Nahum Tate facts for kids

Nahum Tate (1652 – 30 July 1715) was an Irish poet and lyricist. He is best known for his version of Shakespeare's King Lear. Tate also wrote the words for Henry Purcell's famous opera, Dido and Aeneas. In 1692, he became the official Poet Laureate.

Who Was Nahum Tate?

Nahum Tate was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1652. His father, Faithful Teate, was a religious leader. The family faced challenges during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. After this, his father moved to England for a time.

Early Life and Education

Nahum Tate followed his father's path in education. He attended Trinity College Dublin in 1668. He graduated from there in 1672. By 1676, Tate had moved to London. He started working as a writer to earn a living. The next year, he began using the spelling "Tate" for his last name. He kept this spelling for the rest of his life.

Becoming a Famous Writer

Nahum Tate passed away in 1715 in Southwark, London. He was buried at St George the Martyr, Southwark. Tate became a very important writer in his time. He wrote many plays, poems, and songs. His work often changed older stories to fit new ideas.

Nahum Tate's Famous Works

Nahum Tate created many different types of writing. He wrote plays for the stage. He also wrote words for operas and hymns. His adaptations of classic plays were very popular.

Cover of Tate's version of King Lear

Adapting Shakespeare's Plays

Tate published a book of poems in London in 1677. He then started writing regularly for the theater. One of his first plays was Brutus of Alba (1678). This play was about the characters Dido and Aeneas. It was later used for Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas.

Tate became well known for changing older plays. He adapted several plays by William Shakespeare. His version of Richard II changed character names. He also changed the story to show respect for kings and queens. But this play, called The Sicilian Usurper (1681), was stopped after only three shows. People thought it might have a hidden political message.

In 1681, Tate's most famous adaptation was performed. This was his version of Shakespeare's King Lear. It was called The History of King Lear. In Tate's version, the character of the Fool is not included. The story also has a happy ending. King Lear gets his throne back. Cordelia and Edgar are expected to marry.

Tate also adapted Shakespeare's Coriolanus. He renamed it The Ingratitude of a Commonwealth (1682). He also adapted plays by other writers. These included The Island Princess (1687) from John Fletcher.

Working with Music

Nahum Tate wrote the words, or libretto, for Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. This opera was first performed around 1689. He also wrote the words for Purcell's "Birthday Ode" in 1694. This ode was called Come Ye Sons of Art.

Writing Hymns and Psalms

Tate is also known for his work on New Version of the Psalms of David (1696). He worked on this with Nicholas Brady. Some parts of this collection are very well-liked. For example, "As pants the hart" (from Psalm 42) is thought to be Tate's work.

A special addition to this collection came out in 1703. It included the famous Christmas carol "While shepherds watched their flocks". This is one of several hymns written by Tate. In 1692, Nahum Tate became the Poet Laureate. This is an official poet for the royal family. He held this important position until his death in 1715.

Tate's Legacy Today

Even today, Nahum Tate's version of King Lear is sometimes performed. In 1985, the Riverside Shakespeare Company in New York City staged The History of King Lear. They used musical breaks with a harpsichord. More recently, in 2021, the NY Classical Theatre performed Tate's King Lear. They held these shows outdoors in New York City. These performances show that Tate's work is still interesting to audiences.