Event Comment: Lyric Ode (never performed) "On the Witches, Fairies, and Aerial Beings in
Shakespeare. The Music entirely New." [The
Westminster Magazine for March commented: "This poem is said to be written by a
young gentleman of
Oxford, and has many strokes of genius and inagination in it. The music, we hear, is composed by
Mr Linley Jr, who has (since his return from
Italy) been a student under that most excellent musician
Dr Boyce. This composition must be allowed to be an extraordinary effort of genius in so
young a man. The Fugue of the overture is masterly. The song of '
There in old Arden's inmost shade,' is well suited to the scene described by the poet....But what we think most deserving of praise is the power our
young composer has shown in the chorusses....From the general and sincere applause with which the Ode was received, we may venture to pronounce, that if Mr Linley Jr pursues his studies, he will one day stand foremost in the list of modern composers."
Performances
Mainpiece Title: A Lyric Ode; Alexander's Feast, And The Coronation Anthems
Music: After the Ode: A Miscellaneous Act-; New Overture-; Song-a Gentleman (his first appearance in Public); Concerto on Oboe-Fischer; Song-Miss M. Linley (composed by Bach); Concerto on violin-Linley Jr; Song-Miss Linley (composed by Sacchini); Duetto-the Two Miss Linley's (composed by Piccini); Chorus