Boyce : Symphony No. 5 in D Major

Symphony No. 5 in D Major

William Boyce (1711-1779)

William Boyce was an prominent figure in English music in the years following the heyday of George Frideric Handel, holding holding such public posts as Composer to the Chapel Royal and Master of the King’s Music. Working in a period of transition, when the conventions of Baroque music were morphing+ into the early stages of the Classical age, Boyce’s “Eight Symphonys” [sic] had little to do with the Italian opera SINFONIA of the day, rather hearkening back to an earlier use of the word , when instrumental interludes in Baroque choral music were commonly labelled as “symphonies.”

The 5^th Symphony is a compact work in three movement, rather reminiscent of the vigorous orchestral style of Handel, and exhibiting a breezy charm and forthright “English” spirit typical of Boyce. The weighty opening movement seems to have strayed in from the world of the orchestral suite, being a "French Overture," a musical structure familiar from the Overtures to many of Handel’s oratorios and operas, a familiar example being the “Ouverture” to Messiah. This first movement is indeed a brilliant, Handelian affair, with an opening section with fanfare interjections from trumpets and drums, and brilliant passages in the strings, followed by a sturdy fugue notable for its rhythmic vitality and cheerful spirit. The second movement is a neat and elegant interlude with an easy-going stride, featuring the oboes and strings. The concluding Minuetto is a sprightly dance finale, rather quicker than the kind of minuets heard later in Haydn and Mozart, bringing the symphony to a good-humoured conclusion.

GPYO