William Turner (composer)
Encyclopedia
William Turner was a composer
and countertenor
of the Baroque era. A contemporary of John Blow
and Henry Purcell
, he is best remembered for his verse anthem
s, of which over forty survive. As a singer, he was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
from 1669 until his death.
. In 1669, however, he rejoined the Chapel Royal as a countertenor, and upon the death (1672) of Henry Cooke
(who had earlier cared for Turner in the year between his voice breaking and his appointment at Lincoln) became a member of the King's Private Musick. His career as a court chorister continued to prosper, as he sung in works by Blow and Purcell, including the solo alto parts in the St Cecilia's Day performances of 1687, 1692, and 1695. An appointment as vicar-choral of St Paul's Cathedral
(1687) led another as lay vicar of the choir of Westminster Abbey
(1699). After 1696 he was normally referred to as "Dr Turner", with Cambridge University having granted him an honourary degree during that year.
's The Libertine are especially noted.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
of the Baroque era. A contemporary of John Blow
John Blow
John Blow was an English Baroque composer and organist, appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669. His pupils included William Croft, Jeremiah Clarke and Henry Purcell. In 1685 he was named a private musician to James II. His only stage composition, Venus and Adonis John Blow (baptised 23 February...
and Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
, he is best remembered for his verse anthem
Verse anthem
In religious music, the verse anthem is a species of choral music, or song, distinct from the motet or 'full' anthem . In the 'verse' anthem the music alternates between sections for a solo voice or voices and the full choir. The organ provided accompaniment in liturgical settings, but viols took...
s, of which over forty survive. As a singer, he was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
from 1669 until his death.
Life
Turner's association with the Chapel Royal began in the early 1660s, when he joined the choir there as a boy soprano. In 1666 his voice broke, but the year after he became master of the choristers at Lincoln CathedralLincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
. In 1669, however, he rejoined the Chapel Royal as a countertenor, and upon the death (1672) of Henry Cooke
Henry Cooke
Henry Cooke was an English composer, actor and singer. At the outbreak of the English Civil War he was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and joined the Royalist cause, in the service of which he rose to the rank of Captain...
(who had earlier cared for Turner in the year between his voice breaking and his appointment at Lincoln) became a member of the King's Private Musick. His career as a court chorister continued to prosper, as he sung in works by Blow and Purcell, including the solo alto parts in the St Cecilia's Day performances of 1687, 1692, and 1695. An appointment as vicar-choral of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
(1687) led another as lay vicar of the choir of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
(1699). After 1696 he was normally referred to as "Dr Turner", with Cambridge University having granted him an honourary degree during that year.
Music
The substantial bulk of Turner's compositions comes from before 1700, and belong, for the most part, to the genre of sacred music, although he did write a few dramatic works. They consist of scattered hymns, a few services, approximately 40 anthems, and a motet. Among his dramatic works a couple of arias and a choral scene for Thomas ShadwellThomas Shadwell
Thomas Shadwell was an English poet and playwright who was appointed poet laureate in 1689.-Life:Shadwell was born at Stanton Hall, Norfolk, and educated at Bury St Edmunds School, and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, which he entered in 1656. He left the university without a degree, and...
's The Libertine are especially noted.