CLAY

clay, frederic (1838-1889), english musical composer, the son of james clay, m.p., who was celebrated as a player of whist and a writer on that subject, was born in paris on the 3rd of august 1838. he studied music under w.b. molique in paris and moritz hauptmann at leipzig. with the exception of a few songs and two cantatas, _the knights of the cross_ (1866) and _lalla rookh_ (1877),--the latter of which contained his well-known song "i'll sing thee songs of araby,"--his compositions were all written for the stage. clay's first public appearance was made with an opera entitled _court and cottage_, the libretto of which was written by tom taylor. this was produced at covent garden in 1862, and was followed by _constance_ (1865), _ages ago_ (1869), and _princess toto_ (1875), to name only three of many works which have long since been forgotten. the last two, which were written to libretti by w.s. gilbert, are among clay's most tuneful and most attractive works. he wrote part of the music for _babil and bijou_ (1872) and _the black crook_ (1873), both of which were produced at the alhambra. he also furnished incidental music for a revival of _twelfth night_ and for the production of james albery's _oriana_. his last works, _the merry duchess_ (1883) and _the golden ring_ (1883), the latter written for the reopening of the alhambra, which had been burned to the ground the year before, showed an advance upon his previous work, and rendered all the more regrettable the stroke of paralysis which crippled his physical and mental energies during the last few years of his life. he died at great marlow on the 24th of november 1889.