Short bio Arthur Sullivan
Birthday:
1842 in London, England
Died:
1900 in London, England
Active:
1890s
Genre:
Classical,Comedy/Spoken,Religious
Period:
Post-Romantic
Full biography Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Sullivan was an English composer famously known for his collaboration with librettist W.S. Gilbert in creating comic operettas in the late 19th century. Born in London on May 13, 1842, Sullivan showed an early talent for music and began formal training at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 14.
Sullivan's early works consisted mainly of classical music, including his Symphony in E Major and his overture In Memoriam. However, it wasn't until he teamed up with Gilbert in 1871 that he became a household name. Together, they produced a string of highly successful operettas, including H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.
Sullivan's contribution to the partnership was his gift for melody and his ability to write catchy tunes that were easy to sing and remember, while Gilbert's talent was his witty and satirical lyrics. The duo's works were hugely popular in their time and remain so today, thanks to their combination of clever wordplay, witty social commentary, and memorable songs.
Outside of his partnership with Gilbert, Sullivan also composed the oratorio The Light of the World, several ballets, and a number of hymns and other religious music. He was knighted in 1883 and received several other honors during his lifetime.
Sullivan passed away in London on November 22, 1900, at the age of 58. Though his partnership with Gilbert is what he is best remembered for, his other works also had a lasting impact on the world of music, and his catchy tunes and clever lyrics continue to delight audiences to this day.
Compositions featuring Arthur Sullivan
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pineapple Poll, ballet (compiled & arranged by C. Mackerras) | 39:27 min | Ballet | 1951 |
| 2 | The Song Birds Are Singing of You, song | 2:43 min | Vocal Music | 1905 |
| 3 | O Hearken Thou, introit for chorus & organ (adapted from "The Light of the World" by Frederick Bridge for Coronation Service, 1902) | 1:20 min | Choral | 1902 |
| 4 | Te Deum, motet for chorus & orchestra | 24:18 min | Choral | 1900 |
| 5 | The Emerald Isle (The Caves of Carig-Cleena), operetta (completed by Edward German) | 94:54 min | Opera | 1900 |
| 6 | "Absent-Minded Beggar" March, for brass band | 3:27 min | Band Music | 1899 |
| 7 | The Rose of Persia (The Story-Teller and the Slave), operetta | 89:01 min | Opera | 1899 |
| 8 | The Beauty Stone, musical drama | 125:02 min | Opera | 1898 |
| 9 | Victoria and Merrie England, ballet | 44:25 min | Ballet | 1897 |
| 10 | Victoria and Merrie England, suite from the ballet | 11:46 min | Orchestral | 1897 |
| 11 | Grand Duke (The Statutory Duel), operetta | 102:55 min | Opera | 1896 |
| 12 | King Arthur, incidental music | 17:27 min | Orchestral | 1895 |
| 13 | The Chieftain, operetta | Opera | 1894 | |
| 14 | Imperial March, for orchestra (also arr. for piano) | 7:07 min | Orchestral | 1893 |
| 15 | Utopia Limited (The Flowers of Progress), operetta | 116:17 min | Opera | 1893 |
| 16 | Haddon Hall, operetta | 110:04 min | Opera | 1892 |
| 17 | The Foresters, incidental music | 22:19 min | Orchestral | 1892 |
| 18 | Ivanhoe, opera | 171:43 min | Opera | 1891 |
| 19 | Other Days, for voice & piano | 3:11 min | Vocal Music | 189? |
| 20 | The Gondoliers (The King of Barataria), operetta | 105:42 min | Opera | 1889 |
| 21 | Macbeth, incidental music | 19:18 min | Orchestral | 1888 |
| 22 | The Yeomen of the Guard (The Merryman and his Maid), operetta | 85:19 min | Opera | 1888 |
| 23 | Ode for the laying the foundation stone of the Imperial Institute, for chorus & orchestra | 10:54 min | Choral | 1887 |
| 24 | Ruddigore (The Witch's Curse), operetta | 87:36 min | Opera | 1887 |
| 25 | Ode for the opening of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, for chorus & orchestra | 6:23 min | Choral | 1886 |
| 26 | The Golden Legend, cantata for chorus & orchestra | 94:34 min | Choral | 1886 |
| 27 | Princess Ida (Castle Adamant), operetta | 87:04 min | Opera | 1884 |
| 28 | The Mikado (The Town of Titipu), operetta | 44:55 min | Show/Musical | 1884 |
| 29 | Who is like unto Thee?, anthem for chorus & organ | 8:11 min | Choral | 1883 |
| 30 | Iolanthe (The Peer and the Peri), operetta | 99:07 min | Opera | 1882 |
| 31 | Patience (Bunthorne's Bride), operetta | 92:49 min | Opera | 1881 |
| 32 | The Martyr of Antioch, sacred music drama for chorus & orchestra | Choral | 1880 | |
| 33 | The Pirates of Penzance, operetta | 92:35 min | Opera | 1879 |
| 34 | H. M. S. Pinafore (The Lass that Loved a Sailor), operetta | 84:23 min | Show/Musical | 1878 |
| 35 | Hearken unto me, anthem for chorus & organ | 5:47 min | Choral | 1877 |
| 36 | Henry VIII, incidental music | 15:45 min | Orchestral | 1877 |
| 37 | The Lost Chord, song for voice & piano | 4:29 min | Vocal Music | 1877 |
| 38 | The Sorcerer, operetta | 86:19 min | Opera | 1877 |
| 39 | The Zoo, operetta | 38:09 min | Opera | 1875 |
| 40 | Trial by Jury, operetta | 32:24 min | Opera | 1875 |
| 41 | The Merry Wives of Windsor, incidental music | 13:50 min | Orchestral | 1874 |
| 42 | The Light of the World, oratorio | Choral | 1873 | |
| 43 | Jubilate Deo, for chorus & organ in D major | 2:23 min | Choral | 1872 |
| 44 | Te Deum and Domine salvam fac reginam, motet for chorus & orchestra | Choral | 1872 | |
| 45 | On Shore and Sea, cantata for chorus & orchestra | 27:42 min | Choral | 1871 |
| 46 | The Merchant of Venice, incidental music | 23:28 min | Orchestral | 1871 |
| 47 | Thespis (The Gods Grown Old), operetta (most music except the ballet is lost) | 9:11 min | Opera | 1871 |
| 48 | Overture di ballo, for orchestra in E major | 10:35 min | Orchestral | 1870 |
| 49 | Sing O heavens, anthem for chorus & organ | 14:35 min | Choral | 1869 |
| 50 | The Prodigal Son, oratorio | 59:32 min | Choral | 1869 |
| 51 | Marmion, overture for orchestra | 8:05 min | Orchestral | 1867 |
| 52 | O God, Thou art worthy, anthem for chorus & organ | 6:50 min | Choral | 1867 |
| 53 | O taste and see, anthem for chorus & organ | 3:07 min | Choral | 1867 |
| 54 | The Contrabandista (The Law of the Ladrones), operetta (revised as "The Chieftains") | 53:42 min | Opera | 1867 |
| 55 | The Sapphire Necklace (The False Heiress), operetta (most music lost) | Opera | 1867 | |
| 56 | Allegro risoluto, for piano in B flat minor | 3:13 min | Keyboard | 1866 |
| 57 | Cello Concerto (orchestral part lost; reconstructed by C. Mackerras and D. Mackie) | 17:12 min | Concerto | 1866 |
| 58 | Cox and Box (The Long-Lost Brothers), operetta | 36:28 min | Opera | 1866 |
| 59 | Overture (In Memoriam), for orchestra in C major | 10:56 min | Orchestral | 1866 |
| 60 | Symphony in E major ("Irish") | 36:14 min | Symphony | 1866 |
| 61 | Te Deum, for chorus & orchestra in D major | 11:02 min | Choral | 1866 |
| 62 | An Idyll, for cello & piano | 2:57 min | Chamber Music | 1865 |
| 63 | Kenilworth, masque for chorus & orchestra | 39:31 min | Choral | 1864 |
| 64 | L'île enchantèe, ballet | 48:29 min | Ballet | 1864 |
| 65 | O Love the Lord, anthem for chorus & organ | 2:50 min | Choral | 1864 |
| 66 | O mistress mine, song for voice & piano (from "Shakespeare Songs (5)") | 2:15 min | Vocal Music | 1863 |
| 67 | Orpheus with His Lute, song for voice & piano (from "Shakespeare Songs (5)") | 3:29 min | Vocal Music | 1863 |
| 68 | Procession March (Royal Wedding March), for orchestra (also arr. for piano) | 8:03 min | Orchestral | 1863 |
| 69 | Shakespeare Songs (5) for voice & piano | 13:42 min | Vocal Music | 1863 |
| 70 | Sigh no more ladies, song for voice & piano (from "Shakespeare Songs (5)") | 2:40 min | Vocal Music | 1863 |
| 71 | The Willow Song, song for voice & piano (from "Shakespeare Songs (5)") | 3:04 min | Vocal Music | 1863 |
| 72 | Lied mit Thränen halbgeschrieben, song for voice & piano | 1:51 min | Vocal Music | 1861 |
| 73 | The Tempest, incidental music, Op. 1 | 6:47 min | Orchestral | 1861 |
| 74 | We have heard with our ears, anthem for chorus & organ | 8:11 min | Choral | 1860 |
| 75 | Ich möchte hinaus es jauchzen, song for voice & piano | 1:57 min | Vocal Music | 1859 |
| 76 | Romance for string quartet in G minor | 3:06 min | Chamber Music | 1859 |
| 77 | String Quartet in D minor | 11:45 min | Chamber Music | 1859 |
| 78 | A life that lives for you, song for voice & piano | 3:35 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 79 | A Shadow, song for voice & piano | 3:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 80 | All this night, partsong for chorus | 1:54 min | Choral | - |
| 81 | Arabian love song, song for voice & piano | 3:00 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 82 | Bid me at least good-bye, song for voice & piano | 2:56 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 83 | Bishopgarth, hymn for chorus | 3:17 min | Choral | - |
| 84 | Casilda Gavotte, for orchestra (arrangement of music by Sullivan by Czibulka) | 2:57 min | Orchestral | - |
| 85 | Christmas bells at sea, song for voice & piano | 2:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 86 | Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain | 1:08 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 87 | Coming Home, song for voice & piano | 3:34 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 88 | County Guy, song for voice & piano | 2:40 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 89 | Day Dreams (6), for piano | 3:43 min | Keyboard | - |
| 90 | Duo concertante, for cello & piano | 8:17 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 91 | Echoes, for chorus (from "7 Partsongs") | 2:21 min | Choral | - |
| 92 | Edward Grey, song for voice & piano | 4:50 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 93 | Ever, song for voice & piano | 3:02 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 94 | Give, song for voice & piano | 4:56 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 95 | Golden Days, for voice & piano | 2:16 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 96 | Golden Sheaves ("To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise"), hymn for chorus | 3:09 min | Choral | - |
| 97 | Guinevere, song for voice & piano | 6:20 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 98 | Hark! What mean those holy voices?, partsong (carol) for chorus & organ | 2:25 min | Choral | - |
| 99 | I heard the nightingale, song for voice & piano | 2:54 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 100 | I sing the birth, for chorus (from "7 Partsongs") | 2:48 min | Choral | - |
| 101 | I wish to tune my quiv'ring lyre, song for voice & piano | 6:41 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 102 | I would I were a king, song for voice & piano | 2:41 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 103 | If doughty deeds, song for voice & piano | 2:31 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 104 | It came upon the midnight clear, for chorus (NOT a setting of "Noel;" from "5 Sacred Partsongs") | 3:15 min | Choral | - |
| 105 | Lead, kindly light, for chorus (from "5 Sacred Partsongs") | 3:18 min | Choral | - |
| 106 | Let me dream again, song for voice & piano | 4:46 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 107 | Little Maid of Arcadee, song for voice & piano (retext of a song from "Thespis") | 2:54 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 108 | Living Poems, song for voice & piano | 3:42 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 109 | Looking back, song for voice & piano | 4:33 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 110 | Looking forward, for voice & piano | 6:32 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 111 | Lux eoi, hymn for chorus | 2:11 min | Choral | - |
| 112 | Mary Morison, song for voice & piano | 3:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 113 | Melody ("Thoughts" No. 2), for violin & piano in D major | 1:59 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 114 | My dearest heart, song for voice & piano | 3:09 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 115 | Noel (or It came upon the midnight clear), hymn for chorus | 3:22 min | Choral | - |
| 116 | None but I can say, for voice & piano | 2:54 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 117 | O fair dove, O fond dove, song for voice & piano | 4:35 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 118 | O hush thee my babie, part song for chorus | 3:20 min | Choral | - |
| 119 | O Israel, sacred song for voice & piano | 3:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 120 | O swallow, swallow, song for voice & piano | 2:46 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 121 | Oh! ma charmante, song for voice & piano (also set in Italian as "Oh! bella mia" and in English as "Sweet Dreamer") | 3:49 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 122 | Old Love Letters, song for voice & piano | 4:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 123 | Once again, song for voice & piano | 4:00 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 124 | Patter Matter (a patter-song medley), for voices | 4:41 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 125 | Princess of Wales March (Marche danoise), for orchestra (also arr. for piano) | 2:50 min | Orchestral | - |
| 126 | Proprior Deo ("Nearer, My God, To Thee"), hymn for chorus | 4:42 min | Choral | - |
| 127 | Reverie ("Thoughts" No.1), for violin & piano in A major | 1:49 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 128 | Sad memories, song for voice & piano | 4:17 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 129 | She is not fair to outward view, song for voice & piano | 2:13 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 130 | Sleep, my love, song for voice & piano | 3:15 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 131 | Song(s) | Vocal Music | - | |
| 132 | St. Agnes' Eve, song for voice & piano | 4:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 133 | St. Gertrude ("Onward, Christian soldiers"), hymn for chorus | 3:38 min | Choral | - |
| 134 | St. Kevin, hymn for chorus | 1:32 min | Choral | - |
| 135 | Sweet day, so cool, song for voice & piano | 3:19 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 136 | Sweethearts, song for voice & piano (also published as a duet) | 4:31 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 137 | Tears, idle tears, song for voice & piano | 4:10 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 138 | The Absent-Minded Beggar, song for voice & piano | 5:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 139 | The Dicky Bird and the Owl, for 2 voices & piano | 4:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 140 | The distant shore, song for voice & piano | 3:43 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 141 | The long day closes, for 4 male voices (from "7 Partsongs") | 3:57 min | Choral | - |
| 142 | The love that loves me not, song for voice & piano | 3:14 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 143 | The Maiden's Story, song for voice & piano | 4:18 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 144 | The moon in silent brightness, song for voice & piano | 2:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 145 | The Sailor's Grave, song for voice & piano | 4:02 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 146 | The snow lies white, song for voice & piano | 3:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 147 | The strain upraise, hymn for chorus | 6:09 min | Choral | - |
| 148 | The Window (or Songs of the Wrens), song cycle for voice & piano | 28:09 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 149 | Thou art lost to me, song for voice & piano | 1:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 150 | Thou art weary, song for voice & piano | 5:06 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 151 | Thou'rt passing hence, song for voice & piano | 4:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 152 | Twilight, for piano | 3:11 min | Keyboard | - |
| 153 | What does little birdie say?, song for voice & piano | 2:45 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 154 | Will he come?, song for voice & piano | 3:57 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 155 | You sleep, song for voice & piano | 3:41 min | Vocal Music | - |
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