List of compositions by Joseph Holbrooke

This is a comprehensive, annotated list of compositions by Joseph Holbrooke. For a simplified version of this catalogue, arranged by opus number, see List of works by Joseph Holbrooke.

Holbrooke was notorious for continually revising and recasting his compositions in different forms:

"The most disconcerting aspect of any inquiry into the works of Holbrooke is that elucidation is not proportionate to the amount of facts unearthed: instead confusion, contradiction and complication tend to increase. It is characteristic that even the composer's name can be found in any combination of Joseph or Josef and Holbrook or Holbrooke. Many works bore various opus numbers at different periods; conversely, an opus number can be found attached to several different works; and the identity of some earlier compositions, particularly in the realm of chamber music, is difficult to trace because of recasting and incorporation into new definitive versions. It is in a way ironic that such a situation should arise with Holbrooke of all composers, for from the first he gave evidence of orderliness of mind in listing and designating his music (e.g. Poem No.2, Symphonic Quartet No.1); but revisions, rearrangements and reshufflings led to havoc from which not even works of later date, when the numbering system might have been expected to have settled down, are exempt." [1]

Dramatic

Opera

Ballet

Incidental music

Orchestral

Symphonies

Other

Solo instruments and orchestra

Brass band

Military band

Chamber music

Piano

Organ

Choral music

Songs

Notes

  1. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.297)
  2. Although omitted from work-lists, this opera is alluded to quite often in early Holbrooke literature: Lowe calls it "a work of somewhat lurid character", whilst Baughan, writing in The Musical Standard, describes the libretto by B.W. Findon as "written in the ultra-passionate Italian mode" and quotes Holbrooke as follows - "it [Varenka] hovers between the popular style and Wagner drama ... Not an original conception, perhaps, but one which I thought feasible". A selection of items was performed at a Grand Promenade Concert in aid of the Playgoers’ Club Pantomime Fund for Poor Children (organised by Findon, who was on the committee) at His Majesty's Theatre, London, on 24 November 1907: the soloists included Edith Clegg and Constance Drever. Thomas Beecham conducted the New Symphony Orchestra.
  3. Not included in any catalogue of Holbrooke's works.
  4. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." The "Early Opera" amongst his list of casualties is without doubt Varenka.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of the musical works of Josef Holbrooke (London: Modern Music Library, 1952)
  6. 1 2 3 4 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.313)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924)
  8. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.290)
  9. Dated from the autograph full score of Acts 2 and 3 held by the National Library of Wales, MSS 23863-23865F
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.314)
  11. 1 2 3 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.311)
  12. 1 2 3 Holbrooke, Joseph: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924, p.19)
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of the works of Josef Holbrooke (London: Paxton & Co., n.d. [c.1929], p.16)
  14. 1 2 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.208)
  15. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.223)
  16. The ballet is described in great detail by George Lowe (1920) and assigned the opus number 61 but no subsequent catalogue of Holbrooke's works includes it. There is, however, a waltz for two pianos of the same title, Op.18c, which is probably related to the ballet.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904)
  18. 1 2 List of Joseph Holbrooke's Poeana (London: Rudall Carte, 1937)
  19. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, pp.207, 230, 306)
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, October 1941)
  21. Holbrooke, Joseph: Les Hommages, Symphony No.1, full score (London: Novello & Co., n.d. [c.1910])
  22. 1 2 Holbrooke, Joseph: Joseph Holbrooke's 8 symphonies (London: Modern Music Library, 1940)
  23. Holbrooke, Joseph: Les Hommages, Grand Suite No.3, piano reduction (London: Leonard & Co., 1909)
  24. Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, 1941)
  25. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.209)
  26. 1 2 Brian, Havergal: Josef Holbrooke, English composer (Tomorrow, 4 November 1939, pp.31-32) reprinted in MacDonald, Malcolm: Havergal Brian on music volume 1 (London: Toccata Press, 1986, p.284)
  27. Holbrooke, Joseph: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924, p.20)
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 Holbrooke, Joseph: Untitled and undated printed catalogue of works (London: Modern Music Library), held at Birmingham University Library MS79/16/14
  29. Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904) - described as Suite (No.4) for Grand Orchestra
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Not included in any subsequent catalogue of Holbrooke's works.
  31. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." He specifically mentions The New Renaissance.
  32. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." He specifically mentions Ode to Victory.
  33. Brian, Havergal: Josef Holbrooke, English composer (Tomorrow, 4 November 1939, pp.31-32) reprinted in MacDonald, Malcolm: Havergal Brian on music volume 1 (London: Toccata Press, 1986, p.285) - Brian refers to the Imperial March, mistakenly assuming it to be a recent composition: his description "[Holbrooke] adds to the dignity of the work by his use of two most popular tunes, God Save the King and Rule Britannia" indicates that the two scores, if not identical, at least share fundamental similarities
  34. First published as such by Cary & Co. (c.1920)
  35. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, pp.207, 309)
  36. 1 2 3 Josef Holbrooke - Various appreciations by many authors (London: Rudall Carte, 1937, p.175)
  37. 1 2 3 Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of the works of Josef Holbrooke (London: Paxton & Co., n.d. [c.1929], p.15)
  38. Josef Holbrooke - Various appreciations by many authors (London: Rudall Carte, 1937, p.176)
  39. 1 2 Holbrooke, Josef: Untitled and undated printed catalogue of works (London: Modern Music Library), held at Birmingham University Library MS79/16/14
  40. Holbrooke, Josef: The Wizard, opera ballet, Op.70, vocal score (London: Goodwin and Tabb, n.d. [1923]) - the principal sections re-used in The Pit and the Pendulum are the Prelude to Act I (vs pp.5-9), the Prelude to Act III (vs p.108) and the Dance of Terror (vs pp.125-127).
  41. Although included in List of Joseph Holbrooke's Poeana, 1937, there is no reference to the work in subsequent catalogues and the score has not been traced.
  42. Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904) - in this early catalogue the Concerto is styled Poem No.6, but since there is no work styled Poem No.5 in the sequence, one work styled Poem No.6 and two works styled Poem No.7 (see note relating to Byron, Op.39) this is clearly an error, the intention being to allocate the Concerto as Poem No.5 thus forming the sequence The Raven (No.1), Ode to Victory (No.2), The Skeleton in Armour (No.3), Ulalume (No.4), Poem for Piano and Orchestra (No.5), Byron (No.6), Queen Mab (No.7), The Masque of the Red Death (No.8) and The Bells (No.9).
  43. Lloyd, Stephen: Sir Dan Godfrey - champion of British composers (London: Thames Publishing, 1995, p.58)
  44. Lloyd, Stephen: Sir Dan Godfrey - champion of British composers (London: Thames Publishing, 1995, p.102)
  45. Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, October 1941) - the placement in this catalogue confirms a relationship to Apollo and the Seaman, dramatic symphony, Op.51.
  46. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.123)
  47. Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924) - under the entry for this concerto, Holbrooke refers to a Bournemouth performance in 1905, thus strongly implying a direct link to the earlier concerto.
  48. Lloyd, Stephen: Sir Dan Godfrey - champion of British composers (London: Thames Publishing, 1995, pp.58, 69, 102)
  49. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.300)
  50. 1 2 3 4 Holbrooke, Joseph: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924, p.18)
  51. The full score is missing, presumed lost and the work exists only in a copyist manuscript arrangement for two pianos. This was formerly in the ownership of Arthur Hammond and is now held at Cambridge University Library (MS.Add.9287.3): the alternative title of Piano Concerto No.3 is given on the manuscript.
  52. Holbrooke, Joseph: List of Joseph Holbrooke's Poeana (London: Rudall Carte, 1937)
  53. Dated on manuscript copy held by Cambridge University Library (MS.Add.9287.4)
  54. 1 2 3 Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924) - under the entry for Mezzotints, Op.55, Holbrooke refers to the arrangement for brass band.
  55. 1 2 Webb, Joseph Dee: Joseph Holbrooke - A study of the published and unpublished solo and chamber works for clarinet with an annotated bibliography, MA University of North Texas, 2009, pp.23-24
  56. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.99)
  57. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4)p.302)
  58. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.277)
  59. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.301)
  60. 1 2 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.105)
  61. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.303)
  62. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.312) - movements given as Nocturne, L'Extace, Sérénade, Élegie, Melodie ("Eilean Shona"), From Syracuse (Scherzo)
  63. Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924) - movements given as Nocturne in C minor, Albanian Serenade, L'extase, Celtic Elegie, From Syracuse, The Butterfly, Girgenti (Cavatina), Eileen Shona (Melody)
  64. 1 2 Published as such by Blenheim Press
  65. Webb, Joseph Dee: Joseph Holbrooke - A study of the published and unpublished solo and chamber works for clarinet with an annotated bibliography, MA University of North Texas, 2009, p.20
  66. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.312)
  67. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.121)
  68. Colles, H.C. (ed): Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, 3rd edition (London: Macmillan, 1929, vol ii, p.653)
  69. Song and Dance. String Quartet No.2, parts (London: Goodwin & Tabb, n.d. [1922])
  70. Song and Dance. String Quartet No.2, parts (London: Goodwin & Tabb, n.d. [1922]) - Thompson (1965, p.304) is mistaken in ascribing the alternative title Song and Dance to the earlier Quartet War Impressions, Op.58a.
  71. Josef Holbrooke - Various appreciations by many authors (London: Rudall Carte, 1937, p.182)
  72. Barnett, Robert: Joseph Holbrooke - works (selective list) (Grove Music Online)
  73. Dated on manuscript copy held by Cambridge University Library (MS.Add.9287.5)
  74. 1 2 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.306)
  75. Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, October 1941) - several catalogues include reference to Holbrooke's "Poeana", a numbered sequence of compositions based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe: this list classifies the multi-movement piano suites Eldorado and The Lake as forming "Poeana" numbers 17 to 24 (this implied presence of a fourth movement in the Eldorado suite is mysterious since in the 1937 "Poeana" catalogue only three movements are listed). It also describes the Nocturnes, Op.121, as containing "Poeana" numbers 4 and 19: number 4 is Ulalume (also numbered as such in its original orchestral form), whilst number 19 clearly refers to both the third movement of Eldorado and this Nocturne.
  76. Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.298)
  77. Sova, Dawn B: Critical companion to Edgar Allan Poe - a literary reference to his life and work (New York: Infobase Publishing, 2007, p.344)
  78. 1 2 Holbrooke, Josef: Triumphal March, Op.23b, vocal score (London: J. & W. Chester, 1917)
  79. Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." He specifically mentions Heaven and Earth.
  80. Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904) - in this early catalogue both Byron and Queen Mab are styled Poem No.7. This is clearly an error, the intention being to allocate Byron as Poem No.6 thus forming the sequence The Raven (No.1), Ode to Victory (No.2), The Skeleton in Armour (No.3), Ulalume (No.4), Poem for Piano and Orchestra (No.5), Byron (No.6), Queen Mab (No.7), The Masque of the Red Death (No.8) and The Bells (No.9). See note relating to Piano Concerto in F minor, Dramatique.
  81. This title is found in several catalogues from the 1930s (including Complete list of orchestral, chamber, and choral works, c.1930) and indicated as having been published (Important musical works (very rarely heard in this country) by Josef Holbrooke, c.1930). However, there is no mention of it in either Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works, 1941, or A list of choral songs, c.1950, and no printed copy has been traced.
  82. Josef Holbrooke - Various appreciations by many authors (London: Rudall Carte, 1937, p.169)
  83. 1 2 Fitch, Donald: Blake set to music - a bibliography of musical settings of the poems and prose of William Blake (Berkeley, Los Angeles and Oxford: University of California Press, 1990, p.105)
  84. 1 2 Fitch, Donald: Blake set to music - a bibliography of musical settings of the poems and prose of William Blake (Berkeley, Los Angeles and Oxford: University of California Press, 1990, p.104)
  85. List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924
  86. Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924

References

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