[Wood, Henry. (1869-1944)]
Collection of Materials relating to the Promenade Concerts
An interesting small archive of notes from the collection of the English conductor best known for his association with London's Promenade Concerts. The materials include a handwritten document titled "Promenade Concerts Timings, Seasons 1937, 1938 & 1939 (To 1st Sept. 39)," which contains lists of repertoire for the concert series. The handwritten register contains lists of orchestral repertoire and each piece's length in minutes under the headings: Overtures, Symphonies, Pianoforte Concertos, Violin Concertos, Concertos for Solo Instrument, Suites & Rhapsodies, Miscellaneous Works, Wagnerian Excerpts, Arias, and Choral Works. 22 pp., pages almost completely detached, overall very good. 8 x 12.75 inches (21 x 32.5 cm). The register includes two later inserted typed documents, one with a further repertoire list and one listing the sheet music supplied to the BBC for use in the Proms of 1945, dated July 26, 1945.Also included is a printed "Plan of the Orchestra," showing the unusual orchestral seating plan for a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion in October 1908 (the orchestra is divided into two "choirs," with a large number of winds in the center and front; toning, 17.25 x 14.5 inches / 43.5 x 37 cm); and an "Exercise in Breathing and Breath-Control" printed for "members of Henry J. Wood's Select Choir" and dated October 27, 1903 (4 pp., light toning, 8 x 10 inches / 20.3 x 25.3 cm).
Promenade concerts had existed in London's pleasure gardens since the mid 18th century, and indoor proms became a feature of 19th century musical life in London from 1838. The annual series of Promenade or "Prom" concerts was inaugurated on 10 August 1895 in the Queen's Hall in Langham Place by the impresario Robert Newman, but soon became most closely associated with the conductor Henry Wood, who was largely responsible for building the repertoire of the series. Within the first two decades, Wood firmly established the policy of introducing works by contemporary composers (both British and international) and of bringing fresh life to unperformed or under-performed works. Richard Strauss wrote of his ensemble: "I cannot leave London without an expression of admiration for the splendid Orchestra which Henry Wood's master hand has created in such a short time."
During his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, Wood was accompanist to the great voice teacher Manuel Garcia, and came under his pedagogical influence—as can be seen in the interesting document "Exercises in Breathing and Breath-Control." (14991)
Archive Classical Music