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Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) was a celebrated English composer best known for his legendary partnership with librettist W.S. Gilbert. Together, they created some of the most enduring comic operas in English musical history.
Gilbert & Sullivan Operas
Sullivan’s witty, melodious scores paired perfectly with Gilbert’s satirical libretti. Their most famous works include:
H.M.S. Pinafore (1878): A naval satire with catchy tunes
The Pirates of Penzance (1879): A comic romp about duty and piracy
The Mikado (1885): A Japanese themed satire of British society
The Gondoliers (1889): A Venetian tale of mistaken identity and monarchy
These operas became known as the Savoy Operas, named after the Savoy Theatre built by impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte to showcase their work.
However, his output wasn’t limited to just light opera. In his works you wikll find
24 operas, including the grand opera Ivanhoe (1891)
11 major orchestral works, including Overture di Ballo (1870)
10 choral works and oratorios, such as The Golden Legend (1886)
2 ballets, including L’Île Enchantée (1864)
Church music, hymns, and songs—most famously Onward, Christian Soldiers and The Lost Chord
He was born in London to a military bandmaster and a musically inclined mother and joined the Chapel Royal choir and won the first Mendelssohn Scholarship at age 14. Later he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Leipzig Conservatory, where he composed The Tempest (1861), earning early acclaim.
Sullivan was knighted in 1883 and remains one of Britain’s most beloved composers. His blend of humor, melody, and craftsmanship influenced generations of musical theatre composers and continues to delight audiences worldwide.
Idyll for cello and piano was composed in 1865 and published in a souvenir book of the Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar held at the Royal…
Idyll for cello and piano was composed in 1865 and published in a souvenir book of the Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar held at the Royal Albert Hall (London) on 21-22 June 1899. The book had contributions from 39 writers and 9 composers including Sullivan.
This composition was completed on 31 July 1865 and was ‘composed for and dedicated to his friend Col. P. Paget (Farnham)’. In the previous week Col. Patrick Paget (1820-1879) had been Sullivan’s host in Farnham (Surrey), a town not far from Sandhurst, where Sullivan’s father was Master of the Band at the Royal Military College.
Idyll is a charming and elegant novelty, emphasizing the lyrical and sonorous qualities of the double bass. The accompaniment is chordal and supportive, allowing the soloist to weave long and sinuous melodies in a rich and lyrical register.
This edition includes accompaniments for both solo and orchestral tuning.
