Bates, William

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Bates, William

Bates, William, English composer who flourished in the second half of the 18th century. He wrote popular English operas in the ballad-opera style. His most popular work was Flora or Hob in the Well, which he wrote and arranged in 1760 (Covent Garden, April 25, 1770), using seven of John Hippisley’s songs from the 1729 Flora or Hob’s Opera, together with eight new songs of his own and a new overture. Neither of his works is to be confused with Thomas Doggett’s 1711 farce with songs, a forerunner of the true ballad opera, variously titled The Country Wake or Hob or The Country Wake. His other stage works are The Jovial Crew (1760; altered to The Ladies Frolick in 1770); The Theatrical Candidates (1775); The Device, or The Marriage Officer (1777); Second Thought Is Best (1778); also a grand opera, Pharnaces (London, Feb. 15, 1765).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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