Boyce, William

Composer

b Garlickhythe, London 1711, d Kensington, W London (Middx) 1779. A chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral who went on to be organist at several London churches: Oxford Chapel, St Peter’s Vere St from 1734; St Michael’s Cornhill from 1736, and at the same time a Chapel Royal composer to George III (organist from 1758). In 1737 he conducted the Three Choirs Festival; and later remained for 20 years at All Hallows Thames St. When his hearing, which was never very good, began to fail completely and he was dismissed, he retired to Kensington to engage in editorial work on older English music. Between 1760 and 1773 he produced the 3 vols of Cathedral Music, and c1765 he contributed to A Collection of Melodies for the Psalms of David, according to the Version of Christopher Smart. He composed music for the stage (many songs), concert hall (8 symphonies, 12 sonatas) and church (46 anthems), and was Master of the Orchestra (‘The King’s Band’) to George III. A good friend of C Wesley’s musical sons Charles junr and Samuel S, he was awarded the Oxford BMus and DMus. See the major article in Grove. No.717.