Alexander Reinagle

April 23, 1756 (age 53)

Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

His early development as a composer is indicated by the publications of this period: Twenty-four Short and Easy Pieces for the Pianoforte; A Second Set of Twenty-four Short and Easy Lessons; A Select Collection of the most Favourite Scots Tunes with Variations for the Harpsichord, and Six Sonatas for the Pianoforte: With an Accompaniment for a Violin. In the orchestra assembled for the Händel Commemoration Festival at London, May-June, 1784, a "Mr. Reinegale, " who may have been either Alexander or his younger brother Joseph, sat among the second violins. At some time prior to February 1785, Alexander visited the celebrated composer, C. P. E. Bach, at Hamburg. On October 23, 1784, he arrived in Lisbon with his consumptive brother Hugh, the 'cellist. Alexander gave a concert there, January 8, 1785, and a week later, performed for the royal family. After the death of his brother he returned to Portsmouth, May 17, 1785, and the next year journeyed to America, arriving in New York before June 9, 1786. He gave a concert July 20, appearing as pianist, 'cellist, and vocalist. Within a few months he visited Philadelphia, participating in the benefit concert of Henri Capron, September 21, 1786. His reception in Philadelphia was encouraging; his talent as a teacher and his genius as a pianist and composer found ready recognition. Cooperating with other musicians, he revived the series of "city concerts, " and gave seasons of excellent concerts from 1786 to 1794. He sponsored similar subscription concerts in New York and Baltimore. Reinagle participated in the majority of these concerts, occasionally playing a piano sonata by some contemporary, often one of his own compositions. To this period belong the four delightful piano sonatas preserved in manuscript at the Library of Congress. These sonatas may prove to be his chief claim to fame. They have a melodic freshness and a rhythmic piquancy that must have endeared them to their post-Revolutionary auditors. They are the finest surviving American instrumental productions of the eighteenth century. In 1791 Thomas Wignell, the actor, left the Old American Company and induced a group of Philadelphians to finance a new theatrical company. An organization was effected and Wignell and Reinagle were appointed managers. Wignell went abroad to recruit a company, while Reinagle remained in Philadelphia to superintend the construction of the New Theatre. It was opened first for a series of concerts in February 1793. After being closed for a year it was reopened on Feburary 17, 1794, with Arnold's opera, The Castle of Andalusia. The new company gave regular seasons thereafter in Philadelphia and Baltimore, Reinagle remaining in charge of the musical department until his death at Baltimore in 1809. From the very outset an exceedingly high musical standard was attained; the singers were of unusual excellence and the orchestra of twenty contained the best instrumental talent available. In the first six seasons over seventy-five operas were produced. Reinagle developed an extraordinary facility in adapting the current English ballad operas to the American stage, often rewriting the accompaniments, composing new overtures, or contriving additional music.

Alexander Reinagle Edit Profile

composer musician

Background

Alexander Robert Reinagle was born at Portsmouth, England, and was baptised in the Parish of Portsea, April 23, 1756. His father was Joseph Reinagle, an Austrian musician. Alexander's childhood was spent in Portsmouth.

Education

Before his eighteenth year, the family moved to Edinburgh, where he apparently studied with Raynor Taylor.

Career

His early development as a composer is indicated by the publications of this period: Twenty-four Short and Easy Pieces for the Pianoforte; A Second Set of Twenty-four Short and Easy Lessons; A Select Collection of the most Favourite Scots Tunes with Variations for the Harpsichord, and Six Sonatas for the Pianoforte: With an Accompaniment for a Violin. In the orchestra assembled for the Händel Commemoration Festival at London, May-June, 1784, a "Mr. Reinegale, " who may have been either Alexander or his younger brother Joseph, sat among the second violins. At some time prior to February 1785, Alexander visited the celebrated composer, C. P. E. Bach, at Hamburg.

On October 23, 1784, he arrived in Lisbon with his consumptive brother Hugh, the 'cellist. Alexander gave a concert there, January 8, 1785, and a week later, performed for the royal family. After the death of his brother he returned to Portsmouth, May 17, 1785, and the next year journeyed to America, arriving in New York before June 9, 1786.

He gave a concert July 20, appearing as pianist, 'cellist, and vocalist. Within a few months he visited Philadelphia, participating in the benefit concert of Henri Capron, September 21, 1786.

His reception in Philadelphia was encouraging; his talent as a teacher and his genius as a pianist and composer found ready recognition. Cooperating with other musicians, he revived the series of "city concerts, " and gave seasons of excellent concerts from 1786 to 1794. He sponsored similar subscription concerts in New York and Baltimore. Reinagle participated in the majority of these concerts, occasionally playing a piano sonata by some contemporary, often one of his own compositions. To this period belong the four delightful piano sonatas preserved in manuscript at the Library of Congress. These sonatas may prove to be his chief claim to fame. They have a melodic freshness and a rhythmic piquancy that must have endeared them to their post-Revolutionary auditors. They are the finest surviving American instrumental productions of the eighteenth century.

In 1791 Thomas Wignell, the actor, left the Old American Company and induced a group of Philadelphians to finance a new theatrical company. An organization was effected and Wignell and Reinagle were appointed managers. Wignell went abroad to recruit a company, while Reinagle remained in Philadelphia to superintend the construction of the New Theatre. It was opened first for a series of concerts in February 1793.

After being closed for a year it was reopened on Feburary 17, 1794, with Arnold's opera, The Castle of Andalusia. The new company gave regular seasons thereafter in Philadelphia and Baltimore, Reinagle remaining in charge of the musical department until his death at Baltimore in 1809. From the very outset an exceedingly high musical standard was attained; the singers were of unusual excellence and the orchestra of twenty contained the best instrumental talent available. In the first six seasons over seventy-five operas were produced.

Reinagle developed an extraordinary facility in adapting the current English ballad operas to the American stage, often rewriting the accompaniments, composing new overtures, or contriving additional music.

Achievements

He wrote original incidental music for the plays Slaves in Algiers (1794), Columbus (1797), The Savoyard (1797), The Italian Monk (1798), The Gentle Shepherd (1798), Pizarro (1800), and The Castle Spectre (1800), and composed the entire score of the operas The Sicilian Romance (1795), and The Volunteers (1795, copy in Library of Congress). He wrote a fine "Federal March, " the patriotic songs "America, Commerce and Freedom" and "The Tars of Columbia, " a choral setting of the words sung before Washington at Trenton, and, with Raynor Taylor, a Monody on the death of Washington. Toward the end of his life he was engaged in the composition of an oratorio based upon Milton's Paradise Lost.

Works

Alexander Reinagle: The Philadelphia Sonatas (Recent Researches in American Music Series, Volume Rram5) Alexander Reinagle: The Philadelphia Sonatas (Recent Researches in American Music Series, Volume Rram5)

book
- Allegro in C
  ( Digital Sheet Music of Allegro in C Composed by: Alexa...)
- Minuetto
  ( Digital Sheet Music of Minuetto Composed by: Alexander...)
- Alexander Reinagle: The Philadelphia Sonatas (Recent Researches in American Music Series, Volume Rram5)

Membership

Reinagle was elected honorary member of the St. Andrew's Society of Pennsylvania, November 30, 1794.

Connections

He was married twice. By his first wife he had two sons, Thomas and Hugh. On September 20, 1803, he married Anna Duport at Baltimore. A daughter, Georgianna, was born after Reinagle's death.

Father:: Joseph Reinagle
Spouse:: Anna Duport
Daughter:: Georgianna
Son:: Thomas
Son:: Hugh

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