Thomas Arne was destined by his father for a career in the law, but as a young boy Thomas taught himself music secretly, disguising himself as a servant to gain access to the Italian opera house in Covent Garden, learning the keyboard with a spinet smuggled into his bedroom, and studying the violin alongside his legal training.

Sevens

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Where was Thomas educated?

Clay Lane The Copybook