Short bio John Eccles
Full biography John Eccles
John Eccles (1668 - 12 January 1735) was a prominent English composer who was born in London. He was the eldest son of professional musician Solomon Eccles ), and brother of fellow composer Thomas Eccles. John Eccles was particularly known for his work as a theater composer, having written incidental music for a number of productions during his career.
In 1695, he succeeded Henry Purcell as house composer at the theater in Lincoln's Inn Fields. He later joined the King's ensemble in 1694 and was made Master of the King's Music in 1700 , a position he held for many years. Eccles was very active during his time as Master of the King's Music and wrote music for the coronation of Queen Anne. He also finished second in a competition to write music for William Congreve's masque "The Judgement of Paris" (John Weldon won).
Eccles was highly regarded for his compositions , particularly his vocal music. He wrote a number of songs, which were particularly charming, and also composed keyboard music. His music was said to be highly expressive and dramatic, with clear influences from Italian Baroque music.
Despite his significant contributions to music, John Eccles is often overshadowed by his contemporaries such as Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel. However, recent years have seen a renewed interest in his music, with a number of recordings, performances, and critical studies exploring his work.
Compositions featuring John Eccles
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Love Kindl'd in a Breast Too Young, cantata for voice & continuo | 5:06 min | Vocal Music | 1710 |
| 2 | Semele, opera | 118:50 min | Opera | 1707 |
| 3 | The Judgment of Paris or the Prize Music, masque | 49:35 min | Opera | 1701 |
| 4 | The Mad Lover, incidental music | 13:24 min | Show/Musical | 1700 |
| 5 | Can life be a blessing?, song | 2:07 min | Vocal Music | 1695 |
| 6 | The Love of Mars and Venus, masque | 17:26 min | Opera | 1680 |
| 7 | The Fickle Shepherdess, incidental music | 2:51 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 8 | Must Then a Faithful Lover Go? | 2:31 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 9 | Oh! Take Him Gently from the Pile | 3:23 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 10 | Oh! the mighty pow'r of love | 2:16 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 11 | Releive, The Fair Belinda Said | 2:18 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 12 | Restless in Thought | 4:54 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 13 | See the Forsaken Fair with Streaming Eyes, song for voice & continuo | 4:02 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 14 | Still I'm grieving, song | 2:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 15 | Strephon whose person, song for voice & continuo (from A Collection of Songs for for One, Two and Three Voices) | 3:39 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 16 | Suite Made for the Queen's Coronation | 11:51 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 17 | The Ambitous Slave, incidental music | Vocal Music | - | |
| 18 | Love's But the Fraility of Mind | 5:06 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 19 | The Jolly Breeze, song for voice & continuo | 1:38 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 20 | The Judgment of Paris, for trumpet & orchestra "Symphony for Mercury" | 4:28 min | Concerto | - |
| 21 | Wine and Love, masque | Opera | - | |
| 22 | Wine does wonder, song | 2:35 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 23 | Ye gentle gales | Vocal Music | - | |
| 24 | Ye nymphs & sylvan gods | 2:21 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 25 | Young Chrysostom | 2:01 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 26 | Don Quixote, incidental music | Vocal Music | - | |
| 27 | Acis and Galatea, masque | 7:50 min | Opera | - |
| 28 | Ah! how Lovely sweet and dear | 3:21 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 29 | As Cupid Roguishly One Day, song for voice & continuo | 2:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 30 | Awake awake thy Spirits Raise | 2:53 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 31 | Belinda's Pretty Pleasing Form, song for voice & continuo | 1:12 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 32 | Cease of Cupid to Complain | 2:19 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 33 | Come Let Us Howle | 2:45 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 34 | Corinna now you'r young and gay | 1:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 35 | Dirge | 8:33 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 36 | Division on a Ground | 4:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 37 | Mad Songs (3), for voice & orchestra | 12:24 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 38 | Europe's Revels for the Peace, opera | 2:24 min | Opera | - |
| 39 | Find me a lonely cave | 2:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 40 | Fixt on the Fair Miranda's Eyes | 3:05 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 41 | Funeral entrance music | 1:38 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 42 | Hey Hoe! | 4:39 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 43 | I Burn, My Brain Consumes to Ashes | 3:46 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 44 | If I hear Orinda swear, song | 2:49 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 45 | Let All Be Gay | 2:59 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 46 | Let Us Revell and Roar | 1:54 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 47 | 'Twas early one morning | 3:28 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
Albums featuring John Eccles
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
John Eccles, Academy Of Ancient Music, Julian Perkins, Various – Semele(2×CD, , Box Set, ) | 2021 | AAM Records |
| 2 |  |
John Eccles, Olivia Vermeulen, Capella Orlandi Bremen, Thomas Ihlenfeldt – The Mad Lover(CD, Album) | 2018 | cpo |
| 3 |  |
John Eccles, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – The Judgement Of Paris / Three Mad Songs(CD, Stereo) | 2009 | Chaconne |
| 4 |  |
Georg Friedrich Händel, Henry Purcell, Henry Lawes, John Dowland, Thomas Campion, John Eccles, Nicola Matteis – Internationale Händel-Festspiele Göttingen: Festspiel-Edition 2008: Orpheus Britannicus(CD, Promo) | 2008 | Internationale Händel Festspiele Göttingen |
| 5 |  |
Purcell, John Eccles, Vivaldi, Bach, Monteverdi, Catherine Bott – The World Of Catherine Bott(CD, Compilation) | 2001 | Decca |
| 6 |  |
Dragonetti, Bottesini, Eccles, Cimador, Bloch, Massimo Giorgi, Vittorio Antonellini, I Solisti Aquilani – Il Contrabasso Italiano(CD, ) | 1997 | Koch Schwann |
| 7 |  |
Henry Purcell, Blow, Eccles, Locke, Catherine Bott – Sweeter Than Roses - Restoration Theatre Songs(CD, Album) | 1995 | L'Oiseau-Lyre |
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