German, Sir Edward (real name, German Edward Jones)
German, Sir Edward (real name, German Edward Jones)
German, Sir Edward (real name, German Edward Jones), admired English composer; b. Whitchurch, Salop, Feb. 17, 1862; d. London, Nov. 11, 1936. After studies with W.C. Hay in Shrewsbury (1880), he pursued his training at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1880-87) with Steggall (organ), Weist-Hill and Burnett (violin), Banister (theory), and Prout (composition and orchestration). He played violin in theater orchs., and soon began conducting them. From 1888 he was active with various London theaters, establishing his reputation as a composer with his incidental music. German scored his most notable stage success with the comic opera Merrie England (London, April 2, 1902). In 1928 he was knighted and in 1934 was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Phil. Soc. of London.
Works
DRAMATIC Opera : The Rival Poets (1883-86); The Emerald Isle (London, April 27, 1901; completion of an unfinished work by Sullivan); Merrie England (London, April 2, 1902); A Princess of Kensington (London, Ian. 22, 1903); Tom Jones (1907; London, April 17, 1908); Fallen Fairies or Moon Fairies (London, Dec. 15, 1909). I n c i d e n t a l M u s i c : Richard III (1889); Henry VIII (1892); The Tempter (1893); Romeo and Juliet (1895); As You Like It (1896); Much Ado About Nothing (1898); Nell Gwyn (1900); The Conqueror (1905). ORCH.: 2 syms. (1890; Norwich, 1893); Marche Solonnelle (1891); Gypsy Suite (1892); The Leeds, suite (1895); English Fantasia: In Commemoration (1897); Hamlet, symphonic poem (1897); The Seasons, suite (1899); March Rhapsody or Rhapsody on March Themes (1902); Welsh Rhapsody (1904); The Irish Guards for Military Band (1918); Theme and 6 Diversions (1919); The Willow Song, tone picture (1922); Cloverely Suite (1934). OTHER: Chamber music, many piano pieces, organ works, choral music, and songs.
Bibliography
W. Scott, Sir E. G.: An Intimate Biography (London, 1932); B. Rees, A Musical Peacemaker: The Life and Works of Sir E.G. (Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, 1987).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire