Saturday 31 October 2020

Saturday music suggestion - William Boyce (1711-1779)

William Boyce was a Handelian English composer - at Boyce's best, he was as good as his master at his best. As here in his 6th 'Symphony' - in particular the second movement starting at 4 minutes, which is a pure delight:


What makes Boyce ultimately third-rate as a composer is that - to my ear - he was never able to sustain his inspiration to include a whole work; he is a composer of excellent movements

On the other hand, his instrumental orchestral music (the Symphonies and Overtures especially) is nearly always enjoyable; and I find I can listen to them again and again over the years - which can't be said for everybody. 

Here is a generous selection of mostly decent perfomances (Handsome chap wasn't he? Not!):


 

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