Thomas Shaw (composer)

Thomas Shaw, also known as Thomas Shaw Jun(ior), was an English violinist, violist, clarinettist and composer who was born c.1752, probably in Bath, and who probably died in Paris on 28 June 1827 Early life There is little information about Thomas Shaw’s early life and his career prior to going to London has remained obscure. Born in 1752, Shaw was the son of Bathonian musician, concert director, and member of the Royal Society of Musicians, Thomas Shaw, and the younger brother of violinist Anthony Shaw. The majority of his career was spent at the Drury Lane theatre in London as an instrumentalist, violin soloist, band leader, musical director and in-house composer. Career Early performances Shaw Jr. gave his earliest known performance in Bath in April 1769. Around this time, he led the orchestra in Thomas Linley’s subscription concerts of the autumn 1769 and spring 1770, and was a member of the theatre band in 1771. In addition, his music was being performed and published; an overture composed by him was played in a concert at the end of December 1771 and by 1772 he was playing his own compositions in Bath and Bristol. During the spring of 1772, Herschel and Shaw gave a certain nu