William Croft

William Croft (baptized the December 30th 1678 - August 14th 1727) was a Compositeur English of the time baroque.

It was born in the manor from Nether Ettington in the Warwickshire. It accepted its instruction with the Royal Chapelle ( Royal Chapel ) under the direction of John Blow and remained there until in 1698.

In 1700, it became Organiste of the church Sainte Anne de Soho. In 1707, it took again the station become vacant by the death of Jeremiah Clarke, of “Master of the Children” of the royal Vault (where one of its pupils was Maurice Greene) and it succeeded the following year John Blow as organist of the Abbaye of Westminster. It composed, in 1714, the music played for the funeral of the queen Ann, and, in 1715, that of the crowning of the king George Ier.

In 1724, Croft published the collection Musica Sacra Sacred music. It was the first time that such a collection was printed in the form of partitions. The Burial Service (Office of burial) included in this collection, since then, was always used for the official funeral. Little time after, its health was degraded and he died at the time of a voyage to Bath.

The music for keyboard of Croft, for Virginal, virginal and Harpsichord, was published in two volumes by Howard Ferguson and Christopher Hogwood in 1974. Two others continuations were added in the increased edition of 1982.

Selective discography

Supplements Harpsichord works by Julian Rhodos (2 CD, Ismeron )

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