Andante in A-flat

William Stevenson Hoyte (1844-1917) was a well known organ recitalist and organist of All Saint's, Margaret Street in London for over 40 years.

Hoyte's father died while he was a boy, and being unable to pay for lessons, he was almost entirely self-taught. He was regarded as a prodigy and had a few lessons with Sir John Goss (St. Paul's Cathedral) and with George Cooper (Chapel Royal).

He held posts at All Saints, King's Lynn, St. Paul's Bow Common, St. Matthew's City Road, Trinity Church, Westminster and finally at Margaret Street.

He was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music, and at the Royal College of Music.

In 1912, the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred the degree of Mus. D. on him.

He was most well known for a popular "Scherzo in B-flat".

W. S. Hoyte died on July 27, 1917 after a long and painful illness.

Being a traditional Anglo Catholic, the name of W. S. Hoyte has always been well known to me, but I never really knew that much about him, had never heard of any his music, and never seen a photo of him.

"Andante in A-flat" was published Weekes & Co. @ 1877. It is "composed and inscribed to his Friend Henry Smart".

Rather lengthy, the opening section is stately and melodic, and conjures up the full image of what I have always regarded as "sounding Anglican." The central section, played upon the Solo Orchestral Oboe is a delightful "pastorale scherzo" that contrasts well with the outer sections. The final part brings back the opening theme, but this time "diminishes," before the final phrases have the melody played in the left hand while the Solo Concert Flute adds a decorative descant above.

On the title page it states: "As Played by the Composer at his Recitals at the Royal Albert Hall, &."

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of W. S. Hoyte, of Henry Smart, to whom the piece is dedicated, and several churches where Hoyte served as organist.