George Thomas Smart

Sir George Thomas Smart (10 May 1776 – 23 February 1867) was an English musician.

Smart was born in London, his father being a music-seller. He was a choir-boy at the Chapel Royal, and was educated in music, becoming an expert violinist, organist, teacher of singing and conductor.^[1] He taught for many years at the Royal Academy of Music where his notable pupils included Elizabeth Greenfield, John Orlando Parry, Mary Shaw, and Willoughby Weiss.^{[citation needed]} In 1811 he was knighted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, having conducted a number of successful concerts in Dublin. On 1 April 1822 he was appointed organist at the Chapel Royal.^[1]

From that time onwards, Sir George Smart was one of the chief musical leaders and organizers in England, directing the music for the opening of the Great Exhibition of 1851,^{[citation needed]} conducting at the Royal Philharmonic Society, Covent Garden, the provincial festivals, etc., and in 1838 being appointed composer to the Chapel Royal. He was a master of the Handelian traditions, was personally acquainted with Beethoven and a close friend of Weber, who died in his house. Some of his church music and glees became well-known.^[1] He died in London and is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.^[2]

His brother Henry (1778–1823), father of the composers Harriet Anne Smart and Henry Smart, was a well-known violinist.

Smart wrote a journal, Leaves from the Journals of Sir George Smart, that was published in 1907.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Smart, Sir George Thomas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 250.

External links

• Leaves from the Journals of Sir George Smart, on Google Books