HOLBROOKE, Joseph
b Croydon, 5 July 1878
d London, 5 August 1958, aged eighty
He studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He made his piano debut at the age of twelve, playing in music hall, and later supported himself by playing piano and conducting. He was a musically prolific composer who spent much of his life evangelising for his own music and that of other British composers. His reputation as a composer entirely of works for large orchestras is quite misplaced.
1886-90 (18-22)
Piano Concerto
1900 (22)
The Raven, symphonic poem
Variations on 'Three Blind Mice', for orchestra
Variations on 'The Girl I Left Behind Me', for orchestra
1901 (23)
Ode to Victory, for chorus and orchestra
1901-3 (23-5)
Ulalume, symphonic poem
1902 (24)
Queen Mab, for chorus and orchestra
1903 (25)
The New Renaissance, overture
The Bells, for chorus and orchestra
1904 (26)
The Vikings, symphonic poem
1905 (27)
Les hommages, for orchestra
1906 (28)
Byron, for chorus and orchestra
Variations on 'Auld Lang Syne', for orchestra
1907 (29)
Apollo and the Seaman, for orchestra
Piano Concerto No 1
1908 (30)
Dramatic Choral Symphony
1909 (31)
Pierrot and Pierrette, opera
1912 (34)
The Children of Don, opera
1914 (36)
Dylan, opera
1915 (37)
The Enchanter, opera
1917 (39)
Violin Concerto
1925 (47)
The Birds of Rhiannon, symphonic poem
Symphony No 3, Ships
1927 (49)
Columba, for orchestra
1928 (50)
Piano Concerto No 2
1929 (51)
Bronwen, opera
Symphony No 4
1936 (58)
Cello Concerto
Aucassin et Nicolette, ballet
1939 (61)
Tamerlaine, concerto for clarinet or saxophone, bassoon and orchestra
Undated The Red Mask, ballet
The Moth and the Flame, ballet
Coromanthe, ballet
The Sailor's Arms, opera
The Snob, opera
Tamlane, opera
Two late ballets in MS
Four symphonies in MS
Suite for chorus and orchestra
Sinfonietta for chamber orchestra
Holbrooke also wrote twenty-four works for brass band, a large number of chamber works, some works for piano and many songs with piano or instrumental accompaniment.