Thomas Norris (composer) facts for kids
Thomas Norris (baptised 15 August 1741 – 5 September 1790) was an English musician. He was well-known as a talented singer and a composer during his time.
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The Life of Thomas Norris
Thomas Norris was born in Mere, Wiltshire, a small town in England. He was baptised there on August 15, 1741. From a young age, Thomas showed a gift for music.
Early Musical Training
Thomas began his musical journey as a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral. A chorister is a young singer in a church choir. He learned a lot about music under the guidance of John Stephens.
A writer named James Harris even wrote a special musical play called a pastoral operetta to help introduce Thomas Norris to the public. This helped people notice his amazing voice.
Singing Career and Festivals
As a young man, Thomas Norris sang as a soprano. A soprano is a high-pitched singing voice, usually for women or young boys. He performed at important music events like the Worcester and Hereford festivals in 1761 and 1762. He also sang at the famous Drury Lane Theatre in London, performing in a pasticcio called The Spring. A pasticcio is a musical work made up of pieces from different composers.
Later, his voice changed, and he became a tenor, which is a male singing voice higher than a bass but lower than an alto. He sang as a tenor at the Gloucester festival in 1766. He continued to perform at the well-known Three Choirs festivals until 1788.
Oxford and London Performances
In 1765, Thomas Norris became the organist at two important places in Oxford: Christ Church and St John's College, Oxford. An organist is someone who plays the organ, a large musical instrument. In the same year, he earned a music degree called Mus. Bac. In 1771, he joined Magdalen College as a lay clerk, which is a non-clergyman who sings in a cathedral or college choir.
In 1784, Thomas Norris was one of the main singers at the very first Handel commemoration festival. This was a big event celebrating the music of the famous composer George Frideric Handel. His success there led to many opportunities to sing in oratorios in London. An oratorio is a large musical piece for voices and orchestra, usually based on a religious story.
Thomas Norris made his last public appearance at the Birmingham festival in 1790. He passed away on September 5, 1790, at Himley Hall, near Stourbridge.
Thomas Norris's Music
Besides being a singer, Thomas Norris was also a composer. He wrote many different types of music.
Compositions and Collections
His compositions included several anthems. An anthem is a piece of music, usually for a choir, often sung in church services. One of his anthems was even printed, meaning it was published for others to perform.
He also wrote glees and other musical pieces. Glees are short songs for three or more voices, usually without instrumental accompaniment. Some of his works were included in Collections put together by Thomas Warren, another musician.
Instrumental Works
Thomas Norris also composed music for instruments. He wrote six symphonies for strings, oboes, and horns. A symphony is a long musical piece usually for a full orchestra.
