William Turner (composer)

William Turner
William Turner
Born	1651
Died	1740
Occupation(s)	composer, countertenor

William Turner (1651/2–13 January 1740, London) was a composer and countertenor of the Baroque era. A contemporary of John Blow and Henry Purcell, he is best remembered for his verse anthems, of which over forty survive. As a singer, he was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal from 1669 until his death.^[1]

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

Cambridge University in June of that year.^[2]

Music

The substantial bulk of Turner's compositions were written before 1700, and belong, for the most part, to the genre of

sacred music. Amongst these works are hymns and chants, six services, more than 40 anthems (some of which include parts for string instruments), and a Latin motet. He contributed songs and incidental music to at least five plays, including songs and a choral scene for Thomas Shadwell's The Libertine.^[3] He composed more than fifty secular songs, a great majority of which were published.^[4]

He also composed a small amount of instrumental music, including a handful of works for the keyboard.