Thomas Linley - Thou, as thy mercy had decreed

[BarbaraPloyer333]

It's NICE!! Too bad this composer suffered a tragic fate and died much too young.

[djsmurfie]

@BarbaraPloyer333 All the English composers that could have been great died very young: like George Pinto (dubbed, like Linley, the 'English Mozart') who died at 21, Linley at 22 and Purcell at 35. Such a shame.

[TheCrazyCello]

@djsmurfie Pelham Humphrey at 27 to name another. But I think there are other facts which lead to English music being a "follower" rather than a "leader" with respect to the continent. Even in Linley's time it was pointed out that the biggest disadvantage of his talent was the fact he was English...

[djsmurfie]

@TheCrazyCello Perhaps that disadvantage wouldn't have been so evident if Purcell and the others you listed had firmly cemented an English tradition of music, which could have only been achieved had they lived longer. We'll never know now unfortunately.

[TheCrazyCello]

@djsmurfie I'm not so sure... Thomas Linley's blend of classicism, galant and fugal styles is a testament to the weight that musical tradition held in England even approaching the C19. Perhaps this can be attributed to his teacher Boyce though, who had huuuge reverence for Purcell. Certainly others, like Kelly had no qualms about adopting the newer imported style completely. But again - Stanley had success right into the 1780s with his Handelian oratorios. Who knows!