18 Facts About Alexander Reinagle

Alexander Robert Reinagle was an English-born American composer, organist, and theater musician.

Alexander Reinagle was close friends with a young Mozart when he visited London.

Alexander Reinagle's father was a Hungarian professional musician and his mother was Scots.

Alexander Reinagle studied music with his father, then with Raynor Taylor in Edinburgh.

Alexander Reinagle went on a trip to London in 1763.

Alexander Reinagle met Mozart and his family a year later.

At first, Reinagle made a living in the shipping industry, making several trips to the American colonies during the 1770s.

In 1786, Alexander Reinagle decided to try his fortune as a professional musician in the newly independent United States of America.

Alexander Reinagle moved to New York City, and, later moved again to Philadelphia, which was the national capital at the time.

Alexander Reinagle helped revitalize the musical life of Philadelphia in the 1790s, introducing that city to the music of Haydn and Mozart, as well as his own original compositions.

In 1789, Alexander Reinagle composed a "Chorus", which was performed for Washington at Trenton, New Jersey, during Washington's journey to his inauguration.

On Washington's death in 1799, Alexander Reinagle composed a Monody on the Death of George Washington.

In Philadelphia, Alexander Reinagle worked closely with Thomas Wignell in producing opera ballets with the New Company, at the Chestnut Street Theater.

At Wignell's death in 1803, Alexander Reinagle moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he became associated with the Holliday Street Theater.

Alexander Reinagle died in Baltimore in 1809, and is buried in Old Saint Paul's Cemetery there.

Alexander Reinagle composed Twenty-four Short and Easy Lessons, a series of teaching pieces for keyboard, which he later used in his teaching in Philadelphia.

Once in America, Alexander Reinagle continued to compose short pieces for special occasions, often with titles alluding to American personalities and ideas.

Alexander Reinagle composed these when he first arrived in Philadelphia; hence they are sometimes called the "Philadelphia Sonatas".