Charles John Stanley, born on January 17, 1712, in London, lost his sight in an accident at the age of two. Despite this challenge, he received musical instruction from Maurice Greene and at St. Paul's Cathedral from the age of seven. By the age of twelve, Stanley had been appointed organist at All Hallows Church and subsequently held other organist positions at various London churches.[1][5]
Stanley developed into a prolific composer and performed regularly as an organist and violinist. His musical career brought him into close contact with George Frideric Handel, whose oratorios he performed after Handel's death, together with John Christopher Smith. In 1779, Stanley was appointed Master of the King's Music and significantly influenced musical life at the British court.[1][5]
In 1742, Stanley self-published six concertos, which quickly gained immense popularity and were published in various arrangements for different instruments. His compositions show influences from Handel's concertos op. 6 from 1739, but Stanley developed his own elegant style, which incorporates elements from both Corelli and Handel and stands out from mere imitations through its compact form[1].