Edward Light

Edward Light (1746/7 – 1832) was an English musician and inventor of the harp-lute.

Little is known of his life; he was at one time organist of Trinity Chapel, Conduit Street, London. He endeavoured with ephemeral success to introduce improvements in the harp and guitar. He died in 1832, at the age of eighty-five.

Inventions

Light invented A First Book on Music (1794); The Musette, a collection of lessons and songs for the guitar, with instructions for playing, issued monthly about 1795; Concise Instructions for Playing on the English Lute (c.1800); A Collection of Songs, arranged for harp-lute, lyre, and guitar (c.1810); Preludes, Exercises, and Recreations, for harp-lute solo (c.1810); A New and Complete Directory to the Art of Playing on the British Lute-Harp (1817). It contains a full-page engraving showing the attitude of a performer, and a list of suitable compositions.