Boyce, William - Voluntary a-minor

Boyce was born in London, he was baptised on 11 September 1711 and was admitted by his father as a choirboy at St Paul's Cathedral in 1719. After his voice broke in 1727, he studied music with Maurice Greene.

His work as a composer began in the 1730s, writing songs for Vauxhall Gardens.
In 1736 he was named as composer to the Chapel Royal. Many of his works have been written there.

In 1749 he wrote an ode and the anthem O be joyful to celebrate the installation of the Duke of Newcastle as Chancellor of Cambridge University, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music. As Master of the King's Musick Boyce had the responsibility of writing music for royal occasions including funerals, weddings and coronations.

Played on OAM's sampleset
of the Hus-Arp Schnitger organ in Stade.

Whenever I play this sampleset I'm always reminded of the fact that the great Vincent Lubeck was the organist on this organ for many years.

And whenever I mess up in a terrible way, which often happens, I also wonder if he would have advised me to leave organplaying to the professionals and become an onion-seller instead....

This fine piece sounds excellent on it,