William Walond Sr. facts for kids

William Walond (born in Oxford, England, and baptised on July 16, 1719 – died in Oxford, and buried on August 21, 1768) was an English composer and organist. He wrote music and played the organ, a large musical instrument.

The Life of William Walond

William Walond spent most of his life in Oxford, a famous city in England. He was born there in 1719 and passed away there in 1768. He is remembered for his musical talents during the 18th century.

Becoming an Organist and Composer

William Walond started his musical journey as an Assistant Organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. He worked there for four years, learning and practicing his skills. This was a very important job, as cathedrals often had grand organs and choirs.

After his time as an assistant, Walond continued his studies. He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford in 1757. To complete his studies, he wrote a special piece of music. This piece was a setting of a poem called Ode on St Cecilia's Day, written by the famous poet Alexander Pope. Creating such a piece showed his skill as a composer.

Walond's Musical Works

William Walond published several pieces of music during his career. He released two collections of music called "voluntaries." These pieces were written for either the organ or the harpsichord. A voluntary is a type of musical piece often played in churches, sometimes before or after a service. His first collection (Opus 1) came out around 1752, and his second (Opus 2) was published in 1758.

He also composed an anthem titled Not unto us, O Lord. An anthem is a piece of sacred music, usually sung by a choir, often based on words from the Bible.

His Family and Legacy

William Walond had a large family with fourteen children. His oldest son, also named William Walond, followed in his father's footsteps. William Walond Jr. (who lived from about 1750 to 1836) became the Organist of Chichester Cathedral. He was the last person to hold this specific title there. In 1801, the job of 'Organist' was combined with another role, 'Master of the Choristers'. This meant that William Walond Jr. played an important part in the history of music at Chichester Cathedral.

William Walond's work as a composer and organist helped shape the music of his time. His pieces are still studied by music historians today.