A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ayrton, William

by Edward Francis Rimbault

AYRTON, William, son of the preceding, was born in London in 1777. He was educated both as a scholar and musician, and was thus qualified to write upon the art. He married a daughter of Dr. S. Arnold, which introduced him into musical society, and he became a fashionable teacher. Upon the death of Dr. Aylward, in 1801, he was a candidate for the office of Gresham Professor of Music, but was unsuccessful, on account of his youth. In the palmy days of the 'Morning Chronicle' Mr. Ayrton was its honorary musical and literary critic from 1813 to 26; and he wrote the reviews of the Ancient Concerts and Philharmonic Society in the 'Examiner' from 1837 to 1851, also gratuitously. He was a Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies, and an original member of the Athenæum Club. He was one of the promoters and members of the Philharmonic Society at its foundation in 1813, and subsequently a director. More than once he held the important post of musical director of the King's Theatre, and in that capacity had the merit of first introducing Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' to an English audience in 1817, and afterwards others of Mozart's operas. According to a writer of the period he twice, if not oftener, regenerated that theatre, when its credit was weakened by repeated failures. In 1823 he commenced, in conjunction with Mr. Clowes the printer, the publication of the 'Harmonicon,' a monthly musical periodical, which was continued for eleven years. Independently of the valuable essays, biography, and criticism in this work, it contains a choice selection of vocal and instrumental music. The writing of this journal and its criticisms upon the art were much in advance of anything that had previously appeared in England. This was followed in 1834 by the 'Musical Library,' a collection of vocal and instrumental music, consisting of songs, duets, glees, and madrigals, and a selection of pianoforte pieces and adaptations for that instrument, and extending to eight volumes. A supplement containing biographical and critical notices, theatrical news, etc., was issued monthly, making three extra volumes. He wrote the musical articles for the 'Penny Cyclopaedia'; the chapters on music in Knight's 'Pictorial History of England'; and the musical explanations for the 'Pictorial Shakespeare.' His latest work was a well-chosen collection of 'Sacred Minstrelsy,' published by J. W. Parker, in two vols. He died in 1858. (Imp. Dict. of Biog.; Private sources.)

[ E. F. R. ]