Shield, William (1748–1829)

English violinist and composer. He embarked on a career as a violinist, but from 1778 produced his own works with great success at London theatres. His most popular piece was the opera Rosina (1782).

Orphaned at the age of nine, he was apprenticed to a shipbuilder, but studied music with Charles Avison in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he also appeared as a solo violinist and led the subscription concerts from 1763. After engagements in Scarborough and Stockton-on-Tees he went to London as second violin of the Royal Opera orchestra in 1772, becoming principal viola the following year. After the success of his first opera, The Flitch of Bacon in 1778, he was appointed composer to Covent Garden Theatre 1778–91 and again 1792–1807. In 1791 he met Haydn in London, and visited France and Italy. Two treatises, on harmony and thorough-bass, were published in 1800 and 1817, in which year he was appointed Master of the King's Musick.

Works Stage over 50 works, including The Flitch of Bacon (1778), Rosina (1782), Robin Hood (1784), Richard Cœur de Lion (1786), The Marriage of Figaro (after Beaumarchais, 1797), Aladdin, The Woodman (1791), The Travellers in Switzerland (1794), Netley Abbey, The Italian Villagers.

Chamber string quartets and trios; violin duets; songs.