Aylward, Theodore

1730-1801

English composer and organist. Very little is known of his early life. He is said to have been a good scholar and was already known as a composer in 1755. After 1760 he was organist of several London churches successively and in 1771 was appointed professor of music in Gresham College. He was assistant director of the Handel Commemoration in 1784, and in 1788 was organist and director of the choristers of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. He received the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Music from Oxford University in 1791. His works consist of music for the dramas, Harlequin's Invasion, Midsummer Night's Dream, Cymbeline and others; six lessons for the organ; elegies and glees; eight canzonets for soprano voices; songs and church-music in manuscript.