Francis Linley (c.1771–1800) was an English
organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...
and
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
.
Life
Linley was born in
Doncaster
Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...
. Blind from birth, he received an education, and studied music under
Edward Miller, also of Doncaster.
Around 1790 Linley held the post of organist at St. James's Chapel, Pentonville, London. In 1796 he bought the business of John Bland, music-seller in
Holborn
Holborn ( or ) is a district in central London, which covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and a part ( St Andrew Holborn Below the Bars) of the Ward of Farringdon Without in the City of London.
The area has its roots ...
. At a troubled time in his life, he went to
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 territorie ...
. He remained there several years, returning to England in 1799, and died, aged 26, at his mother's house in Doncaster, on 15 September 1800.
Works
Linley's compositions and compiled works included:
* ''Three Sonatas for Pianoforte and Flute'', Op. 1.
* ''Thirty Familiar Airs for two German Flutes'', with prefatory remarks, c. 1790.
* ''Three Solos for the German Flute, with Accompaniment for Violoncello''.
* ''Through Groves and Flowery Fields'', ''When Angry Nations'', and other songs.
* ''Practical Introduction to the Organ'', in five parts, Opus 6, of which the 12th edition appeared about 1810; it contains a description of the organ, fifteen preludes, eight voluntaries, eight full pieces, eight fugues, and psalms.
Family
Linley married a blind woman.
References
Further reading
'Francis Linley 1770–1800' by Andrew Pink, i
''Le Monde maçonnique des Lumières (Europe-Amériques) Dictionnaire prosopographique'' Charles Porset and Cécile Révauger (eds) Paris: Editions Champion, 2013.
External links
;Attribution
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linley, Francis
1800 deaths
English organists
British male organists
English composers
English blind people
Year of birth uncertain