Kenneth Ellis (bass)

William Boyce (1710-1779) is chiefly remembered as organist, church-composer, and editor of 'Cathedral Music'. But he also distinguished himself in the sphere of theatre music. (His Harlequin's Invasion, 1759) contains one song known by everyone - 'Heart of Oak'). The Shepherd's Lottery, a 'musical entertainment', by one Moses Mendez, for which Boyce wrote the music, was produced at Drury Lane in 1751. The 'symphony' (or entr'acte, as we should call it) that concludes the suite is a fine example of Boyce's sturdy Englishness.