Little is known about William Duncombe, the composer. Some information online states that he died in 1818 or 1819 however I cannot locate any evidence to support this.
This is a copy of a baptism in 1737 that could be for William Duncombe. This baptism took place at St Stephen, Coleman St, City of London.
The footnotes of the piece, Minuet in C by Duncombe in the ABRSM piano syllabus for 2019 – 2020 states that it is known that he lived in London in the late 18th century and that he was the organist of St Dunstan’s in Highgate. A newspaper article in the Daily Advertiser on the 6th December 1802 states that Duncombe is the organist at St Dunstan’s Church West. This church has been replaced, the new one built in 1830s. A few pieces from the previous church remain such as the communion rail, which was carved by a previous vicar, John Dunne. The old church was demolished because Fleet St needed to be widened.
From Wikimedia Commons, in Public Domain.
Image extracted from page 151 of volume 1 of Old and New London, Illustrated, by Walter Thornbury. Original held and digitised by the British Library.
Wikipedia states ‘He is mainly known by a few small piano pieces (especially a Sonatina in C Major and the Fanfare or Fanfare Minuet) that are still reprinted in pedagogical collections. They are probably excerpts of the Progressive lessons for the harpsichord and piano forte, published in 1778 (or 1785)’.
From the John March Journals, written by an English gentleman composer, there are descriptions of life and the music of Georgian England, covering the period 1752 – 1828. He writes in his journal ‘ the following day we went to Kensington Church twice, where Mr Duncombe, who was just appointed organist, played two very good voluntaries and did the rest of the duty in his very best manner’.
In the Daily Advertiser, it states that Rev. John Pridden will preach a sermon at St Dunstan’s St West. Appropriate anthems (it is in support of the Royal Humane Society) will be sung by the children, the Music provided by Mr Duncombe, organist of the Parish.
References
www.ancestry.com
www.en.wikipedia/org/wiki/William_Duncombe_ (1947)
www.musicbrainz/org