List of compositions by Thomas Arne
This list of compositions by Thomas Arne is sorted by genre.
Art songs
Arne composed numerous art songs throughout his career, most of which were written for the stage. Many of his songs were published in anthologies throughout his lifetime, but the exact number of songs he composed is now unknown. The following is a list of publications which included songs by Arne during his lifetime. The number of songs by Arne is in square brackets.| Year printed | Title of publication | Other details |
| 1737 | The British Musical Miscellany, vol. vi | |
| 1741 | The Songs and Duetto in The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green | |
| 1743 | The British Orpheus, vol. iii | |
| 1743–1745 | Universal Harmony | |
| 1745 | Lyric Harmony, vol. i | |
| 1745 | The Music in The Judgment of Paris | |
| 1746 | Lyric Harmony, vol. ii | |
| 1747 | Peter Prelleur's An Introduction to Singing | |
| 1749 | Vocal Melody, vol. i | |
| 1750 | Vocal Melody, vol. ii | |
| 1751 | Vocal Melody, vol. iii | |
| 1752 | Vocal Melody, vol. iv | |
| 1753 | Willem de Fesch's Songs Sung at Mary-bon Gardens | |
| 1753 | The Agreeable Musical Choice, vol. v | |
| 1754 | The Agreeable Musical Choice, vol. vi | |
| 1755 | A Collection of Poems in Four Volumes by Several Hands | |
| 1756 | The Agreeable Musical Choice, vol. vii | |
| 1757 | A Favourite Collection of English Songs | |
| 1758 | The Agreeable Musical Choice, vol. viii | |
| 1760 | The Monthly Melody | |
| 1760 | British Melody, vol. xi | |
| 1761 | A Choice Collection of Songs, vol. xii | |
| 1761 | The Winter’s Amusement, vol. xiii | |
| 1762 | British Amusement | |
| 1764 | The Royal Magazine, vol. xi | |
| 1764 | A Favourite Collection of Songs, vol. xiv | |
| 1765 | The New Songs Sung at Vauxhall | |
| 1766 | Summer Amusement | |
| 1768 | New Favourite Songs | |
| 1774 | The Vocal Grove | |
| 1777 | The Syren |
Catches, canons, glees
The exact number of catches, canons, and glees composed by Arne is now unknown. He began writing such works for the pleasure gardens in the 1740s but the majority of his output in this area dates from the 1760s and 1770s. Many of his glees were published in anthologies which, aside for 11 glees written for the Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club, are the only surviving compositions of his in this area. This is a list of the published anthologies containing catches, canons, and glees by Arne. The number of songs by Arne is in square brackets.| Year printed | Title of publication | Other details |
| c.1755 | A Collection of Vocal Harmony | Edited by E.T. Warren. |
| 1763–1794 | A Collection of Catches, Canons and Glees | Edited by E.T. Warren. Songs by Arne appear in volumes ii ; iii ; iv ; v ; vii ; viii ; xv ; xvi ; xx |
| c.1790 | Apollonian Harmony, vol. iv |
Instrumental music
Arne showed little interest in writing concert music. The instrumental music he did compose derives mostly from his stage works. This list contains his instrumental works that have been published separately from his stage works. Not listed below are a few solo violin and solo double bass pieces whose composition date is now unknown and whose publication did not occur until 1978.| Completion | Title | Genre | Other details |
| 1751 | Eight overtures in 8 parts | overture | This is a collection of overtures from various stage works by Arne including the overtures for Henry and Emma, Comus, and The Judgment of Paris. First used for a concert performance in 1751, the collection has been published numerous times, most recently by J. Herbage in 1937. |
| 1756 | VIII Sonatas or Lessons | sonata | Published in 1983 by C. Hogwood |
| 1757 | VII sonatas | sonata | Published by editor H. Murrill |
| 1767 | Four New Overtures or Symphonies in 8 and 10 Parts | overture, symphony | Another selection of symphonic works mostly from Arne's stage works that were initially put together for a concert performance in 1767. Most recently published by editor R. Platt |
| 1793 | Six Favourite Concertos | keyboard concerto | These keyboard concertos were a part of various stage works by Arne and were compiled for publication in 1793. They were most recently published by R. Langley |
Odes and cantatas
A Grand Epithalamium, 1736, lostBlack-Ey’d Susan, 1740, lostGod bless our noble king, A, T, B, ATB, 2 hn, 2 ob, str, bc, 1745, GB-Lbl, ed. C. Bartlett Fair Celia love pretended, 1v, vns, bc, Vocal Melody, i Chaucer’s Recantation, 1v, str, bc, Vocal Melody, ii Ode to Chearfulness, 1750, lostCymon and Iphigenia, 1v, str, bc, vs, pts BuSix Cantatas, fs : Bacchus and Ariadne, 1v, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 hn, str, bc; Delia, 1v, str, bc; Frolick and Free, 1v, 2 ob, str, bc; Lydia, 1v, 2 bn, str, bc; The Morning, 1v, fl/rec, str, bc; The School of Anacreon, 1v, 2 hn, str, bc; Lydia and The Morning, both ed. R. Hufstader 5 odes in Del Canzionere d’Orazio : Delle muse all’almo core, 1v, str, bc; Finche fedele il core, 2vv, 2 fl, str, bc; Finche fedele il core, 2vv, 2 vn, bc; Se vanti in Telefo, 1v, 2 hn, str, bc; Tu mi fuggi schizzinosa, 1v, 2 vn, bc The Spring, 1v, str, bc, British Melody Love and Resentment, 1v, 2 cl, 2 vn, bc, Summer Amusement The Lover’s Recantation, 1v, 2 fl, 2 ob, str, bc; vs in The Winter’s Amusement, fs, Lbl, ed. P. Young Advice to Chloe, 1v, vns, bc, New Favourite Songs An Ode upon Dedicating a Building to Shakespeare, 1769, speaker, S, S, S, S, T, Bar, SATB, orch; 9 nos. in vs Love and Resolution, 1770, music lostReffley Spring, 2vv, 2 vn, bc, vs Diana, 1v, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 hn, 2 vn, bc; vs in The Vocal Grove Whittington’s Feast, 1776, S, S, T, B, SATB, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2bn, 2 tpt, 2 hn, timps, drum, str, bc, fs, US-WcA wretch long tortured with disdain, 1v, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 hn, str, bc, full score GB-LblSacred music
Compared to his most important English contemporaries, William Boyce and John Stanley, Arne's output of sacred music was small; the major reason was his Roman Catholic faith, which was at odds with the Church of England during his lifetime.| Completion | Title | Genre | Other details |
| 1744 | The Death of Abel | oratorio | Words after Metastasio, lost except for Hymn of Eve |
| 1744 | Judith | oratorio | Words by I. Bickerstaff based on the Book of Judith, printed score without recits and choruses, and a complete score at the British Library |
| unknown | Mass in F | mass | Written for a performance at Lulworth Castle in Dorset. The music is either lost or potentially the same as that of an anonymous composer. Written for three voices and organ sometime before 1770. |
| unknown | Mass in G | mass | Written for a performance at Lulworth Castle in Dorset. Written for four voices and organ sometime before 1770. Score still exists as does a revised version for fewer voices. |
| 1770 | Libera me | dirge | Written for the funeral of Francis Pemberton on 28 June 1770. Contains SSATB chorus, organ, soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists. Music exists and was printed by Oxford Publishing in 1950. |
| Unknown | O salutaris hostia | motet | Copy of the music exists at the British Library in London. Written sometime between 1771 and 1776. |
| 1777 | 1 song in Samuel Arnold's The Prodigal Son | oratorio | Published in The Syren. |
Works misattributed to Arne
The Most Celebrated Aires in the Opera of Tom Thumb, by John Frederick LampeOde upon St. Cecilia’s Day, now lost, by Charles BurneyCaractacus, possibly by Charles Wesley juniorEpithalamium, At Cana’s Feast, attribution doubtfulMass in D by Alphonse d'Eve- The hymn tune "Helmsley", based on an anonymous Dublin air.