Boyce, William

Boyce, William Mus. Doc., an eminent English musical composer, was born in London in 1710. He received his early musical training while a chorister of St. Paul's, and in 1736 became organist of St. Michael's Church, Cornhill, and composer to the chapel royal. He became master of the king's band in 1757, and soon afterwards was appointed principal organist to the chapel royal. He died in London in 1799. "As an ecclesiastical composer Boyce ranks among the best representatives of the English school." Among his anthems the best are, By the Waters of Babylon, and O, Where shall

Wisdom be Found! He published Anthems (1788): — and three volumes of Cathedral Music, a collection in score of the most valuable compositions for that service by the several English masters of the two preceding centuries. See Encyclop. Brit. (9th ed.), s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Briit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.