Richard Jones (composer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Jones was an English composer
and violinist.
Jones's first publication appeared in 1720, a solo cantata While in a Lovely Rurall Seat. He was associated with the Drury Lane
Theater Orchestra in London possibly as early as 1723; according to John Hawkins (author)
, in 1730 he succeeded Stefano Carbonelli as the orchestra's leader. He taught violin as well; Michael Christian Festing
was one of his pupils. He was a stage composer at a time when Georg Frideric Handel's music dominated the British stage, and much of his music, or what of it survives, shows clear Italian influence. He died in 1744.
Like the details of his life, little of Jones's music survives. His pantomime
stage works and ballad opera
s are all lost except for a keyboard reduction of the overture to The Miser and 18 pieces which are probably from the same work. His keyboard and violin suites have been noted for their wide, angular leaps and unconventional structure.
Other
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...
and violinist.
Jones's first publication appeared in 1720, a solo cantata While in a Lovely Rurall Seat. He was associated with the Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
Theater Orchestra in London possibly as early as 1723; according to John Hawkins (author)
John Hawkins (author)
Sir John Hawkins was an English author and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson and Horace Walpole. He was part of Johnson's various clubs but later left The Literary Club after a disagreement with some of Johnson's other friends. His friendship with Johnson continued and he was made one of the executors...
, in 1730 he succeeded Stefano Carbonelli as the orchestra's leader. He taught violin as well; Michael Christian Festing
Michael Christian Festing
Michael Christian Festing was an English violinist and composer. His reputation lies mostly on his work as a violin virtuoso.-Biography:...
was one of his pupils. He was a stage composer at a time when Georg Frideric Handel's music dominated the British stage, and much of his music, or what of it survives, shows clear Italian influence. He died in 1744.
Like the details of his life, little of Jones's music survives. His pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
stage works and ballad opera
Ballad opera
The term ballad opera is used to refer to a genre of English stage entertainment originating in the 18th century and continuing to develop in the following century and later. There are many types of ballad opera...
s are all lost except for a keyboard reduction of the overture to The Miser and 18 pieces which are probably from the same work. His keyboard and violin suites have been noted for their wide, angular leaps and unconventional structure.
Works
Stage- Apollo and Daphne, masque (1725, music lost)
- The Miser, pantomime (1726, music lost; keyboard reduction survives in part)
- The Mock Doctor, ballad opera (1732, music lost)
- Hymen's Triumph, pantomime (1737, music lost)
Other
- While in a Lovely Rurall Seat, cantata (1720)
- 6 Suits or Setts of Lessons for keyboard (1732)
- 8 Chamber Air's for violin and basso continuo, op.2 (1735)
- 6 Suites of Lessons for violin and basso continuo, op. 3 (1741)