The British Musical Biography

[E] Clifton, John Charles, composer and
pianist, born at London, 1781. Studied under
R. Bellamy and Charles Wesley. Employed
for a time in mercantile pursuits. Resided
at Bath as teacher and conductor. Went to
Dublin, 1802, and resided there as teacher and
composer till 1815. Settled in London, 1816,
as teacher of the pf. and advocate of Logier's
system. He died at Hammersmith, London,
November 18, 1841.

[W] Works. — Edwin, opera, Dublin, 1815;
.Series of Moral Songs, by W. F. Collard, pub-
lished in parts, 1823-4 ; Selection of British
Melodies, with appropriate words, by J. F. M.
Dovaston, London, n.d. ; Collection of French
Airs, with symphonies and accompaniments,
2 vols. As pants the hart, canon. Glees —
'Three glees for .3, 4, and 5 voices, 1823 ; A
blossom wreath ; Maid of Toro ; On a rock
whose haughty brow ; Quick flew the gales of
rosy spring ; Hushed is the harp ; Pray goody.
Songs — As through life's early path ; First
dawn of love ; Good-night, my pretty Anne ;
If music be the food of love (canzonet) ; Mil-
ler's daughter ; Sensitive Plant ; Soft on the
violet bank ; With love-fraught eyes ; Nay, if
you threaten ; Sweet choice of my heart ; A
bumper of sparkling wine, etc. Theory of
Harmony Simplified, 1816 ; Instructions for
the Pianoforte ; Memoir of Sir John Steven-
son (in a review), etc.

[+] Clifton was a pianist of nauch ability, and
invented, in 1816, an instrument called the
" Eidomusicon," which, on being fastened to
the keyboard of the pianoforte, produced the
notes and chords as they were struck, with a
view to displaying them to the eye, and so
facilitate sight-singing, etc.

entry id: 94-L-13