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William Shield (arr. Moffat): The Countess of Westmoreland's Delight

1,348 views · Published 9 July 2017 · 3:48 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: PSearPianist · 2017 · Music

Phillip Sear plays a 1918 piano adaptation by Alfred Moffat of a minuet by the British composer William Shield (1748-1829).
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The British violinist, violist and composer William Shield (1748-1829) was born, and had his early musical education in Northumbria. He eventually moved to London, where he played viola in the orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, for which he also wrote stage works. In 1817 he was appointed Master of the King's Musick, an honorary title currently held (at the time of uploading) by Judith Weir. Alfred Moffat (1863-1950) studied in Berlin, and is mainly remembered today for his work with various German and British publishers to produce editions of baroque and classical British and French violin works. His 'Intrada' for violin and piano remains popular today (it seems to be an original piece in baroque style). Moffat also produced some piano transcriptions and adaptations and this comes from a set of 'Old English Harpsichord Dances'. Moffat certainly seems to fill out the original harpsichord writing, making the textures sound almost Brahmsian at times. This piece was also transcribed for piano by Ignaz Friedman. The strange spelling of 'Westmorland' seems to be deliberate.

My thumbnail shows a detail from an Australian edition of Shield's minuet.
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk (Email: [email protected]
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William Shield (arr. Moffat): The Countess of Westmoreland's Delight

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