William Turner

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Life

Born: 1651

Died: 13th January 1740

Biography

The entry in Cathedral Music, Volume 2 (William Boyce) reads:

William Turner was one of the children of the Chapel Royal soon after the Restauration, and admitted a Gentleman thereof October the 11th, 1669. He afterwards obtained the places of Vicar Choral of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, and Lay Vicar of St. Peter, Westminster: And in the year 1691 commenced Doctor in Music at Cambridge.

Several reputable pieces for the Church Service were composed by him, and one particularly, in conjunction with Humphrys, and Blow, which was named the Club Anthem: The words beginning "I will always give thanks." They agreed each to set different verses, and to connect and form them into a regular performance; to remain as a memorial of their fraternal esteem and friendship.

He had the singular honour of being a Gentleman of the Royal Chapels to seven Kings and Queens successively, and in the former part of his life, his voice, which was a high Contra-Tenor, recommended him to much favour.

He died on the 13th of January 1740, at a very advanced age, and was buried in Westminster-Abbey Cloisters, in the same grave, and at the same time with his wife Elizabeth, whose death happened four days before his own, after their having been married but a few years short of seventy, and lived together, to the very last hour, in the utmost amity and affection.

Their only child and daughter was wife to the late Mr. John Robinson, Organist of Westminster-Abbey, &c, who had also been one of the children of the Chapel under Dr. Blow, and was a most excellent performer on the Organ. The double Chant at the end of the first Volume is of his composition.

View the Wikipedia article on William Turner.

List of choral works

 
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Publications

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