The British Musical Biography

[E] Shield, William, composer and writer,
born at Whickham, Durham, March 5, 1748.

[+] He studied under his father, a singing-master,
and practised the vioHn and harpsichord.
Apprenticed to a boat-builder at North
Shields, on the death of his father, but after-
wards became leader of the Newcastle Sub-
set iption Concerts, and studied music under
Avison, who befriended him. He went to
Scarborough as leader of the theatre orchestra,
a,nd the subscription concerts. Violin-player
in orchestra of the opera, London, 1772 ; and
in 1773 he was made principal viola-player.
Composer to Covent Garden Theatre, 1778-91
and 1792-97. Visited France and Italy with
Ritson, the antiquary, 1791. Master of the
Royal Music on death of Parsons, 1817.
Original member of the Philharmonic Society.
He died at 31, Berners Street, London, Janu-
ary 25, 1829. Buried, February 4, in south
cloister of Westminster Abbey. A new stone
was placed over his grave in 1892. On Octo-
ber 19, 1891, a memorial cross was unveiled
by Dr. Hodgkin in Whickham churchyard.

[W] Works. — Music to Dramas, Operas, etc. :
Flitch of Bacon, 1778; Lord Mayor's Day,
1782 ; Rosina, 1783 ; Poor soldier, 1783 ; Har-
lequin Friar Bacon, 1783 ; Robin Hood, 1784 ;
Noble peasant, 1784 ; Fontainbleau, 1784 ;
Magic cavern, 1784 ; Nunnery, 1785 ; Love
in a camp, 1785 ; Choleric fathers, 1785 ;
Omai, 1785 ; Richard CcBur de Lion, 1786 ;
Euchanted castle, 1786 ; Marian, 1788 ;
Prophet, 1788 ; Highland reel, 1788 ; Aladdin,
1788 ; Crusade, 1790 ; Picture of Paris, 1790 ;
Oscar and Malvina (with Reeve), 1791 ; Wood-
man, 1792 ; Hartford bridge, 1792 ; Har-
lequin's Museum, 1793; Deaf lover, 1793;
Midnight wanderers, 1793 ; Sprigs of laurel,
1793 ; Travellers in Switzerland, 1794 ; Arrived
at Portsmouth, 1794; Netley Abbey, 1794;
Mysteries of the Castle, 1795 ; Lock and key,
1796 ; Abroad and at home, 1796 ; Italian
villagers, 1797 ; The farmer, 1798 ; Two faces
under a hood, 1807 ; Wicklow mountains.
A Cento, consisting of ballads, rounds, glees,
and a roundelay ; Cavatinas, canzonettas,
etc., London [1809]. Collection of six can-
zonets and an elegy, London, n.d. Collection
of favourite songs, etc., Loudon, n.d. Six
trios for violin, tenor, and violoncello, Lon-
don, n.d., S vols. Six duos for two wolins.
Six quartettes, 5 for 2 violins, tenor and 'cello,
and 1 for flute, violin, tenor, and 'cello,
op. 8. An introduction to Harmony, London,
1800; 2nd edition, 1817, Rudiments of
thorough-bass for young harmonists, London,
1815. Numerous songs, of which the best
known are. The wolf ; The thorn ; Old Towler ;
The heaving of the lead ; The Post Captain ;
The plough-boy ; Death of Tom Moody ; The
Arethusa ; Last whistle ; Lovely Jane ; My
own native village ; The bud of the rose ;
Sailor's epitaph ; On by the spur of valour
goaded ; and Violet nurs'd in woodlands wild.

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