Avison and Poverty

Donald Macleod presents the life and music of contemporary eighteenth century English composers Charles Avison and John Stanley. They were almost exact contemporaries, but living and working at opposite ends of the country, Avison in Newcastle and Stanley in London. They might be little known now, but in their day they were leading organists, composers, conductors and concert managers, employed by Royalty and admired by Geminiani and Handel.

We start with Avison, born on the banks of the Tyne in straitened circumstances, his father scraped a living as a member of the town band, and when he died, young Charles was taken up by a local patron of the arts and MP. It was a relationship which would enable Avison to find his way from the poverty of his childhood to a position as a prominent Newcastle musician.