Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778)

Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod shines a light on charming and often enigmatic composer, Thomas Linley Jnr

English composer, Thomas Linley the Younger was destined to become one of the brightest musical stars of eighteenth century. No less a person than Mozart, who was also a personal friend, hailed him as a ‘true genius’. Even so, Linley’s life was troubled. He and his siblings were ruthlessly driven by their ambitious father. He saw his beloved sister become fodder for the celebrity-hungry gossip mongers of the British press and must have wondered if he might be next. He was forced to navigate a dangerous atmosphere of prurience and moral suspicion about the private lives of ‘theatre people’ like himself. A cloud of mystery hovers over Tom’s shocking and early death at the age of just 22. Donald Macleod is joined by Linley’s biographer, Tony Scotland, to shine a light on this charming and often enigmatic composer, alongside music by Tom and his circle.

Music Featured:

Linley the Younger: Music for The Tempest (No 1, Arise! ye spirits of the storm) Geminiani: Violin Sonata in D Major, Op 5, No 4 (1st & 2nd mvts) Linley the Younger: The Song of Moses (extracts) Boyce: Symphony No 7 in B flat major Nardini: Sonata No 1 for 2 Violins in G Major Linley the Younger: To heal the wound a bee had made Linley the Younger: Sonata in A major Linley the Younger: A Lyric Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings and Witches of Shakespeare (excerpt) Linley the Elder(arr. Borutzki): The Lark Sings High in the Cornfield Linley the Younger: Ye nymphs of Albion's beauty-blooming isle (extracts) Linley the Younger: In yonder grove Linley the Younger: Violin Concerto in F major Linley the Younger: Overture to The Duenna Linley the Younger: A Lyric Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings and Witches of Shakespeare (extracts from parts 1 & 2) Linley the Younger: Let God arise Linley the Elder: Think not my love, when secret grief Linley the Younger: A Lyric Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings and Witches of Shakespeare (Overture) Linley the Younger: Daughter of Heav'n, fair art thou! 'Darthula' William Linley: Down in the gleamy vale Linley the Younger, Music for The Tempest (excerpt)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020pnj

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z