Selby, William

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Selby, William

Selby, William, English organist and composer; b. in England, c. 1738; d. Boston, Dec. 12, 1798. In 1760 he was appointed organist at Holy Sepulcher Church in London, where from 1765 to 1770 he pubi, both sacred and secular music. He settled in the U.S. in 1771, becoming organist at King’s Chapel in Boston. In 1773–74 he was organist at Trinity Church in Newport, R.I., and in 1776 he returned to Boston as organist at Trinity Church; from 1778 was organist at the Stone Chapel (formerly King’s Chapel). He led an extremely active musical life in Boston as an organist and conductor, giving many concerts of secular music as well as religious, and generally raising the musical standards of the area. He composed and pubi. 9 Psalms and hymns for Solo Voice, 8 religious and secular choral works, 6 songs, 9 pieces for Guitar, and 3 pieces for Keyboard.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire