From the Archives: William Dance

William Dance (1755 – 5 June 1840)

Pencil drawing by the sitter's uncle George Dance the younger (1 April 1741 – 14 January 1825) who, like his father (and William’s grandfather) was an architect, but also a portraitist.  Signed by the artist and dated April 21st 1793.

Dance, a pianist, violinist and composer, was on RSM’s Court of Assistants and very active in the governance and guidance of the Society, his name appearing dozens of times in the minute books from 1785 onwards.

Donated by Stanley Lucas (1834-1903) who was Secretary from 1862 until the year of his death, as well as being involved with the Philharmonic Society (1866-1880), and a partner in the music publishing company ‘Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co.’ during the years 1873-1899.  He was the son of the composer Charles Lucas (1808-1869).

William is depicted in typical fashion, half-length, facing to his right, wearing buttoned jacket, waistcoat and stock.  He was a violinist in theatre orchestras from the age of sixteen and leader of the orchestra during Wilhelm Cramer’s absence from the Commemoration of Handel festival in 1790.  He was a founding member of the Philharmonic Society in 1813 and their first Treasurer.

William Thomas Parke wrote in his Musical Memoirs (London, 1830), that Dance’s performance of a piano concerto at the Hanover Square Rooms in 1789 “displayed great taste and power of execution” (vol. I, p.111).

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