John Collett (composer)

John Collett (c1735-1775) was an English violinist and composer. He is credited with composing the first British four movement symphony.[1]

Little is known of Collett's life. He may have been the son of Richard Collett or Thomas Collett, both members of the Royal Society of Musicians from 1739. John Collett was a violinist at both Vauxhall Gardens and the Foundling Hospital. He later moved to Scotland, where he remained for the rest of his life.[1]

His Six Solos for the Violin (with harpsichord thoroughbass) were published around 1758. He wrote pantomime theatre music for David Garrick at Drury Lane, songs for the pleasure gardens, and several cantatas. His Six Symphonies or Overtures, dedicated to Thomas Earl of Kelly, were published in 1766, and like Kelly's symphonies they reflect the Mannheim Style popular at the time.[2] There is a modern recording of Number 5.[3]

References
  1. Jürgen Schaarwächter.Two Centuries of British Symphonism, Vol 1, pp.43-45
  2. Egon Wellesz and F W Sternfeld. 'The Early Symphony', in The New Oxford History of Music, Vol. 7 (1973), p. 430
  3. 18th Century British Symphonies, The Hanover Band, ASV CD GAU 216 (2001)
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