A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Avison, Charles
AVISON, Charles, born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1710. When a young man he visited Italy for the purpose of study, and after his return to England, became a pupil of Geminiani. On July 12, 1736, he was appointed organist of the church of St. Nicholas, in his native town. In addition to his musical attainments, he was a scholar, and a man of some literary acquirement. In 1752 he published the work by which he is best known, 'An Essay on Musical Expression.' It contains some judicious reflections on the art, but the division of the modern authors into classes is rather fanciful than just. Throughout the whole of this work we find the highest encomiums on Marcello and Geminiani, frequently to the disparagement of Handel. In the following year it was answered anonymously by Dr. W. Hayes, the Oxford professor, in a pamphlet entitled 'Remarks on Mr. Avison's Essay on Musical Expression.' Hayes points out many errors against the rules of composition in the works of Avison; and infers from thence that his skill in the science was not very profound. He then proceeds to examine the book itself, and seldom fails to establish his point, and prove his adversary in the wrong. Before the conclusion of the same year, Avison re-published his Essay, with a reply to these Remarks, in which he was assisted by the learned Dr. Jortin, who added 'A Letter to the Author, concerning the Music of the Ancients.' In 1757 Avison joined John Garth, organist of Durham, in editing an edition of Marcello's Psalms, adapted to English words. He prefixed to the first volume a Life of Marcello, and some introductory remarks.
As a composer, Avison is known, if at all, by his concertos. Of these he published five sets for a full band of stringed instruments, some quartets and trios, and two sets [App. p.526 "three volumes"] of sonatas for the harpsichord and two violins—a species of composition little known in England until his time. The once favourite air, 'Sound the loud timbrel,' is found in one of the concertos. Geminiani held his pupil in high esteem, and in 1760 paid him a visit at Newcastle. He died in 1770, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew there. He was succeeded as organist of St. Nicholas by his son and grandson. The former died in 1793; the latter in 1816. (Hawkins, Hist.; Kippis, Biog. Brit.; Brand, Newcastle, etc.)