Theodore Aylward, Sr.

Theodore Aylward (1730 – 27 February, 1801) was an English composer and organist. Born in Chichester, he was the son of Henry Aylward. He may have sung as a boy at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. He was organist successively of Oxford Chapel, London (c1760-1768), St Lawrence Jewry (1762-88), St Michael, Cornhill (1768–1781), and (until his death) of St. George's Chapel, Windsor (1788–1801). As well as these appointments, he was the Gresham Professor of Music (1771–1801). Aylwood was also an assistant director at the Handel Commemoration of 1784. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Musicians in 1763, and took the Oxford degree of DMus in 1791. But Aylward's compositions also reflect his knowledge of the music of Domenico Scarlatti and J.C. Bach.

Works Welcome sun and southern show'rs; a New Song (c1750) Ode on the Dawn of Peace (c1763) Six Songs in Harlequin's Invasion, Cymbeline, and Midsummer Night's Dream, (1765) Come nymphs and fauns, glee, (c1769) Six Lessons, for harpsichord, organ or piano, op.1 (c1784) Oft have I seen at early morn: a Favourite Sonnet (c1785) Eight Canzonets for two voices (c1790) Elegies and Glees, op.2 (c1790) Six Quartettos, 2 violins, viola, cello, op.4 (c1795) Morning Services, D, E♭ Five anthems