Crotch, WILLIAM

Crotch, WILLIAM, composer, was born at Norwich in 1775. His musical genius was quite as precocious as that of the great Mozart. When little more than two years old he could play God save the King with chords, and in 1779 he was performing in London as a musical prodigy. When only twenty-two he was appointed professor of Music in Oxford University, and in 1822 he obtained the principalship of the Royal Academy of Music. Crotch composed a large number of pieces for the organ and piano, two oratorios, ten anthems, &c.; and he was author of Elements of Musical Composition (1812) and Styles of Music of all Ages (1807-18). He died at Taunton, December 29, 1847.