A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/King, Matthew
KING, Matthew Peter, born in 1773, studied composition under Charles Frederick Horn. His first productions were 'Three Sonatas for the Pianoforte,' 'Eight Songs and a Cantata,' and other Pianoforte Sonatas. In 1796 he published 'Thorough Bass made easy to every capacity,' and in 1800 'A General Treatise on Music,' etc., a work of repute, with 2nd edition 1809. Between 1804 and 1819 he composed several dramatic pieces, chiefly for the English Opera House, Lyceum. In 1817 his oratorio, 'The Intercession,' was produced at Covent Garden. One of the songs in it 'Must I leave thee, Paradise?' (known as 'Eve's Lamentation') became very popular, and long found a frequent place in programmes of sacred music. King was also the composer of several glees and of numerous pianoforte pieces. His dramatic pieces were 'Matrimony,' 1804; 'The Invisible Girl,' 1806; 'False Alarms' (with Brahain); 'One o'clock, or The Wood Demon' (with Kelly) [App. p.690 "1811"]; and 'Ella Rosenberg,' 1807; 'Up all night,' 1809; 'Plots' and 'Oh this Love,' 1810; 'The Americans' (with Braham), and 'Timour the Tartar,' 1811; and 'The Fisherman's Hut' (with Davy), 1819. He died in Jan. 1823.
His son, C. M. King, published in 1826 some songs which were favourably received.[ W. H. H. ]