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polonaise

(Encyclopedia)polonaise pŏlˌənāzˈ, ōˌ– [key], Polish national dance, in moderate 3–4 time and of slow, stately movements. It evolved from peasant and court processions and ceremonies of the late 16th cen...

Boyce, William

(Encyclopedia)Boyce, William, c.1710–1779, English composer. After studying in London, he became a composer (1736) and later an organist (1758) of the Chapel Royal and Master of the King's Music in 1755. Although...

Buckingham, George Villiers, 1st duke of

(Encyclopedia)Buckingham, George Villiers, 1st duke of vĭlˈyərz, bŭkˈĭng-əm [key], 1592–1628, English courtier and royal favorite. He arrived (1614) at the English court as James I was tiring of his favori...

Rodney, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron

(Encyclopedia)Rodney, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron, 1719–92, British admiral. He served with distinction in the Seven Years War (1757–63), his most notable achievement being the capture (1762) of Martinique...

Porpora, Niccolò Antonio

(Encyclopedia)Porpora, Niccolò Antonio nēk-kōlôˈ äntôˈnyō pôrˈpōrä [key], 1686–1766, Italian composer and one of the greatest singing teachers. As an opera composer he was employed to be Handel's riv...

Bergmann, Carl

(Encyclopedia)Bergmann, Carl bĕrgˈmän [key], 1821–76, German-American musician and conductor. A cellist with the Germania Orchestra, he came with it to the United States in 1850 and subsequently in Boston beca...

Pepusch, John Christopher

(Encyclopedia)Pepusch, John Christopher pāˈpo͝osh [key], 1667–1752, German musician, who lived in London from 1700 until his death. As a theorist he became expert in Greek music and helped found (1710) the Aca...

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