William Selby

Background

He was probably born in 1739 in England (United Kingdom). Little is known of his early life. Likely, William Selby was the third known son of Joseph and Mary Selby of London.

Education

There is no information about his education.

Career

His first appearance in Boston was recorded in a concert advertisement of October 4, 1771, for it was undoubtedly he who was announced as "a gentleman lately arrived from London. "

By 1772 Selby was acting as organist of King's Chapel in Boston and participating in concerts as an organist and harpsichordist. For a short time in 1774 he played the organ at Trinity Church in Newport, and in the same city he announced his intention of opening a dancing school. The latter project may or may not have been responsible for his leaving Newport, but in any case he returned to Boston, and by 1777 was again organist at King's Chapel.

During the Revolution Selby was forced to seek other fields than music for a livelihood, and in 1780 he kept a small shop, but by October 1782, he is again mentioned as organist at King's Chapel, and once more became active in the musical life of Boston. Selby was chiefly interested in instrumental music before the war, but he now became engaged in what proved to be his most important contribution to the musical future of Boston, the development of choral singing.

He composed "Ode in Honour of General Washington" which was performed at a concert given for his benefit by the Musical Society on April 27, 1786, and when Washington visited Boston in 1789, the concerts arranged in his honor featured more of Selby's works. Practically the only compositions by Selby that are extant today are a few songs, some of which are printed in the Massachusetts Magazine: "On Musick, " April 1789; "The Rural Retreat, " October 1789. These songs were later reprinted in the American Musical Miscellany (1798), and another, "Ptal'mon to Pastora, " appeared in The Gentlemen and Ladies Town and Country Magazine, March 1789.

Two major works were advertised for subscription in 1782 and 1790, but no record has been found of actual publication: "The New Minstrel, " a collection of original compositions, one number to be issued every month, and "Apollo, and the Muse's Musical Compositions, " a collection of sacred and secular songs and choruses, as well as instrumental pieces. In addition to these works, the organ and harpsichord concertos which Selby played on concert programs were presumably of his own composition.

He died in 1798.

Achievements

• William Selby led his singers in the study of cantatas and oratorios as is evidenced particularly by three of the concerts organized and directed by him as organist at King's Chapel. Selby's surviving works include two voluntaries and one Fugue for the organ, a lesson in C for the harpsichord, and an anthem for Thanksgiving Day. He was undoubtedly of great influence in the movement which led to the organization of the Handel and Haydn Society more than fifteen years after his death.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Heavens Declare Thy Glory (Unison Anthem with Optional Trumpets) (A-261)

    (Sheet music.)

Connections

He was married in Boston on January 7, 1792, to Susannah Parker, who survived him.

Father:

Joseph Selby

Mother:

Mary Selby

Spouse:

Susannah Parker

References

• Bound for America: THREE BRITISH COMPOSERS (Music in American Life)