What is William Boyce?
[[Image:William_Boyce.jpg|thumb|William Boyce]] '''William Boyce''' (born [[London]], 11 September 1711; died [[Kensington]], 7 February 1779) is one of the most important [[England|English]] [[composer]]s of the [[18th century]]. He was composing during the last years of the [[Baroque music|Baroque period]] and the early years of the [[Classical music period|Classical Period]]. He is famous for his church music as well as music for the [[theatre]] and [[orchestra]]l music. ==Life== ===Early years=== Boyce was born in the City of [[London]]. His father was a [[Cabinet making|cabinetmaker]]. His house was known by the sign of a Naked Boy which hung outside. Boyce was a [[treble (singer)|choirboy]] at [[St Paul's Cathedral]] and then studied music with [[Maurice Greene (composer)|Maurice Greene]] after his voice broke. When he had finished his studies he got a job as organist at the Earl of Oxford’s chapel in Cavendish Square. Two years later he went to St Michael’s Cornhill. He was still studying music, now his teacher was [[Pepusch]]. Boyce wrote songs for [[Vauxhall Gardens]]. Many people would have heard these songs. He became composer to the [[Chapel Royal]] in 1736. This was a great honour. He wrote several big works, although we do not know much about them or about their performances. Some time during the 1740s he composed a theatre work called ''The Secular Masque''. The words were by [[John Dryden]]. In 1749 he was given the title of Doctor of Music after a performance of his [[anthem]] ''O be joyful''. ===Years of fame=== Boyce was very famous by now. He went to live in a large house in Chancery Lane. He seems to have married and started a family. He was asked to compose for the theatre in Drury Lane. It is surprising he had not been asked to write theatre music before. It may be because he was going [[deaf]]. This would have made it difficult for him to rehearse his music with the orchestra. Boyce wrote a good deal of music for the theatre. There seems to have been some rivalry with the composer