George Hudson (composer)

In collaboration with Charles Coleman, Hudson composed the instrumental score for The Siege of Rhodes,[1][2] considered by music historians to be the first English opera.

[1] The first time Hudson's name appears in an official capacity, however, is in 1641, when he was granted membership into the King's court ensemble of "lutes and voices" by royal warrant.

[5] Though Hudson ultimately lost his position during the power struggles of the Civil War,[6] he maintained a professional presence in London as an instructor of viol and voice.

[12] Hudson is best known for his contributions to First Day's Entertainment at Rutland House (1656) and The Siege of Rhodes (1656), the score and parts for which are now lost.

Several of Hudson's dances were published in two of John Playford's collections, Musick's Recreation on the Lyra Viol (1652) and Court Ayres (1655).