Crotch, William (1775–1847)

English composer. He was a child prodigy who played the organ at the age of four, went to Cambridge at the age of 11 to assist Randall at the organs of Trinity and King's Colleges, and produced an oratorio The Captivity of Judah there in 1789. In 1788 he moved to Oxford to study theology. In 1790 he began to study music and was appointed organist at Christ Church, Oxford; he succeeded Philip Hayes as professor in 1798. On the establishment of the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1822 he became its first principal.

Works Oratorios Palestine (1805–11) and The Captivity of Judah (two settings).

Odes Ode to Fancy (J Warton) and ode for the installation of Lord Grenville as Chancellor of Oxford University, ode for the accession of George IV.

Church music funeral anthem for the Duke of York; anthems and chants, motet Methinks I hear.

Other glees; concertos and fugues for organ.