Frederic Alfred d'Erlanger

Full biography Frederic Alfred d'Erlanger

Baron Frederic Alfred d'Erlanger (1868-1943) was a British composer who was born in Paris to a German father and an American mother. He had one formal music lesson in Paris with Anselm Ehmant, but he did not pursue a career in music until later in his life.

As a banker, he moved to London in his teens and pursued his music interests as a sideline career. He was known as a pianist and improviser and admired composer. He composed several works, including the Prelude romantique for orchestra. He collaborated with composer Frederic Cliffe, and together they composed a violin concerto that featured tremolos that made the cadenzas Kreisler wrote for popular works so effective.

Despite being a self-taught composer, d'Erlanger achieved recognition for his compositions, and his works were performed at various concerts in London and Paris. He was also a patron of the arts and supported various musical projects, including the establishment of the Covent Garden Opera Company in 1931.

Overall, Frederic Alfred d'Erlanger was a notable figure in the British music scene during the early 20th century, known for his career as a banker and his contributions as a composer.