Thomas Attwood

Thomas Attwood was an English composer and organist, born on 23 November 1765 in London and died on 24 March 1838 in London. He became a chorister in the Chapel Royal at age nine, where he studied under Nares and Ayrton before receiving support from the Prince of Wales to continue his training in Naples with Filippo Cinque and Latilla. He later studied in Vienna as a pupil of Mozart and returned to England to hold prominent posts such as Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral and Composer to the Chapel Royal.

In addition to his established reputation in church music, he was regarded as one of the founders of the neo-Gothic trend in modern musical art. Upon his return to England in 1786, he also served as court Kapellmeister and became the music teacher to the Duchess of York and later the Princess of Wales. He composed an anthem for the coronation of George IV and wrote numerous operatic works, including The Prisoner, The Smugglers, The Mouth of the Nile, A Day in Rome and The Enchanted Oak, as well as many piano sonatas and etudes.

Attwood died at his home in Chelsea on 24 March 1838. His music was later described as finely crafted and displaying genuine talent, reflecting the high regard in which he was held by later generations.

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