Charles Wesley junior facts for kids
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Charles Wesley junior was a talented English organist and composer. He was born in Bristol, England, on December 11, 1757. He passed away in London on May 23, 1834.
Charles came from a very musical family. His mother was Sarah Wesley. His father was Charles Wesley, a famous writer of hymns and one of the people who started Methodism. Charles junior also had a brother named Samuel Wesley, who was also a great organist and composer. People usually call him "Charles Wesley junior" to make sure no one confuses him with his well-known father. He married Eliza Skelton and they had at least two children.
Charles Wesley Junior: A Musical Whiz Kid
Even though his brother Samuel became more famous, Charles Wesley junior was also seen as a musical child prodigy when he was young. This means he showed amazing musical talent at a very early age. He was playing the organ before he was even three years old!
As an adult, Charles became a professional musician. In 1784, a magazine called the European Magazine wrote that "his performance on the organ has given supreme delight." This shows how much people enjoyed his playing.
However, Charles did not really like performing in public. Instead, he mostly worked as a private organist for important people. For a time, he was the organist for the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV. Charles was connected to the royal family for much of his life. He first played at the Queen's House when he was 18 years old.
His Music Today
A few of Charles Wesley junior's musical pieces are still played today. This shows that his music is still enjoyed by people.
Recently, a keyboard sonata (a type of musical piece) that he wrote was discovered. It was in the key of F minor. This newly found sonata was played for the very first time on February 1, 2007. This special performance happened at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. It was part of a celebration for two important anniversaries: the 300th birthday of his father, Charles Wesley, and the 250th birthday of Charles Wesley junior himself.
