Thomas Attwood

1765-1838. English composer. Studies at Naples and with Mozart at Vienna brought him into contact with the finest trends in composition on the Continent. While he devoted his energies chiefly to operatic works, his small number of anthems shows a freshness of melody and a refinement of taste in advance of his English contemporaries. Several pieces, such as “Teach me, Lord, the way of Thy statutes,” remain in the repertory of many choirs today. Attwood served as organist of the Chapel Royal and of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. He was a friend of Mendelssohn and was one of those influential in introducing the music of J.S. Bach into England.