The Ingenious Mr. Avison: Making Music and Money in Eighteenth Century Newcastle 

By Roz Southey, Margaret Maddison & David Hughes

Charles Avison (1709-1770) was a remarkable Tyneside musician who became England's most important 18th-century concerto composer. Now the first full-length biography tells the talented composer's story, and how, through enterprise and determination, he made Newcastle upon Tyne England's greatest provincial music center of the time. The Ingenious Mr. Avison explores a world of fashionable concerts, money-making, rivalry, wigs, waistcoats, dancing, love affairs, and family tragedy. This well-researched survey also includes details of Avison's published works, a discography, and extensive notes. It is essential reading for students of English music and an informative and entertaining window onto provincial musical life in the 18th century.


Contents: Who was Charles Avison? | A new life | Friends and neighbours | Childhood | London! | A new entertainment | Work and marriage | Reaching out to new audiences | In the company of patrons | Increasing prosperity | Putting pen to paper | Confrontations | A competitor | Portrait of a musician | 'Dull songs and sleepy airs' | Tragedies | Sons and daughters | Legacy | Notes | Published compositions | Select discography | Select bibliography | Subscribers | Index

Dr Roz Southey, lecturer at Newcastle University, has written widely on music making in the northeast during the eighteenth century. Margaret Maddison is a retired librarian who has studied many aspects of the cultural and social history of the region and has written many articles for a number of journals. David Hughes is a founder member of the Avison Society and has lectured extensively on Avison and his place in the cultural life of the area.


Newcastle Libraries: Tyne Bridge Publishing, 2009

156 pages, softback
ISBN No - 978 1857951295


"This is a very enjoyable account of the life of an extraordinary Geordie. It is written primarily for the general public and should appeal to anyone interested in the music of the 18th century and the North East during the Georgian era. In addition, the book is well illustrated." Review from Amazon.co.uk


Buy our recordings from us here on eBay and 100% of the CD sale goes towards The Avison Ensemble for our classical music activities!
Our recordings available on eBay:
  • Charles Avison - Trio Sonatas Op.1 and Keyboard Sonatas Op.8 (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • Charles Avison - Six Concertos Op.3 and Eight Concertos Op.4 (2 CD set, Naxos)
  • Charles Avison - Sonatas for Harpsichord Op.5 and Op.7 (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • Charles Avison - Twelve Concertos Op.6 (2 CD set, Naxos)
  • Charles Avison - 12 Concerti Grossi Op.9 and 6 Concerti Grossi Op.10 (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • Charles Avison - 12 Concerti Grossi after Geminiani (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • Charles Avison - 12 Concerti Grossi after Scarlatti (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • John Garth - Six Cello Concertos (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • John Garth - Accompanied Keyboard Sonatas Op.2 and Op.4 (2 CD set, Divine Art)
  • Concertos from the North - Concertos by Charles Avison, John Garth and William Herschel
  • Rebellion! - Music of the Jacobite Rebellions by Handel, Geminiani & Avison
  • Antonio Vivaldi - Concerti Op.8 including 'The Four Seasons' (2 CD set, Linn Records)
  • George Frideric Handel - Concerti Grossi Op.6 (3 CD set, Linn Records)
  • Arcangelo Corelli - Church Sonatas Op.1 and Op.3 (2 CD set, Linn Records)
  • Arcangelo Corelli - Chamber Sonatas Op.2 and Op.4 (2 CD set, Linn Records)
  • Arcangelo Corelli - Violin Sonatas Op.5 (2 CD set, Linn Records)
  • Arcangelo Corelli - Concerti Grossi Op.6 (2 CD set, Linn Records)
Also:
  • Book: The Ingenious Mr. Avison: Making Music and Money in Eighteenth Century Newcastle by Roz Southey, Margaret Maddison and David Hughes. Paperback.
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