Today is a tragic day for lovers of the Baroque. Jeremiah Clarke, Baroque composer & organist at the Chapel Royal, committed suicide on this day 1 December, 1707, by shooting himself in the head. Born around 1674 and having been tutored under great Baroque composer John Blow and having obtained the distinguished role of being the first organist at… Read on
Famous for the sensual portraits known as “The Windsor Beauties,” Lely was the leading portrait painter of the Restoration. He died on this day 30th November, 1680. Lely, whose birth name was Pieter van der Faes, was born to Dutch parents in Germany, and he trained in art in Haarlem, back in the Dutch Republic. He made portraits… Read on
Amazing Late Renaissance/Early Baroque composer, Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi, died on this day the 29th of November, 1643. Below is Monteverdi’s Magnificat: Born in 1567, Monteverdi was one of the major transitional composers to span the Renaissance to the Baroque, and in doing so, composed some of the most beautiful music of his time. Here is Monteverdi’s “Lamento… Read on
The Little Banqueting House was made for King William III for his private entertainment – a place to get away from it all. The beautiful Dutch terraced landscape garden known as the Pond Garden is in the foreground in the picture above, and in the background, the lovely Little Banqueting House. I was able to enter this lovely… Read on
“The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge” was founded on this day 28th November, 1660, and was signed into being by Royal Charter under King Charles II. Twelve important men of the day, including Christopher Wren, John Evelyn, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, Sir Robert Moray, and William, Viscount Brouncker, met at Gresham College and formed… Read on
This is one of my favourite pubs in London because it’s a good place to get some pub grub, well-kept real ale and the location…the location is amazing! It’s right on Tower Hill, with a view of the Tower of London, next to Tower Hill tube station and the gloriously beautiful Trinity Square (one of the best bits… Read on
Today’s Baroque Birthday Boy is none other than a Bach! Johannes Bach, German Baroque composer & member of the musically talented Bach family, was born on this day 26 November, 1604. Johannes was brother to Christoph Bach and Heinrich Bach – both musicians and composers themselves. Christoph was the father of Johann Christoph Bach and grandfather of the brilliant Bach: Johann Sebastian Bach. Let… Read on
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