Charles Henry Wilton

Charles Henry Wilton (1761—1832) was an English violinist, singer, composer and teacher of violin and piano.

Biography

Wilton was born in Gloucester (England) on 15 June 1761 and died on 15 August 1832 in Southport (Lancashire, England). A brief account of his life appears in recent editions of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians[1] and there is also a brief mention in the Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660—1800.[2]

Gloucester is one home of the Three Choirs Festival and, as a young man, Wilton studied the violin under Felice Giardini,[3] the leader of the festival orchestra. During the late 1770s[1] their names appear together on handbills for chamber recitals in London, where Giardini was resident at that time. Wilton continued his studies in Italy and on his return in 1784 he succeeded Giardini as leader of the orchestra for the Three Choirs Festival.[4] His place of residence is unknown but he was active in London at this time—he is recorded as the leader of the orchestra for a performance of the oratorio Judith at the Haymarket theatre, London, on 13 March 1785.[2] At some stage he established his home in the north-west of England and for many years he was in demand as leader of orchestras in Liverpool, Manchester and York although he resided in Brentford for a period around 1805. Lysons claims that by 1812 he had given up the violin and had confined himself to teaching piano in the Liverpool area.[4]

Compositions

The British Library holds a number of scores including[5]

Opus 1Six Duetts, vn, va (London, c1780)
Opus 2Six Duetts, 2 vn (London, 1794)
Opus 3Six Solos, vn, bc (hpd) (Liverpool, 1789)
Opus 3dTwelve Progressive Duetts, 2 vn (London, c1794)
Opus 5A Set of Eighteen Lessons, pf/hpd (Liverpool, 1791)
Opus 6Three Duetts with Scots Airs, 2 vn (London, 1795)
Opus 9Six Sonatas, pf (London, ?1805)
--A Set of Short & Familiar Pieces, org, 2 vols. (London, ?1805)
--Sonatina in C
--Coolun, Irish Air with Variations, pf/hpd (Liverpool, c1790)
--100 Psalm & Hymn Tunes with Chants (London, 1827)

There are many other song settings.

Recordings

Three of the six duets of Opus 2 have been recorded (as trios) with an additional bass continuo. They are coupled with a septet by Hummel on a disc available from Forgotten records.[6]

A setting of Psalm 12 is included in a collection of psalm settings by the Choir of King's College Cambridge.[7]

One of the Piano Sonatas is included (with incorrect dates) as the first piece in the series Classics to Moderns by Dénes Ágay. A free score is available.[8] This popular piece has many YouTube recordings, some with interesting variations (Video on YouTube, Video on YouTube).

References
  1. Wilton does not appear in the first edition of Grove (1879) but he does appear in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians edited by Stanley Sadie, London: Macmillan 1980. ISBN 0-333-23111-2. There is also an online version.
  2. Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans. Google books. Pages 180 181
  3. Dictionary of National Biography : Felice Giardini.
  4. D. Lysons: History of the Origin and Progress of the Meeting of the Three Choirs (Gloucester, 1812) Page 220
  5. The material held by the British Library may be listed by searching the Catalogue for Charles Henry Wilton.
  6. Forgotten records, FR 278.
  7. Choir of King's College Cambridge, David Willcocks & Philip Ledger. EMI 5856412, released 2004. Listed by Presto Classical
  8. Score Exchange
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