Alexander Robert Reinagle (23 April 1756 – 21 September 1809) was an English-born American composer, organist, and theater musician.
He should not be confused with his nephew of the same name, Alexander Robert Reinagle (21 August 1799 – 6 April 1877), also a composer and organist, who lived all his life in Britain. He was a close friends with a young
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
when he visited London. He was influenced by
Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have led ...
,
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
and
Clementi Clementi may refer to:
People
* Aldo Clementi (1925–2011), Italian composer
* Cecil Clementi (1875–1947), British colonial administrator and Governor of Hong Kong
* Cecilia Clementi, Italian-American scientist
* David Clementi (born 1949), Brit ...
.
Scotland
Reinagle was born in
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
, England. His father was a Hungarian professional musician and his mother was Scots. His brother was Joseph Reinagle. He studied music with his father, then with
Raynor Taylor
Raynor Taylor (1747 – 17 August 1825) was an English organist, music teacher, composer, and singer who lived and worked in the United States after emigrating in 1792. Active in composing music for the theater, outdoor pleasure garden, and the Ang ...
in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
. He went on a trip to London in 1763. He met Mozart and his family a year later.
At first, Reinagle made a living in the shipping industry, making several trips to the American colonies during the 1770s. In Edinburgh, he taught music and presented several concerts. His first keyboard compositions were published in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
and became popular in the American colonies.
New York and Philadelphia
In 1786, Reinagle decided to try his fortune as a professional musician in the newly independent
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. He moved to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, and, later moved again to
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
, which was the national capital at the time. He helped revitalize the musical life of Philadelphia in the 1790s, introducing that city to the music of
Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have led ...
and
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
, as well as his own original compositions.
One of Reinagle's admirers was American President
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
. In 1789, Reinagle composed a "Chorus", which was performed for Washington at
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.Nellie Custis, Washington's step-granddaughter, was one of Reinagle's music students. Washington was a frequent concertgoer, and could often be seen in the audience at Reinagle's concerts. On Washington's death in 1799, Reinagle composed a ''Monody on the Death of George Washington''.
In Philadelphia, Reinagle worked closely with
Thomas Wignell
Thomas Wignell (1753 – 21 February 1803) was an English-born actor and theatre manager in the colonial United States.
Early years
Thomas Wignell was born into a working theatre family. He was born in England to his parents John and Henrietta ...
in producing opera ballets with the New Company, at the Chestnut Street Theater. Reinagle and Wignell produced over 75 programs with the New Company. At Wignell's death in 1803, Reinagle moved to
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, where he became associated with the Holliday Street Theater. He died in Baltimore in 1809, and is buried in
Old Saint Paul's Cemetery
Old Saint Paul's Cemetery is a cemetery located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is noted for the several important historical figures that are interred in its grounds.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in ...
there.
Reinagle's music
His earliest compositions, from his days in Edinburgh, include a set of duos for two cellos, Opus 2, and ''Variations on Famous Scots Tunes'', published in Glasgow and later in Philadelphia. He also composed ''Twenty-four Short and Easy Lessons'', a series of teaching pieces for keyboard, which he later used in his teaching in Philadelphia.
Once in America, Reinagle continued to compose short pieces for special occasions, often with titles alluding to American personalities and ideas. Pieces such as his ''Federal March'', ''President Madison’s March'' and ''Mrs. Madison’s Minuet'' are usually short and in the
binary form
Binary form is a musical form in 2 related sections, both of which are usually repeated. Binary is also a structure used to choreograph dance. In music this is usually performed as A-A-B-B.
Binary form was popular during the Baroque period, of ...
associated with dance music of the time. Of more interest is the set of four keyboard
sonatas
Sonata (; Italian: , pl. ''sonate''; from Latin and Italian: ''sonare'' rchaic Italian; replaced in the modern language by ''suonare'' "to sound"), in music, literally means a piece ''played'' as opposed to a cantata (Latin and Italian ''canta ...
. Reinagle composed these when he first arrived in Philadelphia; hence they are sometimes called the "Philadelphia Sonatas". These are the first sonatas composed in the United States. They are substantial works, each in two or three movements. While they show the influence of
C. P. E. Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (8 March 1714 – 14 December 1788), also formerly spelled Karl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, and commonly abbreviated C. P. E. Bach, was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and sec ...
(one of Reinagle's idols), they demonstrate Reinagle's unique approach to form and motivic development.
Much of Reinagle's theater music was lost when the Chestnut Street Theater burned down in 1820.
Selected stage works
* ''Robin Hood, or Sherwood Forest'' (10.3.1794 Philadelphia) ev. (W. Shield)* ''St Patrick's Day, or The Scheming Lieutenant'' (17.3.1794 Philadelphia)
* ''La forêt noire'' (26.4.1794 Philadelphia)
* ''The Spanish Barber, or The Fruitless Precaution'' (7.7.1794 Philadelphia) B. Carrev. (S. Arnold)* ''Harlequin Shipwreck'd, or The Grateful Lion'' (2.1.1795 Philadelphia)
* ''The Purse, or Benevolent Tar'' (7.1.1795 Philadelphia) ev. (Arnold)* ''The Volunteers'' (21.1.1795 Philadelphia)
* ''Auld Robin Gray, or Jamie's Return from America'' (4.5.1795 Philadelphia) ev. (Arnold)* ''The Sicilian Romance, or The Apparition of the Cliffs'' (6.5.1795 Philadelphia)
* '' Harlequin's Invasion'' (12.6.1795 Philadelphia)
* ''The Warrior's Welcome Home'' (10.2.1796 Philadelphia)
* ''The Witches of the Rocks, or Harlequin Everywhere'' (26.2.1796 Philadelphia)
* ''The Lucky Escape, or The Ploughman Turned Sailor'' (14.3.1796 Philadelphia) ev. (C. Dibdin)* ''Columbus, or The Discovery of America'' (30.1.1797 Philadelphia)
* ''The Savoyard, or The Repentant Seducer'' (12.7.1797 Philadelphia)
* ''The Italian Monk'' (11.4.1798 Philadelphia) ev. (Arnold)?* ''The Arabs of the Desert, or Harlequin's Flight from Egypt'' (13.4.1799 Philadelphia)
* ''The Constellation, or A Wreath for American Tars'' (30.12.1799 Philadelphia)
* ''A Wreath for American Tars, or Huzza Again for the Constitution'' (8.4.1800 Philadelphia)
* ''The Double Disguise'' (18.4.1800 Philadelphia)
* ''Harlequin Freemason'' (21.4.1800 Philadelphia) ev. (Dibdin)* ''The Sailor's Daughter'' (10.12.1804 Philadelphia)
* ''The Wife of Two Husbands'' (1.3.1805 Philadelphia)
* ''Mary, Queen of Scots'' (15.1.1806 Philadelphia)
* ''The Travellers, or Music's Fascination'' (20.4.1807 Philadelphia) ev. (D. Corri)?
Selected discography
* Reinagle, Alexander. Three Keyboard Sonatas. ( Jack Winerock, pf.) Musical Heritage Society, MHS 3359. Played on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Broadwood piano.Richard Crawford Music of the Federal Era , New World Records liner notes, p. 21