Composer of the Week: Samuel Wesley

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Samuel Wesley (1766-1837): Wesley's passion for Bach

Wesley's passion for Bach

Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Samuel Wesley (1766-1837), Wesley's passion for Bach

Donald Macleod explores Wesley's passion for Bach.

Donald Macleod traces Samuel Wesley's passion for, and promotion of, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Donald Macleod traces Samuel Wesley’s passion for, and promotion of, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Samuel Wesley was a child prodigy, and it was the older composer William Boyce who said of the boy that he was the English Mozart, and that he had dropped down from heaven. Wesley’s star speedily ascended to the heights from an early age as both performer and composer, but with issues surrounding his often extreme character, and also his health and morals, this ascendency was not to last. His popularity went in and out of fashion during his lifetime, and trying to secure a permanent position as an organist was something which eluded him for a long time. However, he was one of Britain’s leading musicians, mixed in the highest circles, and was responsible for promoting the largely unknown J. S. Bach to these shores. Towards the end of his life, famous musicians and composers sought Wesley out and even Mendelssohn asked the famed organist Samuel Wesley to play for him. We’re only just beginning to understand Wesley’s importance to the development of British classical music, and many of his substantial works, including numerous concertos for piano, organ, and violin, and large scale works for choir and orchestra, all still remain to be recorded.

Donald Macleod follows Samuel Wesley on his journey to explore and promote the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was largely unknown in the United Kingdom, and Wesley wanted to share his discovery of Bach’s 48 Preludes and Fugues. The famed music historian Charles Burney was dismissive of Bach, but soon changed his tune once Wesley played Bach’s music to him. Wesley went on to bring out publications of Bach’s music, to give lecture recitals, and to re-learn the violin in order to play some Bach sonatas. Wesley never missed an opportunity to perform the music of Bach to new audiences, often interspersed with his own compositions.

Duet in B flat major (for Eliza)
Davitt Moroney, harpsichord
Olivier Beaumont, harpsichord

Voluntary in D, Op 6 No 8
Jennifer Bate, organ

Handel Arr. Wesley
Rejoice the Lord is King
Psalmody
Timothy Roberts, organ
Peter Holman, director

Symphony in D major
London Mozart Players
Matthias Bamert, conductor

String Quartet in E flat major (Allegro spiritoso)
The Salomon Quartet

Confitebor tibi, Domine
Claire Seaton, soprano
Susanne Holmes, mezzo soprano
Nicholas Sharratt, tenor
Jonathan Brown, baritone
Southern Pro Musica
David Gostick, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Composer of the Week: Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod presents a survey of the life and music of English composer Samuel Wesley.

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Wesley's passion for Bach

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