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Charles Avison was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1709.
A composer, conductor, organist and writer of music, he is considered to be the most important English concerto composer of the 18th century..
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Biography
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Born into a musical family Charles' first teacher was his father Richard Avison, one of the local professional musicians known as Town Waits who were employed by the council to provide music at civic functions and celebrations as well as being licensed to teach. Under his father's tuition Charles learnt to play violin, flute and harpsichord. Charles continued his musical training in London with the famous Italian composer Francesco Geminiani before returning to Newcastle in 1735 to take up the position of organist at St. John's Church in Newcastle. A year later Avison took up a similar post, held until his death,at St. Nicholas (now the cathedral) at an annual salary of £20.
 It was during 1735 that Avison began a series of Subscription Concerts, the first of their kind in Newcastle, along the lines of those held in London and Edinburgh. These fortnightly concerts were held in the Assembly Rooms and Mr Parker's Long Room at the Turk's Head Hotel, and were such a success that they continued throughout Avison's life.
A subscription of half a guinea admitted one gentleman or two ladies to the full series. A concert night included music, dancing and card playing and was generally for the well-to-do. They were extravagant social occasions giving audiences the chance to dress up and be seen. The Subscription Concerts provided Newcastle with a high standard of entertainment, which helped, in turn, to establish its reputation as a provincial centre with a vigorous musical life.
Soon after the establishment of the concert series, in January 1737, Charles married Catherine Reynolds. They were a deeply attached couple devoted to the welfare of their family. Together they had nine children, three of whom, Jane, Edward and Charles survived to adulthood. All three could play the harpsichord and Edward and Charles followed in their father's footsteps in training as professional musicians. Both sons held the post of organist at St. Nicholas.
 Avison's musical activities were not limited to Newcastle. He collaborated with John Garth, organist of Durham Cathedral in promoting subscription concerts in Durham. Avison was so busy during his week that it is amazing he had any time to compose at all. Mondays and Fridays were spent teaching, Tuesdays were for Durham concerts, Wednesdays for theatre productions in Durham and Newcastle, Thursday was Newcastle concerts and on Sundays musical evenings were held at the vicarage of St. Nicholas. All this was on top of his formal church duties.
Avison's reputation extended well beyond Newcastle in his day and he was invited to take up positions in London, York Minster, Dublin, and as organist at Charterhouse after Pepusch's death. Avison, however decided to remain in Newcastle and spent his entire working life in the city until his death at home in Green Court on the 9th of May 1770. Charles Burney, the London critic wrote upon Avison's death that he was "An ingenious and polished man, esteemed and respected by all who knew him; and an elegant writer upon his art." He is buried along with his family at St. Andrew's Church, Newcastle. |
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