FATHERS AND SONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 441, 5 December 1947, Page 5

FATHERS AND SONS

Sir,-Having recently listened to an excellent ‘recital from 1YA_ which included works by Scarlatti and Arne, it occurred to me that it might be worth pointing out that there were two Scar-lattis-A. (the father, 1660-1725, a great opera composer), D. (the son, 1685-1757, who was a great touring keyboard virtuoso in his day). It was D. Scarlatti who once competed against Handel, when they were both 24 and they were adjudged equal on the harpsichord, and his is the name which should be associated with sonatas for piano which invariably show merely the surname. An interesting coincidence brings us to the second name-Arne; and here again we find father and son not generally distinguished in programmes. Dr. Thomas Arne (1710-1778), the father, was an outstanding composer of inci+ ; dental music, operas and songs, of which ©

that universally loved air "Rule, Britane nia" is probably best known. The son, Michael (1740-1786) was an unsuccessful opera singer. He composed music for the stage-some of it while in prison for debt. The song "The Lass with a Delicate Air" (not "The Delicate Air") appeared in the programme which prompted these remarks. It is the work of Michael Arne, but is generally attributed to the father. : There were also, of course, numerous outstanding members of the Bach family as well as of the Strauss (waltz) family, and it is not generally realised that Richard Strauss is a namésake only, The list of outstanding composers with the same surname and not always members of the same family is considerable, and differentiation in the inter ests of historical correctness should be made.

WILLIAM

ARMOUR

(Auckland).