Charles Avison

Short bio Charles Avison

Birthday: 1709 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

Died: 1770 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

Genre: Classical

Period: Baroque

Full biography Charles Avison

Charles Avison was an English composer , organist, and writer on musical aesthetics who lived from 1709 to 1770. He is known for his contributions to Baroque and Classical periods of music.

Avison's early life is largely unknown. His first public appearance as an organist was in 1735, when he took up the position of organist at Newcastle's St. Nicholas's Church. He later continued his musical training in London with the famous Italian composer Francesco Geminiani.

Avison was a prolific composer and wrote primarily instrumental music , including concertos, sonatas and chamber music, as well as some vocal works. Some of his best-known works are his concertos for strings, which are notable for their adaptations of works by other composers, such as Domenico Scarlatti, and for their introduction of solo parts for wind instruments in later movements.

Avison's writing on musical aesthetics was equally influential. His most famous work is his Essay on Musical Expression, in which he argued that music should reflect the emotions and passions of the composer. He also wrote extensively about the importance of counterpoint and the balance between harmony and melody.

Despite his contributions to music, Avison's work fell out of favor in the 19th century, and he was largely forgotten until the 20th century. Today, however, his music is once again appreciated for its unique fusion of Italian Baroque music with English folk melodies, and for its influence on the development of instrumental music in 18th-century England.

Compositions featuring Charles Avison

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Concerto Grosso No. 4 in C major, Op. 10/4	8:37 min	Chamber Music	1769
2	Concerto Grosso No. 3 in C minor, Op. 10/3	6:50 min	Chamber Music	1769
3	Concerto Grosso No. 2 in F major, Op. 10/2	6:59 min	Chamber Music	1769
4	Concerto Grosso No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 10/5	6:32 min	Chamber Music	1769
5	Concerto Grosso No. 1 in D major, Op. 10/1	7:23 min	Chamber Music	1769
6	Concerto Grosso No. 6 in D minor, Op. 10/6	7:07 min	Chamber Music	1769
7	Concerto in 4 parts No. 4 in G minor, Op. 9/4	7:49 min	Chamber Music	1766
8	Concerto in 4 parts No. 9 in C minor, Op. 9/9	6:37 min	Chamber Music	1766
9	Concerto in 4 parts No. 1 in G major, Op. 9/1	8:52 min	Chamber Music	1766
10	Concerto in 4 parts No. 7 in E flat major, Op. 9/7	6:36 min	Chamber Music	1766
11	Concerto in 4 parts No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 9/8	8:10 min	Chamber Music	1766
12	Concerto in 4 parts No. 6 in E minor, Op. 9/6	6:12 min	Chamber Music	1766
13	Concerti Grossi (12) in 7 parts done from the Lessons for Harpsichord by Scarlatti	45:07 min	Concerto	1744
14	Concerto No. 5 in B flat Major, Op. 6/5	8:23 min	Concerto	-
15	Concerto No. 11 in G minor, Op. 6/11	9:52 min	Concerto	-
16	Concerto No. 8 in E minor, Op. 6/8	9:30 min	Concerto	-
17	Concerto No. 7 in G Major, Op. 6/7	8:05 min	Concerto	-
18	Concerto in 4 parts No. 5 in C major, Op. 9/5	8:14 min	Chamber Music	-
19	Concerto No. 6 in D Major, Op. 6/6	7:50 min	Concerto	-
20	Concerto No. 4 in D Major, Op. 6/4	6:43 min	Concerto	-
21	Concerto No. 3 in E minor, Op. 6/3	8:18 min	Concerto	-
22	Concerto No. 2 in B flat Major, Op. 6/2	10:26 min	Concerto	-
23	Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 6/1	8:18 min	Concerto	-
24	Concerto in 4 parts No. 12 in D major, Op. 9/12	8:25 min	Chamber Music	-
25	Concerto in 4 parts No. 11 in A major, Op. 9/11	7:03 min	Chamber Music	-
26	Concerto in 4 parts No. 10 in F major, Op. 9/10	5:59 min	Chamber Music	-
27	Harpsichord Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 5/4	7:56 min	Keyboard	-
28	Voluntary for organ in D major	1:33 min	Keyboard	-
29	Violin Concerto No. 11 in A major, Op. 9	7:23 min	Concerto	-
30	Trio Sonata for 2 violins & continuo No. 1, Op. 1	8:05 min	Chamber Music	-
31	Sonatas (6) for 2 violins & continuo, Op. 1		Chamber Music	-
32	Sonatas (5), for 2 violins, cello & harpsichord, Op. 8		Chamber Music	-
33	Sonata for violin & keyboard in F major (arr for bassoon & piano by Atkinson)	8:12 min	Chamber Music	-
34	Sonata for 2 violins, cello & harpsichord in C major, Op. 5/2	8:28 min	Chamber Music	-
35	Harpsichord Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 7/6	6:55 min	Keyboard	-
36	Harpsichord Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 5/6	10:12 min	Keyboard	-
37	Harpsichord Sonata No. 5 in G major, Op. 5/5	12:28 min	Keyboard	-
38	Harpsichord Sonata No. 5 in A minor, Op. 7/5	10:35 min	Keyboard	-
39	Concerto No. 9 in D Major, Op. 6/9	8:39 min	Concerto	-
40	Harpsichord Sonata No. 4 in D minor, Op. 7/4	6:33 min	Keyboard	-
41	Harpsichord Sonata No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 7/3	6:53 min	Keyboard	-
42	Harpsichord Sonata No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 5/3	10:15 min	Keyboard	-
43	Harpsichord Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 7/2	8:15 min	Keyboard	-
44	Harpsichord Sonata No. 2 in C major, Op. 5/2	8:32 min	Keyboard	-
45	Harpsichord Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 5/1	16:00 min	Keyboard	-
46	Harpsichord Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 7/1	7:20 min	Keyboard	-
47	Concerto No. 12 in A Major, Op. 6/12	10:36 min	Concerto	-
48	Concerto grosso No. 12 in D major (after Scarlatti)	15:39 min	Concerto	-
49	Concerto No. 10 in C Major, Op. 6/10	10:59 min	Concerto	-
50	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in E minor, Op. 3/2	8:22 min	Concerto	-
51	Concerto grosso No. 2 in G major (after Scarlatti)	11:19 min	Concerto	-
52	Concerto grosso No. 2 in D minor (after Geminiani)	6:44 min	Concerto	-
53	Concerto grosso No. 1 in G major (after Geminiani)	8:17 min	Concerto	-
54	Concerto grosso No. 1 in A major (after Scarlatti)	13:19 min	Concerto	-
55	Concerto Grosso in 7 parts for strings		Concerto	-
56	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in in D major, Op. 3/5	9:13 min	Concerto	-
57	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in G minor, Op. 4/4	10:08 min	Concerto	-
58	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in G minor, Op. 3/3	9:02 min	Concerto	-
59	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in G major, Op. 4/6	10:00 min	Concerto	-
60	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in G major, Op. 3/6	9:50 min	Concerto	-
61	Concerto grosso No. 3 in D minor (after Scarlatti)	10:04 min	Concerto	-
62	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in D minor, Op. 4/1	8:36 min	Concerto	-
63	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in D major, Op. 4/7	7:09 min	Concerto	-
64	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in D major, Op. 4/3	10:17 min	Concerto	-
65	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in D major, Op. 3/1	9:59 min	Concerto	-
66	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in C minor, Op. 4/8	10:31 min	Concerto	-
67	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in B flat major, Op. 4/5	9:46 min	Concerto	-
68	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in B flat major, Op. 3/4	8:02 min	Concerto	-
69	Concerto for violin & chamber orchestra in A major, Op. 4/2	9:49 min	Concerto	-
70	Concerto for organ & trumpet in D major	12:26 min	Concerto	-
71	Concerto grosso No. 8 in B minor (after Geminiani)	7:32 min	Concerto	-
72	Concerto in 4 parts No. 2 in D major, Op. 9/2	9:10 min	Chamber Music	-
73	Concerto grosso No. 12 in D minor (after Geminiani)	7:32 min	Concerto	-
74	Concerto grosso No. 11 in G major (after Scarlatti)	13:51 min	Concerto	-
75	Concerto grosso No. 11 in A minor (after Geminiani)	7:55 min	Concerto	-
76	Concerto grosso No. 10 in D major (after Scarlatti)	7:00 min	Concerto	-
77	Concerto grosso No. 10 in D major (after Geminiani)	6:45 min	Concerto	-
78	Concerto grosso No. 9 in F major (after Geminiani)	8:52 min	Concerto	-
79	Concerto grosso No. 9 in C major (after Scarlatti)	12:12 min	Concerto	-
80	Concerto grosso No. 8 in E minor (after Scarlatti)	9:59 min	Concerto	-
81	Concerto in 4 parts No. 3 in A major, Op. 9/3	7:00 min	Concerto	-
82	Concerto grosso No. 7 in G minor (after Scarlatti)	11:42 min	Concerto	-
83	Concerto grosso No. 7 in C minor (after Geminiani)	6:16 min	Concerto	-
84	Concerto grosso No. 6 in G minor (after Geminiani)	19:15 min	Concerto	-
85	Concerto grosso No. 6 in D major (after Scarlatti)	13:15 min	Concerto	-
86	Concerto Grosso No. 5 in D minor (after Scarlatti)	9:37 min	Concerto	-
87	Concerto grosso No. 5 in B flat major (after Geminiani)	6:55 min	Concerto	-
88	Concerto grosso No. 4 in D major (after Geminiani)	6:36 min	Concerto	-
89	Concerto grosso No. 4 in A minor (after Scarlatti)	12:56 min	Concerto	-
90	Concerto grosso No. 3 in E minor (after Geminiani)	6:08 min	Concerto	-

Albums featuring Charles Avison

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Charles Avison, Domenico Scarlatti - Tiento Nuovo, Ignacio Prego – Concerti Grossi(CD, Album)	2021	Glossa
2	Charles Avison, Orchestra A Plettro Accademia Mandolinista Pugliese, Leonardo Lospalluti – Concerti Grossi After Scarlatti /(CD, Album)	2016	Digressione Music
3	Charles Avison, Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk – Concerto Grossi Op. 9 & 10	2008	Divine Art
4	Charles Avison, The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk – Six Concertos, Op. 3 - Eight Concertos Op. 4	2006	Naxos
5	Charles Avison – The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk – Twelve Concertos, Op. 6	2004	Naxos
6	Charles Avison - Café Zimmermann – Concertos In Seven Parts Done From The Lessons Of Domenico Scarlatti	2002	Alpha Productions
7	CamerataAntonioLucio, Emmy Verhey, Scarlatti / Avison · Vivaldi · Lourié · Duindam – Werken Voor Strijkers(CD, )	2002	Lucio Records
8	The Georgian Concert, Charles Avison – Concertos From Op. 9(CD, Album)	2001	Divine Art
9	Boccherini, Sammartini - Charles Avison, Georg Friedrich Händel, Vivaldi, Biber, Corelli, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester – Die Röhre - The Tube(CD, Album)	1999	Tacet
10	Charles Avison / The Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman – 12 Concerti Grossi (After Sonatas By Domenico Scarlatti)	1994	Hyperion
11	Charles Avison, L'Ensemble Berlin – Concertos Done From Sonatas By Domenico Scarlatti(CD, Stereo)	1988	Koch Schwann Musica Mundi
12	Charles Avison - Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra – Concerti Grossi after • d'après • nach Domenico Scarlatti	1987	CBC Records
13	Concerti Nach Scarlatti-Sonaten Vol. 2(LP, Stereo)	1986	Schwann Musica Mundi
14	Pachelbel • Handel • Haydn • Purcell • Vivaldi • Albinoni • Avison / The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock – Canon & Gigue / The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba	1985	Archiv Produktion
15	Concerti Nach Scarlatti-Sonaten Vol. 1(LP, Stereo)	1985	Schwann Musica Mundi
16	Domenico Scarlatti , Orchestration By Charles Avison, Gérard Jarry, Bernadette Jarry, Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra, Jean-François Paillard – Concerti Grossi, Nos. 4, 5, 8 & 11(LP, Album)	1983	Musical Heritage Society
17	Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Directed By Neville Marriner – A Second Recital By The Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields	1982	L'Oiseau-Lyre
18	Charles Avison, Bournemouth Sinfonietta – Six Concertos	1980	His Master's Voice
19	Charles Avison - Academy Of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner – 12 Concerti Grossi After Domenico Scarlatti	1979	Philips
20	English Chamber Orchestra, Emanuel Hurwitz – Music In London 1670-1770	1971	Ace Of Diamonds
21	Charles Avison - Hurwitz Chamber Ensemble – Concertos From Opus 6(LP, Stereo)	1971	L'Oiseau-Lyre
22	John Stanley (2) ∙ Thomas Arne ∙ William Boyce ∙ Francesco Geminiani ∙ Pieter Hellendaal ∙ Charles Avison / Trevor Pinnock - The English Concert – A Grand Concert Of Musick - English Baroque Concertos(CD, Stereo)	-	Archiv Produktion
23	The Academy Of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner, Locatelli - Torelli - Albicastro - Avison - Manfredini - Albinoni - Vivaldi - Telemann - Loeillet - Bellini - Grétry – Concerto Grossi en Soloconcerten van(2×LP)	-	Decca