Matthew Dubourg
Encyclopedia
Matthew Dubourg was an Irish
violin
ist, conductor
, and composer
. Dubourg also enjoys the distinction of having led the orchestra at the premiere
of Georg Friedrich Handel's great oratorio
Messiah.
[He sadly was injured and his eye fell out as he poked it with his bow!]
's house. At age 11, he furthered his studies under the celebrated Italian violinist, composer, and music theorist Francesco Geminiani
.
Dubourg served as concert-master from 1728 to 1752 in Dublin. His official title was Master and Composer of State Music of Dublin. He was a major force in the musical life of Dublin together with Geminiani whom he invited to join him. In 1752, Dubourg became Master of the Royal Chapel in London
, a post he occupied until his death in 1767.
Of a concert in 1742 conducted by Handel, the following anecdote was told: Dubourg played a cadenza
in which he wandered far from the theme creating complex modulations of it. When he finally returned to the original theme, Handel said: "Welcome home, Mr. Dubourg."
Dubourg had worked with Handel as early as 1719 in London. The premiere of the Messiah took place at the Music Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742.
Permission to use members of the choirs from Dublin’s cathedrals had been granted by the dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Jonathan Swift
(1667-1745) (who is better known today as the author of Gulliver’s Travels). However, Swift then withdrew his permission, only to grant it once again as the dates for the performances drew near. Swift also had no kind words for Dubourg's orchestra. He called them "a club of fiddlers in Fishamble Street."
At the premiere of the Messiah some 700 patrons arrived at the Music Hall. Since the hall was only designed to hold 600 people, men were asked to "leave their swords at home, and women to refrain from wearing hoop skirts." There were two intermissions, during which Handel played organ concertos.
Handel led the performance of Messiah from the harpsichord
, and Dubourg conducted the orchestra
. Despite Swift's sally against Dubourg's orchestra, Handel thought they played quite well, writing to Charles Jennens, "as for the Instruments they are really excellent, Mr. Dubourgh being at the Head of them, and the Musick sounds delightfully in this charming Room."
. One of Dubourg's passions was to take famous Irish tunes and morph them in the late Baroque
style as, for example, with his Variations of Druid Tunes. His variations of the sonatas (op.5) of Arcangelo Corelli
are also often heard.
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...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Dubourg also enjoys the distinction of having led the orchestra at the premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
of Georg Friedrich Handel's great oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
Messiah.
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
[He sadly was injured and his eye fell out as he poked it with his bow!]
Life
Dubourg gave his first violin concerts as a child, the very first being at Thomas BrittonThomas Britton
Thomas Britton was an English charcoal merchant best known as a concert promoter.-Biography:Born in Rushden, Northamptonshire, Britton moved to London at a young age and apprenticed himself to a small coal-man in Clerkenwell...
's house. At age 11, he furthered his studies under the celebrated Italian violinist, composer, and music theorist Francesco Geminiani
Francesco Geminiani
thumb|230px|Francesco Geminiani.Francesco Saverio Geminiani was an Italian violinist, composer, and music theorist.-Biography:...
.
Dubourg served as concert-master from 1728 to 1752 in Dublin. His official title was Master and Composer of State Music of Dublin. He was a major force in the musical life of Dublin together with Geminiani whom he invited to join him. In 1752, Dubourg became Master of the Royal Chapel 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...
, a post he occupied until his death in 1767.
Of a concert in 1742 conducted by Handel, the following anecdote was told: Dubourg played a cadenza
Cadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
in which he wandered far from the theme creating complex modulations of it. When he finally returned to the original theme, Handel said: "Welcome home, Mr. Dubourg."
Messiah
Dubourg led the orchestra in the first performances of Handel's Messiah.Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
Dubourg had worked with Handel as early as 1719 in London. The premiere of the Messiah took place at the Music Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742.
Permission to use members of the choirs from Dublin’s cathedrals had been granted by the dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
(1667-1745) (who is better known today as the author of Gulliver’s Travels). However, Swift then withdrew his permission, only to grant it once again as the dates for the performances drew near. Swift also had no kind words for Dubourg's orchestra. He called them "a club of fiddlers in Fishamble Street."
At the premiere of the Messiah some 700 patrons arrived at the Music Hall. Since the hall was only designed to hold 600 people, men were asked to "leave their swords at home, and women to refrain from wearing hoop skirts." There were two intermissions, during which Handel played organ concertos.
Handel led the performance of Messiah from the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, and Dubourg conducted the orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. Despite Swift's sally against Dubourg's orchestra, Handel thought they played quite well, writing to Charles Jennens, "as for the Instruments they are really excellent, Mr. Dubourgh being at the Head of them, and the Musick sounds delightfully in this charming Room."
Works
Dubourg wrote several works which are still frequently played, particularly in BritainKingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. One of Dubourg's passions was to take famous Irish tunes and morph them in the late Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style as, for example, with his Variations of Druid Tunes. His variations of the sonatas (op.5) of Arcangelo Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian violinist and composer of Baroque music.-Biography:Corelli was born at Fusignano, in the current-day province of Ravenna, although at the time it was in the province of Ferrara. Little is known about his early life...
are also often heard.
Sources
- Entry on Dubourg in the French Wikipedia
- Notes on Handel's Messiah by Jeffrey Thomas, Music Director of the American Bach Soloists