British composers who were who in 1913

[Sydney Grew]

  !

Oddly enough, there are no composers with names beginning with "U," so here are the five "Vs":

225) E. van der Straeten, composer, bass viol player, and writer on musical subjects.
   b. Dusseldorf, 1855.
   Father: Edmund van der Straeten, late burgomaster and Member of the Prussian Diet.
   Grandfather: Anton van der Straeten, sous prefet under Napoleon, and Knight of the Legion of Honour.
   e. at Cologne.
   In 1911-1912 he formed and conducted the chorus of six hundred voices for "The Miracle" at Olympia, and also the chorus for the Covent Garden performances of that work in 1912-1913.
   His published compositions include a Suite on English airs, two Albums of solo pieces for 'cello and piano; Suite for piano and strings; "The Lily of Kashmir," opéra comique in three acts ; Christmas Cantata, songs, vocal duets, trios, etc.
   Devotes a great deal of time and energy to promoting chamber concerts, at which he has produced a considerable number of modern works for the first time in London; author of "Technics of Violoncello Playing," "Romance of the Fiddle," "History of the Violoncello," "The Viola," and "The Revival of Viols."
   [Grove's Dictionary enters him under "Straeten." His full name was Edmund Sebastian Joseph van der Straeten, and he settled in London in 1888.]

226) Chas. Vincent (Chas. John Vincent), organist and composer.
   b. Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, 1852.
   His parents were both musicians, his father being an organist and his mother (née Eliza Sherborne) a pianist.
   e. at Durham Cathedral Choir School.
   He is an examiner for Trinity College, London, for which institution he has travelled all over the British Empire.
   He has composed a great deal of Church music, organ and piano pieces, songs, part-songs, cantatas and orchestral works, including "Storm" overture (Bradford and Crystal Palace, under Manns).
   He is also author of several text-books upon musical subjects.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

227) George Frederick Vincent, organist.
   b. Houghton, Durham, 1855.
   Father: Charles J. Vincent.
   Brother of Dr. Chas. Vincent.
   e. at Field House School, Sunderland.
   His numerous compositions comprise operettas, cantatas, services, organ, pianoforte and violin solos.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

228) Albert Visetti, professor of singing, composer, and conductor.
   b. Dalmatia, 1846, his father being an Italian landowner in that country and his mother English.
   After devoting some time to a course of training on the Continent, he came to England, and at once took out letters of naturalisation.
   Among the important public appointments he has held may be mentioned the post of Director and Conductor of the Bath Philharmonic Society, for which Mr. Visetti wrote a cantata, "The Desert and the Praise of Song." His compositions include a "Cantico des Cantici" (libretto by Boito); an opera in three acts, "Giselda"; an opera, "Les Trois Mousquetaires" (the only musical setting of the romance, the libretto of which was specially written by Dumas père); "La Diva," waltz song, and many other songs, choral works, and music of a miscellaneous character.
   Mr. Visetti is also Editor of the Handel and Brahms editions published by Messrs. Augener.
   He is a littérateur, and has written the life of Verdi.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

229) Gustav Theodore von Holst, composer and teacher.
   b. Cheltenham, 1874.
   Father: Adolph von Holst.
   e. at Cheltenham Grammar School.
   He first appeared in London at St. James's Hall on May 20, 1904, when he conducted his own "Suite de Ballet"; his principal compositions are as follows, and have all been produced at the Queen's Hall; "The Mystic Trumpeter" (1905), "King Estmere" (1908); "A Somerset Rhapsody" (1910), "Choral Hymns" from the "Rig Veda" (1911), "Beni Mora" (Suite for orchestra, May, 1912), "Phantastes" (Suite for orchestra, July, 1912).
   [Grove's Dictionary lists many interesting but unpublished and seldom heard early works, which are not mentioned above: stage works, symphonic poems, a symphony, a Song of the Night for violin and orchestra, etc. etc.]   

[eschiss1]

Re Holst: I think the symphony and Song of the Night have been recorded twice and at least twice each respectively, but in the concert hall I'd agree they're probably seldom heard... (actually, among only 19 performances of Holst's music listed at the BachTrack site, one is of Song of the Night, in a cello arrangement, October 12 this year at Cadogan Hall, London.)

Edmund S.J. van der Straeten lived from 1855-1934; a couple of things of his are at IMSLP. (We also have a few of Scott-Gatty's songs there, yes. Some were popular enough to be republished in edited form in the USA, though that may not have been a high hurdle to jump- I don't know. It always interests me to see what music by composers not of the US turns up from American publishers under the weaker copyright laws we had then, though, and from there to the LoC's American heritage scans (of music published in the USA 1840 or so-1885.)

[Sydney Grew]

Eighteen composers beginning with "W", two beginning with "Y", and, finally, four with "Z":

230) Ernest Walker, composer, pianist, and author.
   e. privately.
   Director of Music, Balliol College, Oxford.
   Is the composer of a number of orchestral and choral works, including "Hymn to Dionysus," "Ode to a Nightingale," etc., also other vocal and instrumental music.
   His literary publications include a "History of Music in England," a monograph on "Beethoven," and numerous articles.
   [Grove's Dictionary gives a detailed list of many works, and tells us that "his Cello Sonata (1914) combines passion and harmonic adventure."]

231) William Wallace.
   b. Greenock, Scotland.
   Father: the late James Wallace, M.D., J.P.
   e. at Fettes College, Edinburgh.
   Was at the R.A.M. for about a year, at the end of which his scena, "Lord of Darkness," was performed at a Students' Concert; subsequently had five first performances at the Crystal Palace, including "The Passing of Beatrice", "In Praise of Scottish Poesie," and "Sister Helen"; conducted at Queen's Hall his "Rhapsody of Mary Magdalene," and later, at New Brighton, a special concert of his own compositions, including the "Creation" symphony and "Freebooter Songs"; was commissioned by the Philharmonic Society to write a work - "Greeting to the New Century"; productions at Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts include first performance of "Pelléas and Mélisande" Suite and Symphonic Poem No. 5 - "Wallace, A.D. 1305-1905"; conducted first performance of "Villon" at a New Symphony Orchestra Concert.
   Literary works: "The Divine Surrender - a Mystery Play" (Stock), "The Threshold of Music" (Macmillan); contributor to reviews and magazines on musical and dramatic subjects.
   [In his book "The Threshold of Music - an Inquiry into the Development of the Musical Sense" (London, 1908 - available for down-load HERE), Wallace states that "his aim is to interest the musician in the mental forces to which he owes his own accomplishment and his perception of the art."]

232) Richard Henry Walthew, composer, pianist, and teacher.
   b. London, 1872
   Father: Richard Frederick Walthew, merchant.
   e. at Islington Proprietary School.
   The first public performance of his works was of "The Pied Piper," by the Highbury Philharmonic, in 1892; since then he has composed several works, including a setting of Keats' "Ode to the Nightingale," chamber music and songs.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

233) John Warriner, composer, organist, teacher, and lecturer.
   b. Bourton, Shropshire, 1860.
   e. privately and at Trinity College, Dublin.
   Editor of "The National Portrait Gallery of British Musicians" (Sampson Low, 1896); author of "Primer on Transposition" (Novello), "The Art of Teaching Music" (Hammond), etc.; was editor for two years of The Minim.
   [No specific information provided about his compositions, and he is not in Grove's Dictionary.]

234) James Haydn Waud, contra bassist.
   b. London.
   e. at St. Mary's School, Wolverhampton.
   He is the composer of numerous double bass solos, and of three orchestral overtures, one of which was heard at the Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

235) Fred Whishaw, novelist and composer.
   Father: Bernard Whishaw.
   e. at Leamington College and Uppingham.
   First appeared in London as a vocalist in 1886; he is also the composer of several songs, but is, perhaps, better known to the musical world for his excellent adaptations in English of Russian and other songs, notably in the Royal Edition of Tschaikovsky Songs.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary. Nor does his name appear in John Sutherland's "Longman Companion to Victorian Fiction." But the Internet Text Archive has available a number of his books: "The Romance of the Woods (1895)," "A Boyar of the Terrible (1896)," "Mazeppa (1902)," "Moscow - a Story of the French Invasion (1905)," "The Degenerate" (1909), "Out of Doors in Tsarland - a Record of the Seeings and Doings of a Wanderer in Russia (1893)," as well as several translations of Dostoyevsky. - And indeed I have just now discovered a Wikipedia entry which gives much information, and lists around fifty books! His full name was Frederick James Whishaw, and he was born in St. Petersburg in 1854.]

236) Maude Valerie White, composer.
   b. Normandy.
   e. in Heidelberg and Paris; studied for four years at the R.A.M.
   Principal songs: "Lead Kindly Light," "Absent yet Present," "The Devout Lover," "How do I Love Thee," "Three Little Songs," "The Spring has Come," Four Albums of German Songs, "Es muss doch Frühling Werden," "Isdotta Blanzesmano," "So we'll go no more A-roving," "The Throstle," Four Songs from "In Memoriam," "The Bonny Curl," "It is na Jean," "A Song of the Sahara," "Among the Roses," "Prière," "John Anderson, My Jo," etc.; she has also composed a ballet called "The Captured Butterfly," and an unpublished opera, "Smaranda."
   Has travelled a great deal in almost every country in Europe, also in South America (where she rode across the Andes), in Algeria, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, etc.; has for some time past lived chiefly in England and Sicily, where she happened to be at the time of the great Messina earthquake.
   [According to Grove's Dictionary, the influence of her songs may be heard in the songs of Vaughan Williams and Quilter. She published two volumes of memoirs: "Friends and Memories" (London, 1914) and "My Indian Summer" (London, 1932).]

237) Charles Francis Abdy Williams, organist and composer.
   e. privately.
   Author of several works dealing with History and Theory of Music.
   [No specific information provided about his compositions. Eight of his books - a selection - are listed in Grove's Dictionary. While at Bradfield College he taught the boys to play auloi and lyres constructed on ancient models, and in 1904 he trained the priests of Capri in the Solesmes system of chant.]

238) Charles Lee Williams, organist and composer.
   Has composed a large number of works, principally Church music.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

Unnumbered) Greta Williams, contralto.
   b. London.
   Originally a juvenile pianist.
   It is of interest to recall that it was Miss Greta Williams who behaved so courageously at the wreck of the Stella, when during the fourteen dreadful hours she and the few other survivors passed in an open boat, she calmed the fears of the crew and fellow-passengers by singing "O Rest in the Lord."
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

239) Philip Hamilton Williams, amateur composer.
   b. Highbury, 1873.
   Father: Thornton Arthur Williams, tea broker.
   Mother an authoress.
   A nephew of Miss Anna Williams, Madame Marian MacKenzie (by marriage), and Henry Baumer, composer and pianist.
   e. Hastings and University College, London.
   Is a chartered accountant by profession; composer of "The Mad Dog," with orchestral accompaniment; "Day and Night," sung by Miss Muriel Foster; piano quartets, violin sonatas, and about forty songs; set "The Jackdaw of Rheims," with full orchestral accompaniment, for Mr. Kennerley Rumford.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

240) F. Delmar Williamson, baritone, vocal coach, and composer.
   b. Liverpool, 1861.
   e. Rossall School.
   Has composed several popular songs, including "Venite, Jovial Sons of Hesper," "Six Serenades," "The Clink of the Canakin," "Life's Garden," and a series of "Village Ballads."
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

241) Archibald Wayet Wilson, organist and composer.
   e. at R.C.M.
   Composer of "Before the Beginning of Years" (for chorus and orchestra), also part-songs and Church music, etc.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

242) Christopher Wilson, composer and conductor.
   b. Melbourne, Derbyshire.
   Comes of a musical family, his mother and grandmother having been accomplished pianists, and his uncle (Mr. F. W. Davenport) a professor at the R.A.M.
   Among his many compositions are the incidental music to "Kismet," "The Virgin Goddess," "The Pied Piper," and to many of Shakespeare's plays as produced by F. R. Benson, Miss Ellen Terry, and Mr. Oscar Asche.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

243) Hilda Wilson, contralto and teacher of singing.
   b. Monmouth.
   Father: James Wilson.
   Madame Hilda Wilson is the composer of several successful songs, amongst others "From Oversea" (under the nom-de-plume of Douglas Hope) and "When Birds Do Sing" (Hilda Wilson), both published by Boosey, and "My Roses" (Cramer).
   Her favourite works are Dvôrak's [sic] "Stabat Mater" and Bach's St. Matthew Passion Music.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

244) William Wolstenholme, organist and composer.
   Trained at the College for the Blind, Worcester, and privately.
   Published compositions: Intermezzo for orchestra, quartet for strings, sonata for violin and pianoforte, pieces for violin, viola, violoncello, organ, and pianoforte; songs, madrigal, part-songs, anthems.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

245) Haydn Wood, violinist and composer.
   b. Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 1882.
   Conducted his "Orchestral Suite" at one of the Patrons' Concerts at the Queen's Hall; gained second prize in the Cobbett Musical Competition for his "String Fantasia"; he has also written for the orchestra a "Set of Variations" and a "Suite de Ballet," and has composed a "Piano Concerto," besides numerous songs and violin solos.
   [Neither the "Orchestral Suite," nor the "String Fantasia," nor the "Suite de Ballet," nor even the Piano Concerto is mentioned in Grove's Dictionary. But a "Phantasie" for string quartet. (1906) and a - presumably different, and much later - Piano Concerto in D minor (1947) are there.]

246) Amy Woodforde-Finden, composer.
   b. Valparaiso, Chili.
   Father: Alfred Ward, Consul in Valparaiso.
   m. Colonel Woodforde-Finden (retired), Indian Army.
   Mrs. Woodforde-Finden is the composer of a large number of delightful and successful songs, the best known among them being "Four Indian Love Lyrics," "Lover in Damascus," "On Jhelum River," "O Flower of all the World," "The Pagoda of Flowers," "A Dream of Egypt," and "Golden Hours"; her latest compositions are "Stars of the Desert" (four more Indian love lyrics) and "Three Little Mexican Songs."
   [Grove's: "She was one of nine children of an American serving as British Consul in Valparaiso. For some years she lived in India."]

247) Francis Cunningham Woods, composer, teacher and organist.
   b. London, 1862.
   e. at the City of London School and Neuwied-on-the-Rhine.
   Published compositions: Anthems, songs, incidental music for the "Tempest" (O.U.D.S., 1894); cantatas, "King Harold," "A Greyport Legend," "Old May Day"; Suite in F for small orchestra; Ode, "The Lords of Labour."
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

248) Dalhousie Young, pianist and composer.
   b. India, 1866.
   Father: Gen. Ralph Young, R.E.
   e. at Clifton and Balliol College, Oxford.
   His compositions include "The Blessed Damozel," performed by the London Choral Society, also in the provinces and at Graz (Styria), and a large number of songs of which "Bredon Hill" is perhaps the most popular.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

249) Constance Younger (Mrs. H. F. Delevigne), teacher of singing and pianoforte, accompanist, and coach.
   b. 4 Castle Baynard, in the City of London.
   Father: Mr. Edward Younger, a partner in the firm of Vivian, Younger & Bond.
   e. privately, and in Stuttgart and Paris.
   Has published numerous songs.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

250) Michael Zacharewitsch, solo violinist.
   b. Ostrow, Russia, 1878.
   e. at St. Petersburg and Moscow.
   Made his musical début at the age of twelve, when he played Tschaikovsky's Concerto in Odessa, the master himself conducting, and afterwards presenting the youthful artiste with a massive silver wreath with the following words inscribed: "Your talent is colossal, and your magic bow reminds me of Wieniawski."
   He introduced Sir Edward Elgar's new Concerto to Scotland in 1911, when touring with the Scottish Orchestra, and in the same year interpreted that great work at Sheffield and Nottingham with the Halle Orchestra (under Herr Balling), and also at Liverpool, Birmingham, and in Italy.
   Is the composer of many violin solos, and has now (January, 1913) completed a new work for solo violin, accompanied by string quartette and recitation, based on a poem on "Life and Love," by the Queen of Roumania.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary!]

251) Napoleone Zardo, baritone and teacher of singing.
   b. Crespano, Veneto, in 1858.
   Came to London in 1895, giving up the operatic stage for concert work and composition; a number of successful songs from his pen have since been published; his opera, "La Vedova Scaltra," was produced in Italy in 1909.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

252) Agnes Marie Zimmermann, pianist and composer.
   b. Cologne, but came to England at a very early age.
   She has edited Schumann's pianoforte works, and Beethoven's and Mozart's sonatas, besides composing a number of important pieces for the piano and violin, songs, part-songs, etc.
   [She was born in 1847, and died in 1925.]

253) Louis Zimmermann, violinist.
   b. Groningen, Holland, in 1873.
   In 1902 was engaged by Sir Henry Wood to play solo in Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben" when performed at Queen's Hall under the composer's direction; in 1904 appointed Professor at the R.A.M.; has composed some songs and pieces for violin and piano, and two works for violin and orchestra.
   [Not in Grove's Dictionary.]

It is my hope that the appearance here of these unfamiliar British names might lead to the discovery of some long-neglected works.

There are in the book also quite a number of foreign composers of an equal obscurity; in a few weeks' time I will extract those and list them in a separate thread.

[eschiss1]

re Charles William Pearce (1856-1928) - two compositions @ IMSLP, both from Dudley Buck's "Vox Organi" collections.
Walthew has had his own thread here if memory serves
Christopher Wilson may be the 1874-1919 one whose suite for string orchestra is again at IMSLP.
Wolstenholme (1865-1931) has a string quartet and several organ works, anthems, etc. @ IMSLP (and another biographical link).
Dalhousie Young died in 1921.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks Sydney for this fascinating survey which, tantalisingly, provokes more questions than it provides answers!

[RoothamRVWFinzi]

Hi everybody,

I noticed that Cyril Bradley Rootham was missing in the 'R' section - surely an unjustly neglected British composer!

I've enjoyed this thread - it's been extremely enlightening.

My very best wishes,

Eric.

[Jimfin]

Thank you for a fascinating survey: so interesting to see these "snapshots" of how things were seen 99 years ago. I quite agree about Rootham, and he isn't much more performed now than he was then!

[Cogidubnus]

Is is really the case that Ralph Vaughan Williams isn't listed in this book?  By then he'd had the Tallis Fantasia, Toward the Unknown Region, In the Fen Country and A Sea Symphony performed!

[eschiss1]

Hrm. As to James (John?) Haydn Waud, I see 55 works (counting possible duplications) by him scanned in at LoC... may as well go have a look...