Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

;
442 SHIELD SHIFT
siderable success both as a pianist and composer
in Germany. His works include a piano concerto,
a symphony, an overture, a, sonata for
violoncello, music for piano, organ, etc. as well
as songs. In February 1907 he gave a concert
of unpublished compositions of his own, in the
Palmengarten, Dresden, the programme of
which consisted of a sonata for two pianos, a
suite for clarinet and piano, and a quintet for
piano and strings. {£rit. Mus. Biog. ; Riemann's
Lexikon, etc.) M.
SHIELD, William, son of a singing-master,
was bom March5, 1748, at Whickham, Durham.
He received his first musical instruction when
six years old, from his father, but losing his
parent three years later, he was apprenticed to
a boat-builder at Noi'th Shields. His master,
however, permitted him to pursue his musical
studies, and he obtained some lessons in thoroughbass
from Charles Avison, and occasionally
played the violin at music meetings in the
neighbourhood. On the expiration of his
apprenticeship, having acquired sufficient knowledge
to lead the subscription concerts at Newcastle,
he determined upon making music his
profession, and removed to Scarborough, where
he became leader at the theatre and concerts.
Whilst there he produced his first composition,
an anthem for the opening of a new church at
Sunderland. Having been heard by Fischer
and Borghi, they recommended him to Giardini,
by whom he was engaged in 1772 as a second
violin in the Opera band. In 1773 he was
promoted to the post of principal viola—the
favourite instrument of composers—which he
held for eighteen years, and which he also filled
at all the principal concerts. In 1778 he produced,
at the Haymarket, his first dramatic
piece, the comic opera 'The Flitch of Bacon.'
This led to his being engaged as composer to
Govent Garden Theatre, a post which he occupied
until his resignation, 1791. During his
engagement he composed many operas and other
pieces. In 1791 he made the acquaintance of
Haydn, and was wont to say that in four days,
during which he accompanied Haydn from
London to Taplow and back, he gained more
knowledge than he had done by study in any
four years of his life. In the same year he
visited France and Italy. In 1792 he was
re-engaged as composer at Covent Garden, in
which capacity he acted uutU. 1797. In 1807
he gave up all connection with the theatre.
He was appointed Master of the King's Musiok
in 1817.
He published at various times, A ' Collection
of Favourite Songs, To which is added a Duet
for two Violins
'
' ; A Collection of Canzonets
and an Elegy ' ;
and A Cento, consisting of
'
'
Ballads, Rounds, Glees, etc. ; '
likewise Six
Trios for two Violins and Bass, ' and Six Duos
'
for two Violins.' He was also author of An
Iviroduction to Sannony, 1800 ; and Rudi-
of the day. Christopher Simpson clearly
ments of Thorough Bass, about 1815. His
dramatic compositions, consisting of operas,
musical farces, and pantomimes, were as follow :
'The Flitch of Bacon,' 1778; 'Lord Mayor's Day,' 1782; 'The
Poor Soldier,' ' Rosiiia,' Harlequin Friar Ba^on,' 1783 ' ; '
Bohin
'
Hood 'The Noble Peasant,' ' Fontainebleau,' 'The Magic Cavern.'
1784-''IjOve in a Camp,' "The Nunnery,' 'The Choleric Fathers,'
'Omai' 1'785; 'Richard Coeui' de Lion,' 'The Enchanted Castle,'
1786' 'The Highland Eeel,' 'Marian,' 'The Prophet,' 'Aladdin,'
1788; The ' Ci-usade," Tlie Picture of Paris,' 1790 : 'The Woodman,'
'Oscai-and Malviua' (with Reeve), 1791 ; 'Hartford Bridge,' 1792
'Harlequin'aMuseum,' 'The Deaf Lover,' 'TheMidnightWanderers.'
' Sprigs of Laurel,' 1793 '
Arrived at Portsmouth,' ; '
The Travellers
in Switzerland,' 'Netley Abbey,' 1794; 'The MyBterjes of the
Castle,' 1795 Abroad and at Home,' Lock and Key,' ; ' ' 1796 ; '
The
Italian Vilhiers,' ' 'rhe Village Ffite,' ' Wicklow Gold Mines,' 1797
' '
The Farmer,' 1798 ; Two Faces imder a Hood,' 1807.
In many of his pieces he introduced songs,
etc., selected from the works of other composers,
English and foreign ; and was thereby the means
of making the general public acquainted with
many beautiful melodies, of which they would
otherwise have remained ignorant.
Shield's melodies charm by their simple,
natural beauty ; at once vigorous, chaste, and
refined, they appeal directly to the hearts of
Englishmen. But he also wrote songs of agility,
to disijlay the powers of Mrs. Billington and
others. Among his most popular songs are
'
The Thorn,' The ' Wolf,' The heaving of the
'
lead,' Old Towler,' ' ' The Ploughboy,' and The
'
Post Captain '
;
but these are but some of the
most prominent. Shield died at his residence
in Berners Street, Jan. 25, 1829, and was
buried on Feb. 4 in the south cloister of Westminster
Abbey. With the exception of his
fine tenor, reputed a Stainer, which he bequeathed
to George IV. (who accepted the gift,
but directed that its utmost value should be
paid to the testator's presumed widow), he left
his whole estate to his 'beloved partner, Ann
[Stokes], Mrs. Shield upwards of forty years.'
His valuable musical library was sold in July
1829. [On Oct. 19, 1891, a memorial cross
was erected to his memory in Whickham
Churchyard, Durham.] yf. H. H.
SHIFT. In playing the violin, or any of
the instruments belonging to that family, an
executant effects a ' shift ' when the left hand
passes from one established position to another.
Thus, when the hand moves up or down the
finger-board the player was said to be on ' the
shift.' The term was also used to denote the
positions themselves, the second position being
known as the ' half-shift,' the third position as
the 'whole -shift,' and the fourth position as
the double-shift.' This technical acquirement,
'
which is now an exact and indispensable means
of reaching every note within the compass of
the violin, evidently originated in Italy. There
is a certain amount of ambiguity surrounding
its use by viol-players previous to its introduction
among violinists ;
but it is quite certain
that before the 17th century there are no
indications of any such custom. During the
17th century, however, there is little doubt
that it was employed by the best viol-players