William Young may justly be seen as an outstanding artistic personality between Matthew Locke and Henry Purcell. Born in England (date and place are unknown) and educated as a musician, he spent the greatest time of his life and his famous career as a composer and excellent viola da gamba player on the continent. Several stays, in Italy, presumably in the Netherlands and above all in Austria, where he was “Aiutante di Camera” of Archduke Ferdinand Karl at the Innsbruck court from 1652, made him familiar with the latest stylistic developments and ensured his fame as a composer and a virtuoso of the viola da gamba; J.G. Walther still names him in 1732 in his "Musical Lexicon". William Young died in Innsbruck in 1662; a comprehensive appraisal of his works, some of which are scattered as individual movements in collections by various authors, is still pending.
Dance Movements (1653) (Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, Balletto) for two recorders (descant or tenor) or two violins, viola da gamba and basso continuo
With the new edition of these playful, masterfully composed baroque dances, we are responding to the frequently expressed wish for editions of hitherto little-known literature for two upper parts and bass, whereby in his dances Young even presents an obligatory, attractive viol or cello part as a special surprise: elegant chamber music without major technical difficulties.
