Thomas Augustine Arne (1710-1778) was one of the leading English composers of the eighteenth century. Born in London, he became closely associated with the theatre and helped shape English stage music at a time when Italian opera and native theatrical traditions existed side by side.

Arne is best known for Rule, Britannia!, written for the masque Alfred, but his output was much broader. He composed songs, masques, theatre music, concertos and the opera Artaxerxes, one of the major English operatic works of its period.

His music is marked by melodic freshness, theatrical pace and a fluent command of vocal writing. Arne could write with patriotic grandeur, comic sparkle or lyrical simplicity, always with a keen awareness of audience and performer.

As a central figure in Georgian musical life, Arne gave English song and theatre music a distinctive voice. His reputation may rest on one famous tune, but his wider output reveals a composer of charm, craft and real historical importance.