A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Child, William

CHILD, WILLIAM, Mus. Doc., was born at Bristol in 1606, and received his musical education as a chorister of the cathedral there under Elway Bevin, the organist. In 1631 he took the degree of Bachelor of Music at Oxford, and in 1632 [App. p.586 "1630"] was appointed one of the organists [App. p.586 adds that "he was appointed conjointly with Nathaniel Giles"] of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, in the room of Dr. John Mimdy, and shortly afterwards one of the organists of the Chapel Royal. [App. p.586 adds that "in 1643, when the whole establishment was expelled, Child is said to have retired to a small farm and to have devoted himself to composition, the anthem 'O Lord, grant the King a long life' dating from this time. At the Restoration he was present at Charles II's coronation, Apr. 23, 1661. On July 4 in the same year he was appointed Composer to the King, in place of the Ferraboscos deceased."] About 1660 he was appointed chanter of the Chapel Royal and one of the king's private musicians. On July 8, 1663, he proceeded Doctor of Music at Oxford, his exercise being an anthem which was performed in St. Mary's church on the 13th of the same month. He died at Windsor, March 23, 1697, in the 91st year of his age, and was interred in St. George's Chapel, where a tablet to his memory is placed. Dr. Child published in 1639, in separate parts, engraven on small oblong copper plates, a work entitled 'The first set of Psalms of iii voyces, fitt for private chapels, or other private meetings with a continual basse, either for the Organ or Theorbo, newly composed after the Italian way,' and consisting of twenty short anthems for two trebles and a bass, the words selected from the Psalms. This work was reprinted, with the same title, in 1650, and was again reproduced, from the same plates, in 1656, but with the title changed to 'Choise Musick to the Psalmes of David for Three Voices, with a Continuall Base either for the Organ or Theorbo.' His other published works consist of 'Divine Anthems and vocal compositions to several pieces of Poetry'; Catches in Hilton's 'Catch that Catch can,' 1652, and Playford's 'Musical Companion,' 1672; and some compositions in 'Court Ayres.' Several of his Church Services and Anthems are printed in the collections of Boyce and Arnold, in Smith's 'Musica Antiqua,' and elsewhere, and many more are extant in manuscript in the choir books of various cathedrals I and the collection made by Dr. Tudway for Lord Oxford. His Service in D is a fine specimen of writing in the imitative style, with much pleasing melody, a feature which distinguishes Child's music generally. Dr. Child did a munificent act which ought not to be left unnoticed. His salary at Windsor having fallen greatly into arrear, he told the Dean and Chapter that if they would pay him the amount due to him he would repave the body of the choir of the chapel. The bait took, the arrears were discharged, and the Doctor fulfilled his promise. [App. p.586 amends this story "as follows (from a document in the chapter records):—'Dr. Child having been organist for some years to the king's chapel in K. Ch. 2nds time had great arrears of his salary due to him, to the value of about £500, which he and some of our canons discoursing of, Dr. C. slited (sic), and said he would be glad if anybody would give him £5 and some bottles of wine for; which the canons accepted of, and accordingly had articles made with hand and seal. After this King James 2 coming to the crown, paid off his Brs. arrears; wch. much affecting Dr. Child, and he repining at, the canons generously released his bargain, on condition of his paving the body of the choir wth. marble, wch. was accordingly done, as is comemorated on his gravestone.' (Dict, of Nat. Biog.)"] His generosity likewise manifested itself on other occasions. He gave £20 towards building the Town Hall at Windsor, and bequeathed £50 to the corporation to be applied in charitable purposes. A portrait of Dr. Child, painted in 1663, shortly after taking his doctor's degree, was presented by him to the Music School at Oxford.

[ W. H. H. ]