Thomas Thackeray: Twelve Divertimenti for Two Guittars, Op. III
According to Robert Spencer in his 2001 Grove article, Thomas Thackray of York (1740-93) was the son of a linen weaver and country dance musician, also named Thomas, who had likely trained young Thomas in music. In addition to the guittar or cetra, he also performed on the ‘cello and the violin.
Thackray’s first published work is Six Lessons for the Guittar, which was published in York in 1765. His Opera Seconda, with the same title, was published in London in 1769, and is also notable for its two-page list of subscribers (worthy of study itself). His Twelve Divertimenti (London, Longman, Lukey & Co.) is opera 3d., and there is also A collection of forty four airs ... for one or two guittars (London, John Johnston); both date from c. 1772. According to Spencer, after some years in London, Thackray returned to York to take over his father’s business as well as continue working as a musician.
The list of subscribers mentioned above includes “The Right Hon. Lord Vis. Erwin” and “The Rt. Hon. Lady Erwin”, who purchased 20 books. Lady Irwin, or Irvine, was Frances Gibson Shepheard Ingram (1734-1807), the wife of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin. The couple had estates in Sussex and Yorkshire, so there was ample opportunity for Thackray to make their acquaintance.
Although the illegitimate daughter of wealthy merchant and politician Samuel Shepheard - she was named in his will as “Miss Frances Gibson, commonly called Shepheard” - Frances was given a good education, and, according to Elaine Chalus in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, “was accepted in the best circles.” Professor Chalus continues:
Her friends included young women from the most respectable families of the political élite. Most importantly, she was worth approximately £60,000, and was good-looking, shapely, assured, and intelligent—all arguments which would have swept away lingering doubts caused by her parentage. She was painted twice by Joshua Reynolds before her marriage.
She was also painted by Benjamin Wilson, and inherited the Temple Newsom estate and other property on the death of her husband in 1778. A keen gardener, she was instrumental in redesigning the estate parkland. As well as being a musician, she was an art collector and a force in politics.
The cittern music Thackray dedicated to Lady Irwin is a model of the galant style: charming, delicate, elegant and poised. He had a flair for melody, and in these duets adds an equally melodic second voice that makes these divertimenti as pleasant to play as they are to listen to.
Divertimento no. I - Rondo Moderato, Jigg Allegro JP/LB
Divertimento no. II - Andante Grazioso, Rondo LB/VP
Divertimento no. III - Andante Allegro, Largo, Gavot LB/VC
Divertimento no. IV - Andante, Jigg JP/VP
Divertimento no. V - Maestoso, Minuet, Allegretto VP/VC
Divertimento no. VI - Tempo di Minuetto, Gavot JP/LB
Divertimento no. VII - March, Minuet, Jigg Allegro LB/VP
Divertimento no. VIII - Andante Grazioso, Minuet Grazioso JP/VC
Divertimento no. IX - Grazioso, Gavot VP/VC
Divertimento no. X - Allegro Moderato, Minuet LB/VC
Divertimento no. XI - Siciliana, Minuet JP/VP
Divertimento no. XII - Moderato, Tempo di Minuetto JP/VC
Instruments used:
John Preston c.1765 [JP]
Longman & Broderip c.1770 [LB]
Contemporary Cetra by Diogo Valente 2020 [VC]
Preston copy by Diogo Valente 2023 [VP]
@instrumentosvalente
According to Robert Spencer in his 2001 Grove article, Thomas Thackray of York (1740-93) was the son of a linen weaver and country dance musician, also named Thomas, who had likely trained young Thomas in music. In addition to the guittar or cetra, he also performed on the ‘cello and the violin.
Thackray’s first published work is Six Lessons for the Guittar, which was published in York in 1765. His Opera Seconda, with the same title, was published in London in 1769, and is also notable for its two-page list of subscribers (worthy of study itself). His Twelve Divertimenti (London, Longman, Lukey & Co.) is opera 3d., and there is also A collection of forty four airs ... for one or two guittars (London, John Johnston); both date from c. 1772. According to Spencer, after some years in London, Thackray returned to York to take over his father’s business as well as continue working as a musician.
The list of subscribers mentioned above includes “The Right Hon. Lord Vis. Erwin” and “The Rt. Hon. Lady Erwin”, who purchased 20 books. Lady Irwin, or Irvine, was Frances Gibson Shepheard Ingram (1734-1807), the wife of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin. The couple had estates in Sussex and Yorkshire, so there was ample opportunity for Thackray to make their acquaintance.
Although the illegitimate daughter of wealthy merchant and politician Samuel Shepheard - she was named in his will as “Miss Frances Gibson, commonly called Shepheard” - Frances was given a good education, and, according to Elaine Chalus in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, “was accepted in the best circles.” Professor Chalus continues:
Her friends included young women from the most respectable families of the political élite. Most importantly, she was worth approximately £60,000, and was good-looking, shapely, assured, and intelligent—all arguments which would have swept away lingering doubts caused by her parentage. She was painted twice by Joshua Reynolds before her marriage.
She was also painted by Benjamin Wilson, and inherited the Temple Newsom estate and other property on the death of her husband in 1778. A keen gardener, she was instrumental in redesigning the estate parkland. As well as being a musician, she was an art collector and a force in politics.
The cittern music Thackray dedicated to Lady Irwin is a model of the galant style: charming, delicate, elegant and poised. He had a flair for melody, and in these duets adds an equally melodic second voice that makes these divertimenti as pleasant to play as they are to listen to.
Divertimento no. I - Rondo Moderato, Jigg Allegro JP/LB
Divertimento no. II - Andante Grazioso, Rondo LB/VP
Divertimento no. III - Andante Allegro, Largo, Gavot LB/VC
Divertimento no. IV - Andante, Jigg JP/VP
Divertimento no. V - Maestoso, Minuet, Allegretto VP/VC
Divertimento no. VI - Tempo di Minuetto, Gavot JP/LB
Divertimento no. VII - March, Minuet, Jigg Allegro LB/VP
Divertimento no. VIII - Andante Grazioso, Minuet Grazioso JP/VC
Divertimento no. IX - Grazioso, Gavot VP/VC
Divertimento no. X - Allegro Moderato, Minuet LB/VC
Divertimento no. XI - Siciliana, Minuet JP/VP
Divertimento no. XII - Moderato, Tempo di Minuetto JP/VC
Instruments used:
John Preston c.1765 [JP]
Longman & Broderip c.1770 [LB]
Contemporary Cetra by Diogo Valente 2020 [VC]
Preston copy by Diogo Valente 2023 [VP]
@instrumentosvalente
According to Robert Spencer in his 2001 Grove article, Thomas Thackray of York (1740-93) was the son of a linen weaver and country dance musician, also named Thomas, who had likely trained young Thomas in music. In addition to the guittar or cetra, he also performed on the ‘cello and the violin.
Thackray’s first published work is Six Lessons for the Guittar, which was published in York in 1765. His Opera Seconda, with the same title, was published in London in 1769, and is also notable for its two-page list of subscribers (worthy of study itself). His Twelve Divertimenti (London, Longman, Lukey & Co.) is opera 3d., and there is also A collection of forty four airs ... for one or two guittars (London, John Johnston); both date from c. 1772. According to Spencer, after some years in London, Thackray returned to York to take over his father’s business as well as continue working as a musician.
The list of subscribers mentioned above includes “The Right Hon. Lord Vis. Erwin” and “The Rt. Hon. Lady Erwin”, who purchased 20 books. Lady Irwin, or Irvine, was Frances Gibson Shepheard Ingram (1734-1807), the wife of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin. The couple had estates in Sussex and Yorkshire, so there was ample opportunity for Thackray to make their acquaintance.
Although the illegitimate daughter of wealthy merchant and politician Samuel Shepheard - she was named in his will as “Miss Frances Gibson, commonly called Shepheard” - Frances was given a good education, and, according to Elaine Chalus in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, “was accepted in the best circles.” Professor Chalus continues:
Her friends included young women from the most respectable families of the political élite. Most importantly, she was worth approximately £60,000, and was good-looking, shapely, assured, and intelligent—all arguments which would have swept away lingering doubts caused by her parentage. She was painted twice by Joshua Reynolds before her marriage.
She was also painted by Benjamin Wilson, and inherited the Temple Newsom estate and other property on the death of her husband in 1778. A keen gardener, she was instrumental in redesigning the estate parkland. As well as being a musician, she was an art collector and a force in politics.
The cittern music Thackray dedicated to Lady Irwin is a model of the galant style: charming, delicate, elegant and poised. He had a flair for melody, and in these duets adds an equally melodic second voice that makes these divertimenti as pleasant to play as they are to listen to.
Divertimento no. I - Rondo Moderato, Jigg Allegro JP/LB
Divertimento no. II - Andante Grazioso, Rondo LB/VP
Divertimento no. III - Andante Allegro, Largo, Gavot LB/VC
Divertimento no. IV - Andante, Jigg JP/VP
Divertimento no. V - Maestoso, Minuet, Allegretto VP/VC
Divertimento no. VI - Tempo di Minuetto, Gavot JP/LB
Divertimento no. VII - March, Minuet, Jigg Allegro LB/VP
Divertimento no. VIII - Andante Grazioso, Minuet Grazioso JP/VC
Divertimento no. IX - Grazioso, Gavot VP/VC
Divertimento no. X - Allegro Moderato, Minuet LB/VC
Divertimento no. XI - Siciliana, Minuet JP/VP
Divertimento no. XII - Moderato, Tempo di Minuetto JP/VC
Instruments used:
John Preston c.1765 [JP]
Longman & Broderip c.1770 [LB]
Contemporary Cetra by Diogo Valente 2020 [VC]
Preston copy by Diogo Valente 2023 [VP]
@instrumentosvalente