William Boyce

Early Life

William Boyce was born on September 11, 1711, in London, at Joiners' Hall, to John Boyce, a joiner and cabinet-maker, and Elizabeth Cordwell. He began his musical journey as a choirboy at St Paul's Cathedral in 1719, and after his voice broke in 1727, he studied music under Maurice Greene.

Career

Boyce's professional career took off in 1734 when he became the organist at the Oxford Chapel in London. He held several similar positions before being appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1757 and later became one of the organists at the Chapel Royal in 1758. His compositional work began in the 1730s, with notable pieces including the oratorio "David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan" and the opera "Peleus and Thetis." He was also a conductor at the Three Choirs Festival, where many of his works premiered.

Legacy

Despite being largely forgotten after his death in 1779, Boyce's music saw a revival in the 1930s, thanks in part to Constant Lambert, who published modern editions of his works. His church music, particularly, was preserved and published posthumously. Notably, Boyce's Symphony No. 1 was played during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, and his coronation anthem "The King Shall Rejoice" was performed at the coronation of Charles III in 2023. Boyce's contributions to music continue to be recognized, with his portraits created by renowned artists like Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Hudson.