Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Babell, William

Babell, William. An organist in London. His first essay in composition was to make the favorite airs in the operas of "Pyrrhus and Demetrius," "Hydaspes," and some others, into lessons for the harpsichord. After that he did the same by Handel's opera of "Rinaldo," and succeeded so well in the attempt, as to make from it a book of lessons, which, by the way, few would play but himself, but which has long been deservedly celebrated. He also composed twelve solos for the violin, or hautboy, twelve solos for the German flute and hautboy, and some concertos for small flutes and violins, and some other works enumerated in Walsh's catalogue. Babell died a young man, about the year 1722, having shortened his days by intemperance. It seems the fame of Babell's abilities had reached Ham-burg, for Mattheson says he was a pupil of Handel ; but in this he is mistaken, for Handel disdained to teach his art to any but princes.