William Hayes (composer) facts for kids
William Hayes (born in 1706, died on July 27, 1777) was a talented English musician. He was a composer (someone who writes music), an organist (who plays the organ), a singer, and a conductor (who leads a musical group).
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A Musician's Life
William Hayes was born in Gloucester, England. He started his musical journey early, training as a chorister (a child singer in a church choir) at Gloucester Cathedral starting in 1717.
He spent the early part of his career as an organist at St Mary's Church in Shrewsbury in 1729. He then moved to Worcester Cathedral in 1731. Most of his working life, however, was spent at the famous University of Oxford.
In 1734, he became the organist at Magdalen College in Oxford. He earned his music degrees there: a Bachelor of Music (B.Mus) in 1735 and a Doctor of Music (D.Mus) in 1749. A painting by John Cornish shows him in his special robes from around that time.
In 1741, he was chosen to be the Heather Professor of Music, a very important music teacher role at the university. He also became the organist for the University Church.
For the next 30 years, William Hayes was a central figure in Oxford's music scene. He helped build the Holywell Music Room in 1748. This is special because it's the oldest building in Europe made just for music concerts!
He was also an early member of the Royal Society of Musicians, a group that supported musicians. In 1765, he joined the "Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club," which was a club for singing fun, short songs called "catches." William Hayes passed away in Oxford when he was 69 years old.
His Musical Creations
William Hayes greatly admired the famous composer George Frideric Handel. Hayes was one of the busiest conductors of Handel's large musical pieces, like oratorios, outside of London. While Handel's music influenced him, Hayes also had his own unique style.
Hayes liked to compose types of music that Handel didn't focus on as much. These included English chamber cantatas (short vocal pieces for a few singers and instruments), anthems (church songs with organ music), and fun vocal music for social gatherings. His songs often used different structures than the popular "da capo aria" form of the time.
He also enjoyed creating music with a "learned" polyphonic style. This means music where several independent melodies are played or sung at the same time. You can hear this in his many canons (like a round, where melodies repeat), full anthems, and the strict fugal parts of his instrumental pieces.
Even though he had a traditional style, some of his later trio sonatas (pieces for three instruments) showed he was also aware of the newer Classical styles emerging. Hayes didn't publish much of his instrumental music, but his vocal works were very popular. Many musicians, both amateur and professional, bought the printed copies.
Important works like his ode The Passions, the short oratorio The Fall of Jericho, and his Six Cantatas demonstrate that William Hayes was one of the best English composers of the 1700s.
Hayes as a Writer
William Hayes also wrote about music. His book The Art of Composing Music included the first published description of aleatoric composition. This is music created by chance, though Hayes wrote about it in a funny, satirical way.
In his book Remarks, he shared his thoughts on music. He especially loved the music of Handel and Corelli more than other composers like Rameau or Geminiani. His Anecdotes give us a peek into how music festivals were organized in towns outside big cities during the mid-1700s.
When Hayes passed away, he left his large music library to his son, Philip Hayes, who was also a composer. Eventually, the musical writings and scores of both father and son ended up in the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford in 1801.
Key Musical Works
William Hayes composed many different types of music. Here are some of his important pieces:
Church Music (Sacred Works)
- The Fall of Jericho: An oratorio (a large musical story, usually religious) from around 1740–1750.
- Sixteen Psalms: A collection of psalms published in London in 1773.
- David: Another oratorio, which his son Philip Hayes finished.
- About 20 anthems and other church music, found in Cathedral Music in Score, edited by Philip Hayes in 1795.
Vocal Music (Secular Works)
These are songs not for church:
- 12 Arietts or Ballads and 2 Cantatas: Published in Oxford in 1735.
- When the fair consort: An ode (a song praising something or someone) from 1735.
- Circe: A masque (a type of entertainment with music and dance) from 1742.
- Six Cantatas: Published in London in 1748.
- Peleus and Thetis: From around 1749.
- The Passions: A famous ode from 1750, with words by William Collins.
- Ode to the Memory of Mr. Handel: An ode honoring Handel, from around 1759.
- Collections of Catches, Glees, and Canons (fun, short vocal pieces), published between 1757 and 1785.
Music for Instruments
- Six concerti grossi: Pieces for a small group of solo instruments and a larger orchestra.
- The Rival Nations: A concerto.
- Harpsichord concerto in G: From around 1735–1740.
- Two organ concertos: One in A and another in D from 1755.
- Six trio sonatas: Pieces for three instruments.
His Books and Writings
William Hayes also shared his musical knowledge through writing:
- The Art of Composing Music by a Method Entirely New (1751): This book explored new ways of creating music in a satirical way.
- Remarks on Mr. Avison's Essay on Musical Expression (1753): Here, Hayes shared his thoughts on another musician's ideas about how music expresses feelings.
- Anecdotes of the Five Music Meetings (1768): This book gives interesting stories and details about music events in Oxford.
Recordings of His Music
Even though William Hayes lived a long time ago, his music is still performed and recorded today! Here are some examples of his works you can find on recordings:
- O Worship the Lord: A church anthem recorded by the Choir of New College, Oxford.
- Collections of his concertos and other instrumental pieces, performed by groups like Capriccio Basel.
- Parts of his famous ode The Passions, recorded by singers like Emma Kirkby.
- The complete The Passions ode, performed by La Cetra Barockorchester Basel.
- Other recordings feature his vocal and instrumental music, including his Harpsichord Concerto and Trio Sonata in E minor.
- Ceremonial Oxford: A recording of his music for the University of Oxford.
- The Fall of Jericho: His oratorio has also been recorded by groups like the Corelli Orchestra.
