English composer William Shield was famous for his operas and pantomimes. He was admired by Haydn who was to prove a lasting influence, and rose to become Master of the King's Music despite coming from a relatively poor background. His String Trios from 1791 were written in Rome and mark a striking new level of compositional attainment in the English chamber music repertory of the time. Shield's scores are studded with an enlightened cosmopolitanism, encoding Spanish, Russian, Slavonic and Haydnesque elements, cast in his ingenious and lyrically attractive blend of styles.
