A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lenton, John

by William H. Husk

LENTON, John, one of the band of music of William and Mary and of Queen Anne, in 1693 published 'The Gentleman's Diversion, or the Violin explained,' with some airs composed by himself and others at the end. A second edition, with an appendix, and the airs omitted, appeared in 1702, under the title of 'The Useful Instructor on the Violin.' It is remarkable that in neither edition is there any mention of 'shifting,' and the scale given reaches but to C on the second ledger line above the stave. About 1694, in conjunction with Thomas Toilet, he published 'A Consort of Musick in three parts.' Lenton composed the overtures and act tunes to the following plays:—'Venice preserved,' 1685; 'The Ambitious Stepmother,' 1700; 'Tamburlain,' 1702; 'The Fair Penitent,' 1703; 'Liberty asserted' and 'Abra Muley,' 1704. Songs by him are in several of the collections of the period, and other vocal pieces in 'The Pleasant Musical Companion.' He contributed to D'Urfey's 'Third Collection of New Songs,' and revised the tunes for the earlier editions of his 'Pills to purge Melancholy.' The date of his death has not been ascertained. He was living in 1711.

[ W. H. H. ]