Thomas Clayton (composer) facts for kids

Thomas Clayton (born in 1673, died around 1725) was an English musician. He played the violin and wrote music. He was part of "The King's Musick," a group of musicians who played for King William III. Many people believe he was the first to successfully bring a type of serious opera, known as "legitimate opera," to England.

Life of a Musician

Thomas Clayton's father was William Clayton. Thomas went to Italy to study music between 1702 and 1704. When he came back, he brought many Italian songs he had collected. He used these songs to create music for a play by Peter Anthony Motteux. This play was based on an older drama that had been performed in Italy.

Clayton worked with two other musicians, Nicola Haym and Charles Dieupart. Together, they started putting on opera shows at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. This was a new and exciting idea for the English stage!

The First English Opera

Their first show opened on January 16, 1705. It was an opera called Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus. Clayton had put it together using the Italian songs he collected. The show was announced as "a new opera, after the Italian manner, all sung." This meant it had singing throughout, with musical conversations (called recitatives) instead of spoken talking.

Arsinoe seemed to be quite popular. It was even performed for Queen Anne at St. James's Palace for her birthday! Some people said it was performed many times in 1705 and 1706. This opera is often called the first English opera in the Italian style.

Trying Again with Rosamond

Because Arsinoe was a success, Clayton decided to try another opera. On March 4, 1707, he put on a show called Rosamond at Drury Lane. The words for this opera were written by Joseph Addison.

However, Rosamond was not as successful as Arsinoe. It was only performed a few times and then never again. Some people at the time said the music was not very good. Both Arsinoe and Rosamond were published, so people later could also hear the music and agree with the early opinions.

Later Years and Other Works

After Rosamond didn't do well, Clayton's opera projects continued until 1711. He also owned a concert room at his house in London. There, he, Charles Dieupart, and Nicola Haym organized concerts of his newer music.

On May 24, 1711, two more of Clayton's works were performed. These were a version of Dryden's Alexander's Feast and Harrison's Passion of Sappho. But these works also failed to become popular. After this, not much more is known about Thomas Clayton. He is thought to have died around 1725.

What People Thought of His Music

Thomas Clayton is important in the history of English music because he was the first to try and make serious Italian-style opera popular in England. But as a composer, his music wasn't always loved. One person from his time joked that if there was a prize for the worst music, the composer of Rosamond would surely win!

Works by Thomas Clayton

Besides some songs called cantatas from 1710, here are some of Clayton's other works:

• Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus – an opera with three acts, based on a story by Tomaso Stanzani (first shown in London, 1705)
• Rosamond – an opera with three acts, with words by Joseph Addison (first shown in London, 1707)
• A Pastoral Mask (1710)
• If Wine and Music have the Power – words by Matthew Prior (London, 1711)
• The Feast of Alexander – words by John Hughes after John Dryden (London, 1711)
• The Passion of Sappho – words by William Harrison (London, 1711)
• Ode for the Prince's Birthday (London, 1711)
• Ode on the King (London, 1716)