Boyce: Symphonies Nos. 1-8, Op. 2

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Cat No: 8557278

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Release Date: 04 January 2005

Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 747313227822

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: BOYCE

Description
William Boyce (1711-1779): Eight Symphonies, Op. 2The English composer William Boyce is nowadays bestknown for his church music, anthems and services for theliturgy of the Church of England, and for the present EightSymphonys in Eight Parts, Op.2, published in 1760.Boyce was born in London, the son of a cabinet-maker.As a boy he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral underCharles King and studied the organ with Maurice Greene,to whom he was apprenticed, also serving him for sometime as a copyist. He is said to have had lessons fromJohann Christian Pepusch, the successful arranger of themusic for Gay's The Beggar's Opera, a noted theorist, aco-founder of the Academy of Ancient Music, and ascholar with a profound interest in earlier music. Pepuschmay have done much to arouse the enthusiasm of Boycefor a study of earlier music and theory, shown in anunpublished treatise, Harmonics, or an Attempt toExplain the Principles on which the Science of Music isFounded. In 1734 he was appointed organist at the Earl ofOxford's Chapel, now St Peter's, Vere Street, moving twoyears later to St Michael's, Cornhill. In 1736 hesucceeded John Weldon as second Composer to theChapel Royal, sharing the duties of second organist,under the first Composer and Organist, Greene, withwhom he was also involved in the Apollo Academy, asociety for the performance of secular music. For the nexttwenty years, at least, he conducted the Three ChoirsFestival.Boyce gradually established a wider reputation as acomposer, particularly after the success of his Solomon,with the descriptive title, rare hitherto in England, ofserenata. This was first performed in London at theApollo Academy in 1742. During these years hecontributed music in various forms for the London stage,most significantly when employed by David Garrick, whofound Boyce more reliable than Thomas Arne. In 1749Boyce was appointed organist at All Hallows the Greatand Less, a church that served the Joiners' Company, ofwhich his father had been appointed resident beadle in1723, with a residence at Joiners' Hall, where Boyceseems to have lived until his father's death in 1752. Heretained the position at All Hallows, his responsibiltiesoften entrusted to a deputy, until his dismissal in 1758,and at St Michael's, Cornhill, for a further ten years, untilsimilar dissatisfaction led to his resignation. In 1758 hereceived official appointment as an organist of the ChapelRoyal. He had succeeded Greene as Master of the King'sMusick on the latter's death in 1755, assuming more ofGreene's former responsibilities, among them the task ofassembling the important collection Cathedral Music,being a Collection in Score of the Most Valuable andUseful Compositions for That Service by Several EnglishMasters of the Last 200 Years. This was publishedbetween 1760 and 1773, and retains a continuinginfluence on Church of England cathedral repertoire.The Hanoverian court had largely preferred the musicof Handel for royal occasions. The latter's death i
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