Short bio Edward German
Birthday:
1862 in Whitchurch, Shropshire, England
Died:
1936 in London, England
Active:
1890s - 1920s
Genre:
Classical,Comedy/Spoken
Period:
20th Century, Post-Romantic, Romantic
Full biography Edward German
Edward German (1862-1936) was an English composer and musician of Welsh descent. Born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, he showed musical talent from a young age and won medals both as a violinist and a composer. He began building a career as a composer in the mid-1880s, while performing and teaching violin at the Royal Academy of Music.
German wrote a variety of musical works , including orchestral pieces, songs, and light operas. His music is distinctly English in style , and he is best known for his popular light operas, such as "Merrie England" and "Tom Jones". German also wrote serious music, and some of his early works were inspired by the music of Richard Wagner.
German's music was noted for its melodic charm and tunefulness, and he was considered one of the leading composers of his time. Despite his success and popularity, German wrote little original music after 1912. Instead, he continued to conduct and perform, and he died in London in 1936.
Today, German is primarily remembered for his contributions to light opera and musical theater. His music was immensely popular during his lifetime, and it continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.
Compositions featuring Edward German
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Willow Song, for orchestra | 7:49 min | Orchestral | 1922 |
| 2 | Theme and Six Diversions | 17:04 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1919 |
| 3 | Coronation March and Hymn, for orchestra | 5:38 min | Orchestral | 1911 |
| 4 | Tom Jones, opera | 99:48 min | Opera | 1907 |
| 5 | A Princess of Kensington, opera | Opera | 1903 | |
| 6 | Rolling Down to Rio for voice & piano (or orchestra) | 2:07 min | Vocal Music | 1903 |
| 7 | The Just So Song Book, song cycle | 2:05 min | Vocal Music | 1903 |
| 8 | Merrie England, operetta | 96:50 min | Opera | 1902 |
| 9 | Nell Gwyn, incidental music | 5:32 min | Orchestral | 1900 |
| 10 | The Seasons | 38:50 min | Orchestral | 1899 |
| 11 | Much Ado about Nothing, incidental music | 17:36 min | Orchestral | 1898 |
| 12 | Hamlet, symphonic poem for orchestra | 20:05 min | Orchestral | 1897 |
| 13 | March Rhapsody on Original Themes, for orchestra | 13:45 min | Orchestral | 1897 |
| 14 | Souvenir, for violin & piano | 5:16 min | Chamber Music | 1896 |
| 15 | Pavane, for violin & piano | 3:12 min | Chamber Music | 1895 |
| 16 | Pastorale, for violin & piano | 5:14 min | Chamber Music | 1895 |
| 17 | Pastorale and Bourrée, for Clarinet & Piano | 6:35 min | Chamber Music | 1895 |
| 18 | Symphonic Suite in D minor ("The 'Leeds' Suite") | 32:15 min | Orchestral | 1895 |
| 19 | Berceuse for violin & piano | 3:25 min | Chamber Music | 1893 |
| 20 | Symphony No. 2 in A minor ("Norwich") | 31:46 min | Symphony | 1893 |
| 21 | The Tempter, incidental music | Orchestral | 1893 | |
| 22 | Funeral March (Marche Solennelle), for orchestra in D minor | 7:33 min | Orchestral | 1890 |
| 23 | Moto Perpetuo, for violin & piano | 2:41 min | Chamber Music | 1890 |
| 24 | Suite for flute & piano | 12:37 min | Chamber Music | 1889 |
| 25 | Saltarelle, for flute (or violin) & piano | 4:12 min | Chamber Music | 1889 |
| 26 | Richard III, incidental music | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1889 | |
| 27 | Album Leaf, for violin & piano | 4:05 min | Chamber Music | 1883 |
| 28 | The Sprite's Dance, for violin & piano | 2:31 min | Chamber Music | 1883 |
| 29 | Cradle Song, for violin & piano | 5:35 min | Chamber Music | 1883 |
| 30 | Bolero, for violin & piano | 6:28 min | Chamber Music | 1883 |
| 31 | Nocturne for violin & piano | 4:43 min | Chamber Music | 1882 |
| 32 | Chanson d'Amour, for violin & piano | 3:36 min | Chamber Music | 1882 |
| 33 | Daffodils a-Blowing, song for voice & piano | 2:57 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 34 | Symphony No. 1 in E minor | 32:12 min | Symphony | - |
| 35 | Tarantella for piano in A minor | 2:59 min | Keyboard | - |
| 36 | The Conqueror, incidental music | Orchestral | - | |
| 37 | The Irish Guards Song, for voice & piano | 4:07 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 38 | Concert Study for piano in A flat major | 5:09 min | Keyboard | - |
| 39 | Charming Chloe | 2:38 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 40 | The Tempter | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 41 | Bourrée, for violin & piano | 2:30 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 42 | Big Steamers, for voice & piano | 2:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 43 | Valse Fantastique for piano | 2:40 min | Keyboard | - |
| 44 | Valse gracieuse | 6:21 min | Orchestral | - |
| 45 | Valse-caprice for piano in A major | 4:54 min | Keyboard | - |
| 46 | Valsette for piano in E minor | 3:55 min | Keyboard | - |
| 47 | Welsh Rhapsody for orchestra | 18:14 min | Orchestral | - |
| 48 | Who'll buy my lavender? | 3:21 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 49 | Yeomen of England | 2:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 50 | Have you news of my boy Jack, for voice & piano | 3:52 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 51 | Melody for piano in D flat major | 4:18 min | Keyboard | - |
| 52 | Mazurka for piano in E major | 4:20 min | Keyboard | - |
| 53 | Love Is Meant to Make Us Glad | 1:29 min | Show/Musical | - |
| 54 | Intermezzo for piano in A minor | 3:26 min | Keyboard | - |
| 55 | Impromptu for piano No. 1 in E minor | 6:33 min | Keyboard | - |
| 56 | Humoresque for piano in E major | 3:44 min | Keyboard | - |
| 57 | Polish Dance for piano in E major | 3:36 min | Keyboard | - |
| 58 | Restless River for voice & piano | 3:04 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 59 | Henry VIII, incidental music | 28:12 min | Orchestral | - |
| 60 | Melody for piano in E flat major | 4:18 min | Keyboard | - |
| 61 | Romance for clarinet & piano in F major | 4:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 62 | Romeo and Juliet, incidental music | 14:04 min | Orchestral | - |
| 63 | Rêverie for piano in A minor | 3:42 min | Keyboard | - |
| 64 | Graceful Dance for piano in F major | 3:44 min | Keyboard | - |
| 65 | Song Without Words | 5:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 66 | Glorious Devon | 2:49 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 67 | Gipsy Suite for orchestra | 14:18 min | Orchestral | - |
| 68 | Elegy for piano in C minor | 7:17 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Edward German
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Edward German / BBC Concert Orchestra / John Wilson (15) – Coronation March and Hymn, March Solennelle, Henry VIII - Incidental Music, Et Al.(CD, Album) | 2012 | Dutton Epoch |
| 2 |  |
Sir Thomas Beecham Beecham, Delius, German, Bantock, Bax, Berners – English Music(6×CD, Stereo, Mono, Box Set, Stereo, Mono) | 2011 | EMI Classics |
| 3 |  |
Sir Edward German - BBC Concert Orchestra, John Wilson (15) – Symphonic Suite The 'Leeds'; Symphony No. 2 The 'Norwich'; March Rhapsody On Original Themes(CD, Album) | 2008 | Dutton Epoch |
| 4 |  |
Edward German / BBC Concert Orchestra / John Wilson (15) – Symphony No. 1, Et Al.(CD, Album) | 2005 | Dutton Epoch |
| 5 |  |
Various – Merrie England | 2002 | Double-Up |
| 6 |  |
Edward German — National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland • Andrew Penny – Orchestral Works Vol. 2: Symphony No. 2 "Norwich" • Valse Gracieuse • Welsh Rhapsody(CD, ) | 1995 | Marco Polo |
| 7 |  |
Edward German, RTE Concert Orchestra, Andrew Penny – Orchestral Works Vol. 1 | 1995 | Marco Polo |
| 8 |  |
Edward German : William McAlpine • June Bronhill • Peter Glossop • Monica Sinclair • Patricia Kern • Howell Glynne : The Williams Singers - Michael Collins And His Orchestra Libretto By Basil Hood – Merrie England(2×CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo) | 1995 | Classics For Pleasure |
| 9 |  |
Edward German, Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava), Adrian Leaper – British Light Music: Edward German | 1992 | Marco Polo |
| 10 |  |
Edward German, Alan Cuckston – Piano Works(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1991 | Marco Polo |
| 11 |  |
The Light Opera Orchestra, Charles Mott, George Baker (3), Edward German, Bessie Jones (2), Edna Thornton – Sir Edward German Conducts His "Merrie England"(LP, Mono) | 1983 | Rare Recorded Editions |
| 12 |  |
Sir Arthur Sullivan, Edward German – The Emerald Isle(2×LP, Album) | 1982 | Pearl |
| 13 |  |
Edward German / Cynthia Glover, Shirley Minty, Frederick Harvey, Stanley Riley (2), Nigel Brooks Chorus, Gilbert Vinter And His Orchestra – Highlights From Edward German's Tom Jones | 1967 | Odeon |
| 14 |  |
Gilbert & Sullivan ; Sir Malcolm Sargent Conducts The Pro Arte Orchestra / Edward German – Overtures / Dances | 1964 | World Record Club |
| 15 |  |
Delius / Vidal / German, Sir Thomas Beecham Bart. C.H., Maureen Forrester, John Cameron, Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Songs Of Sunset / Gavotte / Gipsy Suite(LP, Mono) | 1963 | His Master's Voice |
| 16 |  |
The Mitcham Choral Society Presents Edward German – Merrie England(2×LP, Album) | 1963 | Not On Label |
| 17 |  |
Merrie England | 1953 | Decca |
| 18 |  |
Shepherd's Dance / Morris Dance(Shellac, 8", 78 RPM) | 1934 | Unison Record |
| 19 |  |
The Symphony Orchestra - Edward German – Shepherd's Dance / Morris & Torch Dances(Shellac, 12") | 1920 | His Master's Voice |
| 20 |  |
Edward German, City Of Hull Youth Orchestra, Geoffrey Heald-Smith – 'The Norwich' Symphony No.2 In A Minor(LP) | - | Gough & Davy Records |
| 21 |  |
George Weldon Conducting The London Symphony Orchestra, Edward German – Dances From "Tom Jones", "Merrie England", "Nell Gwyn", "Henry VIII"(10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Mono) | - | Columbia |
| 22 |  |
Jeremiah Clarke, Otto Nicolai, Amilcare Ponchielli, Gioacchino Rossini, Edward German, Sir John Barbirolli – Promenade Classique(LP, Compilation, Mono) | - | Disques Vogue |
| 23 |  |
Edward German, The Symphony Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall Orchestra – Orchestra Works(2×LP, Compilation) | - | Rare Recorded Editions |
Leave a Reply