Horsley, William

1774-1858

Composer and organist; the descendant of an old Northumbrian family whose castle still stands near Morpeth. Born in London and at sixteen years of age was articled for five years to Theodore Smith, a pianist. From him, however, he received more ill-treatment than instruction. Through his acquaintance with the three Pring brothers and John Wall Lallcott, he was encouraged to write glees, the composition of which afterwards made his reputation. In 1794 he was elected organist of Ely Chapel Holborn, and three years later was made a member of the Royal Society of Musicians. About 1847 he resigned his position in Holborn and became assistant organist to Dr. Callcott at the Asylum for Female Orphans Succeeding him as organist in 1802 Horsley held this position until 1854 He, with Dr. Callcott, founded the Concentores Sodales in 1798 a club for the encouragement of glee and canon writing. In 1800 he graduated as Bachelor of Music at Oxford, his exercise being an anthem, When Israel came out of Egypt. He held other positions in London as organist and in 1813, with others, founded the Philharmonic Society. The most popular of his glees are By Celia's Arbour, See the Chariot at Hand, Mine Be a Cot, Cold is Cadwallo's Tongue, and O Nightingale. He also published a collection of Hymn and Psalm Tunes; a Collection of forty Canons; a Collection of Psalm Tunes with Interludes; songs, sonatas, and other pieces for the piano, and An Explanation of the Major and Minor Scales. When Mendelssohn visited England in 1829 he formed an intimate friendship with the Horsleys.