William Henry Squire

William Henry Squire (8 August 1871 – 17 March 1963) was a composer and cellist. Pieces he wrote include Danse Rustique, Bouree, Tarantella, and Humoresque.

Born in Ross-on-Wye, Squire was as well known as a cellist as he was a composer. Educated at Kingsbridge Grammar School in South Devon, he became a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music in 1884 where he studied the violoncello with Edward Howell and composition with Parry and Stanford. His London debut was in 1890 at the St James' Hall; he played in the Covent Garden Orchestra 1894-7 and the Queen's Hall Orchestra 1897-1901, and toured widely as a soloist, notably with Clara Butt. He came to Doncaster in 1908 and played his own arrangements of Chopin and Offenbach.

Squire taught at the RCM between 1898 and 1917 and at the Guildhall School between 1911 and 1917; He was associated with the Performing Rights Society between 1926 and 1953. His last public concert appearance was in 1941 in Exeter Cathedral - he died in London aged 91.

Squire wrote a Cello Concerto, two operettas, and orchestral pieces. His instrumental miniatures are mostly for cello and piano (although Slumber Song is for violin, Sylvania for piano solo and Calma de Mare for mandolin). His most popular works were Danse Orientale, Harlequinade, Consolation, Larghetto in D, Madrigal in G, L'Adieu, Bourrée, Danse Rustique, Gavotte, Minuet, Old Swedish Air, "Palm Court" Priere, Tzig-Tzig (a virtuosic czardas), Tarantella in D minor and transcriptions of various folk songs.

Faure's cello and piano arrangement of Sicilienne opus 78 is dedicated to Squire.