William Boyce (
London, 11 de setembre de 1711 - London, 7 de febrer de 1779) va ser un organista i compositor anglès, considerat un dels més importants del seu temps a Anglaterra. Nascut a Londres, es va formar com a nen del cor de la
Catedral de Saint Paul. Posteriorment, va rebre formació de
Maurice Greene. El seu primer acompliment com a professional va arribar el 1734 quan va assolir el càrrec d'organista a l'
Oxford Chapel. Després d'ocupar llocs semblants, finalment fou nomenat
Master of the Queen's Music el 1755, arribant a ser organista de la
Chapel Royal el 1758. Quan la sordesa de Boyce va arribar a ser tan accentuada que no podia continuar amb el seu càrrec d'organista, es va retirar i va treballar en completar la compilació de la Cathedral Music la qual el seu mestre Greene havia deixat incompleta a la seva mort. Això va permetre a Boyce editar treballs de
William Byrd i
Henry Purcell, entre altres. Com a compositor, va ser especialment conegut pel seu conjunt de vuit simfonies, els seus himnes i les seves odes. També va escriure la mascarada
Peleus and Thetis i cançons per la
Secular Masque de
John Dryden, música incidental per a les obres de
William Shakespeare -
La tempesta, Cymbeline, Romeu i Julieta i
The Winter's Tale- i gran quantitat de música de cambra incloent dotze de sonates en trio. Rival d'
Arne als teatres de Londres, va gaudir d'una gran reputació popular gràcies a la música instrumental, cançons i obres corals seculars, sovint escrites en un estil Barroc italià tardà. No obstant i després de la seva mort, esdevinguda el febrer de 1779, Boyce va ser completament oblidat.
OBRA:
Vocal secular:Stage:
Peleus and Thetis (masque, G. Granville, Lord Lansdowne), by 1740, GB-Ob*, ov. in F
Secular Masque (J. Dryden), c1746, Bu* (inc.), Lcm, Ob, ov. in O
The Chaplet (musical entertainment, 2 pts, M. Mendez), LDL, 2 Dec 1749 (London, 1750), ov. in S
The Shepherd's Lottery (musical entertainment, 2 pts, Mendez), LDL, 19 Nov 1751 (London, 1751/R1990 in MLE, C4), 2 songs, Ob*, ov. in S
The Tempest (masque, D. Garrick, after W. Shakespeare), LDL, 20 Oct 1757, Lcm, Ob*
Harlequin's Invasion, or A Christmas Gambol (pantomime, Garrick), LDL, 31 Dec 1759, 2 songs pubd (London, 1760, c1767), collab. M. Arne and T. Aylward
Music in other stage works:
Dirge in Cymbeline (tragedy, W. Shakespeare), London, CG, 7 April 1746, GB-Ob*
2 songs in Lethe, or Aesop in the Shades (farce, D. Garrick), LDL, 2 Jan 1749
Music in The Roman Father (tragedy, W. Whitehead), LDL, 24 Feb 1750, lost
Pastoral interlude in The Rehearsal, or Bays in Petticoats (comedy, C. Clive), LDL, 15 March 1750, Ob*
Dirge in Romeo and Juliet (tragedy, Garrick, after Shakespeare), LDL, 1 Oct 1750, Ob*
Song in The Conscious Lovers (comedy, R. Steele), c1752
Song in The Gamester (tragedy, E. Moore), LDL, 7 Feb 1753, Ob*
Incid music in Boadicea (tragedy, R. Glover), LDL, 1 Dec 1753, lost
Music for animating the statue, 3-pt song in Florizel and Perdita, or The Winter's Tale (comedy, Garrick, after Shakespeare), LDL, 21 Jan 1756, Ob*
2 songs, duet in Amphitryon (comedy, J. Hawkesworth, after J. Dryden), LDL, 15 Dec 1756, DRc
2 odes in Agis (tragedy, J. Home), LDL, 21 Feb 1758, Lcm*, Lcm
Other songs by Boyce adapted in: The Temple of Peace (masque, N. Pasquali), Dublin, Smock Alley, 9 Feb 1749;
Midas (comedy, K. O'Hara), Dublin, Theatre Royal, Crow Street, 22 Jan 1762;
Love in a Village (I. Bickerstaff), London, CG, 8 Dec 1762;
The Royal Chase, London, CG, c1765;
The Summer's Tale (R. Cumberland), London, CG, 6 Dec 1765;
The Disappointment, or The Force of Credulity (comic op, A. Barton), New York, 1767;
Tom Jones (J. Reed), London, CG, 14 Jan 1769;
Harlequin's Museum, or Mother Shipton Triumphant (pantomime), London, CG, 20 Dec 1792
Court odes:
Pierian sisters, for the king's birthday, 1755, GB-Ob*, ov. in F
Hail! hail! auspicious day, New Year's Day, 1756, Ob*, ov. in S
When Caesar's natal day, for the king's birthday, 1756, Ob*, ov. in S
While Britain, New Year's Day, 1757, Ob*
Rejoice, ye Britons, for the king's birthday, 1757, Ob*
Behold, the circle forms, New Year's Day, 1758, Ob*, ov. in F
When Othbert left, for the king's birthday, 1758, Lcm, Ob*, ov. in F
Ye guardian powers, New Year's Day, 1759, Lcm, Ob* [1st 2 movts of ov. the same as those of Behold, the circle forms, 1758]
Begin the song, for the king's birthday, 1759, Lcm, Ob*
Again the sun's revolving sphere, New Year's Day, 1760, Lcm, Ob*, ov. in F
Still must the muse, New Year's Day, 1761, Ob*
'Twas at the nectar'd feast, for the king's birthday, 1761, Ob*, ov. in O
God of slaughter, New Year's Day, 1762, Ob*, ov. in O
Go, Flora, for the king's birthday, 1762, Ob*, ov. in O
At length th' imperious god of war, New Year's Day, 1763, Ob*, ov. in O
Common births, for the king's birthday, 1763, Ob*
To wedded love, for the king's birthday, 1764, Ob*, ov. in O
Sacred to thee, New Year's Day, 1765, Ob*, ov. in O
Hail to the rosy morn, for the king's birthday, 1765, Ob*, ov. in O
Hail to the man, for the king's birthday, 1766, Ob*, ov. in O
When first, New Year's Day, 1767, Ob*, ov. in O
Friend to the poor, for the king's birthday, 1767, Ob*
Let the voice, New Year's Day, 1768, Ob*, ov. in O
Prepare, prepare your songs, for the king's birthday, 1768, Ob*, ov. in F
Patron of arts!, for the king's birthday, 1769, Ob*, ov. in F
Forward, Janus, New Year's Day, 1770, Ob*, ov. in F
Discord, hence!, for the king's birthday, 1770, Ob*, ov. in F
Again returns, New Year's Day, 1771, Ob*, ov. in F
Long did the churlish east, for the king's birthday, 1771, Ob*, ov. in F
At length the fleeting year, New Year's Day, 1772, Ob*, ov. in F
From scenes of death, for the king's birthday, 1772, Ob*, ov. in F
Wrapt in stole, New Year's Day, 1773, Ob*
Born for millions, for the king's birthday, 1773, Ob*
Pass but a few, New Year's Day, 1774, Ob*
Hark! or does the muse's ear, for the king's birthday, 1774, Ob*
Ye powers who rule, for the king's birthday, 1775, Ob*, ov. in F
On the white rocks, New Year's Day, 1776, Ob*, ov. in The Symphony 1720–1840, ser. E, i (New York, 1984)
Ye western gales, for the king's birthday, 1776, Ob*
Again imperial winter's sway, New Year's Day, 1777, Ob*
Driven out, for the king's birthday, 1777, Ob*, ov. in F
When rival nations, New Year's Day, 1778, Ob*
Arm'd with her native force, for the king's birthday, 1778, Ob*
To arms, to arms ye sons of might, New Year's Day, 1779, Ob* [ov. the same as that for Pierian sisters, 1755]
Other odes:
The charms of harmony display (P. Vidal), St Cecilia's Day, c1738, Ob*, ov. in F
See famed Apollo and the nine (J. Lockman), St Cecilia's Day, 1739, GB-Ob*, US-Wc, ov. to 1p. in S, ov. to 2p. in F
Gentle lyre, begin the strain (The Pythian Ode; W. Hart, after Pindar), 1740, Ob*, Ob, ov. in S
Here all thy active fires diffuse (W. Mason), for installation of Duke of Newcastle as Chancellor of University of Cambridge, 1749 (London, 1752), Cu*
Strike, strike the lyre, birthday of Frederick, Prince of Wales, ?1750, Ob* (facs. in MLE, F4, 1989)
Who but remembers yesterday (Britain's Isle), on death of Frederick, Prince of Wales, 1751, Ob*
Let grief subside, birthday of George, Prince of Wales, 1751, Ob* (facs. in MLE, F4, 1989)
Another passing year is flown (W. Havard), birthday of George, Prince of Wales, 1752, Ob* (facs. in MLE, F4, 1989)
Titles and ermine fall behind (Havard), in commemoration of Shakespeare, Drury Lane, 1756, Bu*, Ob
Cetra dè canti amica; Degli amor la madre altera: 2 odes in Del canzoniere d'Orazio di Giovan Gualberto Bottarelli (London, 1757)
Arise, immortal Shakespeare rise (D. Garrick), ?1759, Ob*
See, white-robed peace (D. Mallet), for the end of the Seven Years War, 1763, Ob*, ov. in O
Lo, on the thorny bed of care (Ode to Charity; sacred ode, J. Cradock), for Leicester Infirmary, 1774, Lcm, Ob, US-Wc*, ed. W.H. Cummings (London, 1908–9)
Vital spark of heavenly flame (The Dying Christian to his Soul; sacred ode, A. Pope), GB-Ob
In elder time, lost, MS listed in catalogue of sale of W. Boyce the younger
Other vocal secular:
Ah whither, whither would Achilles flee (Deidamia's parting with Achilles upon the siege of Troy), 1v, orch, c1735, GB-Ob
Gentle zephyrs smoothly rove (serenade), 1v, orch, c1735, Lcm*
Through flowery meads (cant.), 2vv, orch, c1735, Lcm*
When the celestial beauties strove (cant.), 2vv, c1735, Lcm*
Young Damon fired with amorous heat (cant.), 2vv, c1735, Lcm*
Solomon (serenata, E. Moore), 2vv, 4vv, orch (London, 1743), Lcm*, US-Wc (partly autograph), ed. in MB, lxviii (1996), ov. in S
Long with undistinguished flame (cant., C. Smart), in Lyra britannica, i (London, 1747), GB-Ob*
Tell me ye brooks (cant., W. Congreve), in Lyra britannica, ii (London, 1747)
Blest in Maria's friendship (cant.), in Lyra britannica, iii (London, 1748)
Did you not once Lucinda vow (dialogue), 2vv, orch, c1750, Ob*
Thus on a bed of dew bespangled flowers (Thyrsis; cant.), c1750, Ob*
Danae (cant.), 1v, orch, c1750, Ob*
Blate Jonny (A Scots Cantata; A. Ramsay), in Lyra britannica, v (London, 1756)
Haste, haste every nymph (dialogue), 1v, orch, in Lyra britannica, vi (London, 1759)
Thou rising sun (The Lapland Cantata; A. Philips), in Lyra britannica, vi (London, 1759)
Noah (orat), lost, set of pts sold at auction, Puttick and Simpson, 4 May 1850
3 glees, 7 catches and rounds, 4 two-pt songs, c76 solo songs pubd singly and in 18th-century anthologies
Vocal religiosa:Services:
Te Deum, G, verse, c1725, Ob, N
Te Deum and Jubilate, A, verse, c1740, GB–Lbl†, Lcm*, H, N
Te Deum and Jubilate, A, short, c1750, Ckc, Lbl†, Ob, A, N
Te Deum and Jubilate, C, full, c1760, Cfm, Lbl†, Ob, A, N
Kyrie, A, Lbl†, N
Sanctus, A/G, Lbl†, Lbl, N
Burial Service, e, 4vv, for Captain T. Coram, 3 April 1751, ed. J. Page, Harmonia sacra (London, 1800), N
Anthems:
Begin unto my God, verse, 1769 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems used in His Majesty's Chapel Royal (London, 1769)
Behold O God our defender, full, coronation of George III, 1761, GB-Ob*
Be thou my judge, verse, 1749 or earlier, Cfm, Ckc, Lbl†, Ob, H, N
Blessed is he that considereth the poor, verse, PH, N
Blessed is he that considereth the sick, verse, with orch, 1741 (London, 1802), IRL-Dcc, Dmh, GB-H, Lbl, Lcm, Ob, N
Blessed is the man, verse, 1736 or earlier, PH, N
Blessing and glory, verse, 1769 or earlier, A, N
By the waters of Babylon, verse, c1740, Cfm, Ckc, Lbl†, Lbl, Lcm, Ob, H, N
Come Holy Ghost, full, coronation of George III, 1761, Ob*
Give the king thy judgements, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lcm*, Ob
Give the king thy judgements, verse, c1755, Ckc, Lbl†, H, N
Give unto the Lord, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, N
Great and marvellous, full, 1769 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems used in His Majesty's Chapel Royal (London, 1769)
Hear my crying, verse, c1740, Lbl*, WO, N
Hear my prayer, full, with orch, c1760, Gu
Help me, O Lord, full, 1726, Lcm
How long wilt thou forget me, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, N
How long wilt thou forget me, verse, c1740, Cfm* (inc.)
I cried unto the Lord, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, N
If we believe, verse, c1745, Ckc, Lbl†, Lbl, Ob, H, N
I have set God alway before me, verse, 1749 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, N
I have surely built thee an house, verse, for reopening of St Margaret's, Westminster, 1759, Lbl†, US-Wc*, PH, N
I was glad, full, coronation of George III, 1761, GB-Ob*
I will alway give thanks, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, Ob, Och, N
I will magnify thee, verse, 1749 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, ed. J. Page, Harmonia sacra (London, 1800), N
Let my complaint, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, ed. J. Page, Harmonia sacra (London, 1800), N
Let my prayer come up, full, coronation of George III, 1761, Ob*
Like as the hart, verse, c1740, Lbl†, Lbl, N
Lord, teach us to number our days, verse, c1750, Cfm, Lbl*, A, N
Lord, thou hast been our refuge, verse, with orch, Festival of the Sons of the Clergy, 1755 (London, 1802), Lcm (inc.), N
Lord, what is man that thou art mindful, verse, c1740, Lbl†, Lbl* (inc.), Lbl, A, N
Lord, what is man that thou shouldest visit, verse, c1770, Cfm, Lbl†, Lbl, A, N
Lord, who shall dwell, verse, 1749 or earlier, Lbl†, PH, N
My heart is fixed, verse, 1749 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems … now performed in His Majesty's Chapel Royal (London, 1749)
My heart is inditing, verse, with orch, coronation of George III, 1761, Ob*
My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, verse, 1769 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems used in His Majesty's Chapel Royal (London, 1769)
O be joyful in God, verse, c1735, Cfm* (inc.)
O be joyful in God, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl*, H, N
O be joyful in God, verse, with orch, for MusD, 1749, Lbl (inc.) (London, 1752), N
O give thanks unto the Lord and call, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, Ob, PH, N
O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious, verse, for the birth of Prince George, 1762, Lbl†, Lbl (inc.), Ob, H, N
O praise the Lord, verse, c1763, Lbl†, H, N
O sing unto the Lord, verse, c1740, Cfm, Lbl†, H, N
O sing unto the Lord, verse, 1749 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems … now performed in His Majesty's chapels Royal (London, 1749)
O where shall wisdom be found?, verse, 1769 or earlier, Lbl†, PH, N
Ponder my words, verse, 1745 or earlier, IRL-Dcc, A, N
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, full, with orch, coronation of George III, 1761, GB-Ob*
Praise the Lord, ye servants, verse, 1749 or earlier, Cfm, Lbl†, H, N
Save me, O God, full, c1735, Cfm, A, N
Sing, O heavens, verse, c1763, Lbl†, H, N
Sing praises unto the Lord, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lcm*, H, N
Sing unto the Lord, verse, 1736 or earlier, Ckc, Lbl†, Lbl, Ob, Och, PH, N
Teach me, O Lord, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl, Ob, H, N
The heavens declare, verse, Cfm, Lbl†, PH, N
The King shall rejoice, verse, with orch, marriage of George III, 1761, Ob*, ed. in RRMBE, viii (1970)
The King shall rejoice, full, with orch, coronation of George III, 1761, Ob*
The King shall rejoice, verse, with orch, Festival of the Sons of the Clergy, 1766, Lcm* (inc.), Ob*
The Lord is a sun, full, with orch, coronation of George III, 1761, Ob*
The Lord is full of compassion, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl (inc.), PH, N, 2 versions
The Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel, verse, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Lbl (inc.), PH, N
The Lord is King be the people never so impatient, verse, thanksgiving for the Peace of Paris, 1763, Lbl†, PH, N
The Lord is my light, verse, 1749 or earlier, Ckc, Lbl†, Lbl, Lcm, Ob, PH, N
The Lord liveth, verse, 1769 or earlier, Lbl†, US-LAuc, H, N
The souls of the righteous, full, with orch, funeral of George II, 1760, GB-Lbl, Ob*, ed. in RRMBE, vii (1970), symphony ed. in F
Turn thee unto me, full, 1736 or earlier, Lbl†, Ob, H, N
Turn thee unto me, verse, 1749 or earlier, Lbl†, A, N
Unto thee, O Lord, verse, 1749 or earlier, lost, text pubd in A Collection of Anthems … now performed in His Majesty's chapels Royal (London, 1749)
Wherewithal shall a young man, verse, 1749 or earlier, Lbl†, H, N
Other sacred:
Chant, D, Divine Harmony (London, 1770), doubtful, attrib. Mr Davis
Chant, F, GB-Lcm, Ob
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (sacred cant., J. Lockman), solo vv, 4vv, orch, 1736, Lcm (partly autograph), Ob*
Hither ye sons of Harmony (‘Monumental inscription to … Mr. Gostling’), partsong (J. Hawkins), c1777, Cfm, US-NYp*
O how perverse is flesh and blood, partsong, c1725, GB-Lcm
12 hymns pubd in 18th-century anthologies
Instrumental:12 Sonatas, 2 vn, vc/hpd (London, 1747), GB-CKc*, Lbl*, nos.1–6, 8–9, 12, ed. S. Sadie (London, 1961–79)
8 Symphonys in 8 Parts, op.2 (London, 1760), ed. M. Goberman (Vienna, 1964), ed. R. Platt (London, 1994) [ovs. from other works above]
12 Overtures in 7, 9, 10 and 12 Parts (London, 1770), ed. R. Platt (London, 1970–71) [ovs. from other works above]
10 voluntaries, org/hpd (London, 1779/R)
Concerto, d (The Worcester Overture; Symphony no.8), Lcm, S
Concerto grosso, b, Lbl
3 concerti grossi, Ob*: B , d (inc.), e
Concerto, bn, lost, perf. Castle Tavern, London, 11 Aug 1742
3 sonatas, 2 vn, bc, c1740, Cfm
Ov., C, c1740, Ob* (kbd score)
Editions and arrangements:
Cathedral Music, being a Collection in Score of the Most Valuable and Useful Compositions for That Service, by Several English Masters of the Last 200 Years, i (London, 1760); ii (London, 1768); iii (London, 1773) [for contents see Grove5 and A. Heyer, Historical Sets, Collected Editions and Monuments of Music: a Guide to their Contents (Chicago, 3/1980)]
M. Locke: The Original Songs, Airs and Choruses … in the Tragedy of Macbeth (London, 1770)
G.F. Handel: As pants the hart (verse anthem), Moses and the children of Israel (anthem, 8vv), from Israel in Egypt, excerpts from Messiah: all ed. J. Page, Harmonia sacra (London, 1800)
H. Purcell: Te Deum and Jubilate, D, GB-Ob, ed. V. Novello, The Cathedral Services, Anthems, Hymns and Other Sacred Pieces … by H. Purcell (London, 1828–44)
Literatura:Treatise on Harmonic Theory (MS, Ob*)
Font: En català: William Boyce (1710-1779) - En castellano: William Boyce (1710-1779) - In english: William Boyce (1710-1779) - Altres: William Boyce (1710-1779) 
