Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Arne, Michael

Arne, Michael. Son of the preceding. So early did the genius of this musician develop it-self, that at the early age of ten or eleven years his performance on the harpsichord was such, that he was able to execute all the lessons of Handel and Scarlatti with wonderful correctness and rapidity. Even at this early age, so great had been his practice, and such was his perfection on this instrument, that it was thought he could play music at sight as well as any performer then living.

In conjunction with Mr. Battishill, he produced at Drury Lane Theatre, in 1764, the opera of "Alcmena ;" but its success was not very flattering. He afterwards produced at the King's Theatre the opera of "Cymon," from which he derived both emolument and fame. Several of the airs have been lasting favorites ; and particularly the two, "Yet a while sweet sleep," and "The sweet passion of love," which will be for-ever remembered.

The attention of Arne was, not long after this time, turned so strongly towards the study of chemistry that he not merely neglected, but, for a while, entirely abandoned, his professional pursuits. Ridiculous as it may seem at the present day, he became a convert to the absurd notions of those persons who believed in the philosopher's stone, and the transmutation of metals. In order that he might discover the former, he was at the expense of building a laboratory at Chelsea ; but when he found himself deceived in his expectations, he had the good sense to return to his professional avocations, and he afterwards composed music for Covent Garden, Vauxhall, and Ranelagh.

As a composer, Arne did not possess that happy taste, nor that power of writing beautiful melody, which were so conspicuous in his father ; yet there is a certain good sense which pervades all his works ; though it must at the same time be observed, that if some of them were less complex, they would perhaps be more pleasing. Upon the whole, however, his merits very justly entitle him to a high and distinguished rank amongst English composers.