William Boyce (1711-1779) was born in London, the son of John Boyce, a cabinet maker. As a boy, he sang in the choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral. When his voice broke, he decided to study organ technique with Maurice Greene, the cathedral organist. His first professional appointment was as organist at Earl of Oxford’s Chapel in Cavendish Square and after two years he became organist at St. Michael’s Cornhill. Already writing for the Vauxhall Gardens, he was appointed composer to the Chapel Royal in 1736.
During the 1740s and 1750s, Boyce was at the height of his career composing for stage and court. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Cambridge University in 1749, and even enjoyed widespread commercial success with the publication of his Trio Sonatas in 1747 and new composing responsibilities for the Drury Lane theatre.
Despite increasing deafness, Boyce was appointed Master of the King’s Musick in 1755. His annual compositions of a New Year ode and Birthday ode for King George III were more or less hi entire output for the rest of his life. He devoted his last years to the completion of a collection of the greatest compositions of English church composers.
Boyce’s Eight Symphonies are remarkable, short works in a style foreshadowing the overture. Symphonies 1-5 are in the Italian style, and 6-8 are French overtures. (The Italian style is a simple fast-slow-fast form, and the French is generally a slow opening followed by a number of dance movements.) Symphony No. 7 in F Major is unique in that there are no slow movements and a fairly large wind section for orchestras of the period.