George Osborne (composer)
Encyclopedia
George Alexander Osborne (24 September 1806 - 17 November 1893) was an Irish
composer and pianist.
Osborne was born in Limerick
. He left Ireland at the age of nineteen, thereafter dividing his time between England
and France
. While in Paris
, he studied under Johann Peter Pixis
, François-Joseph Fétis
and Friedrich Kalkbrenner
. In 1843, Osborne settled permanently in London
, where he held directorships of the Philharmonic Society
and the Royal Academy of Music
.
During his lifetime, Osborne was noted more for his piano playing than for his compositions. Included among those who attended his solo concerts in Paris were Hector Berlioz
and Frédéric Chopin
, both of whom befriended him. Osborne advised Berlioz about writing for the piano. and he encouraged a nervous Chopin during the latter's tour of England in 1848.
Osborne's compositions were mostly on a small scale and included songs, chamber music
pieces, and works for solo piano. Berlioz observed that Osborne's songs and trios were ‘lofty in style and spacious in design’. Although he is known to have also composed two opera
s and several orchestral works, these are now lost. One of Osborne's most popular compositions was a piano piece entitled La pluie de perles (Shower of Pearls).
Osborne died at his home in Regent's Park
, London at the age of 87.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
composer and pianist.
Osborne was born in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. He left Ireland at the age of nineteen, thereafter dividing his time between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. While in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he studied under Johann Peter Pixis
Johann Peter Pixis
Johann Peter Pixis was a German pianist and composer born in Mannheim, Germany.He lived in Paris between 1825 and 1845, where he worked as a concert pianist...
, François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis was a Belgian musicologist, composer, critic and teacher. He was one of the most influential music critics of the 19th century, and his enormous compilation of biographical data in the Biographie universelle des musiciens remains an important source of information today...
and Friedrich Kalkbrenner
Friedrich Kalkbrenner
Friedrich Wilhelm Michael Kalkbrenner was a German pianist, composer, piano teacher and piano manufacturer who spent most of his life in England and France. Before the advent of Frédéric Chopin, Sigismond Thalberg and Franz Liszt, Kalkbrenner was by many considered to be the foremost pianist in...
. In 1843, Osborne settled permanently in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he held directorships of the Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
and the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
.
During his lifetime, Osborne was noted more for his piano playing than for his compositions. Included among those who attended his solo concerts in Paris were Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
and Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, both of whom befriended him. Osborne advised Berlioz about writing for the piano. and he encouraged a nervous Chopin during the latter's tour of England in 1848.
Osborne's compositions were mostly on a small scale and included songs, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
pieces, and works for solo piano. Berlioz observed that Osborne's songs and trios were ‘lofty in style and spacious in design’. Although he is known to have also composed two opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s and several orchestral works, these are now lost. One of Osborne's most popular compositions was a piano piece entitled La pluie de perles (Shower of Pearls).
Osborne died at his home in Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
, London at the age of 87.