Henry Wood (conductor)

Sir Henry Joseph Wood (3 March 1869 - 19 August 1944) was a British orchestral conductor, the founder of the famous Promenade Concerts.

Related Topics:
3 March - 1869 - 19 August - 1944 - Conductor - Promenade Concerts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wood was born in London, and founded the series of concerts, traditionally associated with the Albert Hall but originally held at the Queen's Hall, in 1895. He acted as the principal conductor in the concerts, and is today remembered annually by the promenaders, who crown his bust with a laurel wreath on the Last Night of the Proms.

Related Topics:
London - Albert Hall - 1895 - Last Night of the Proms

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wood also composed and arranged music, sometimes under the pseudonym "Paul Klenovsky". His most famous work in this respect is certainly the "Fantasia on British Sea Songs", which he compiled for the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1905. It has been part of the Last Night of the Proms ever since and became one of the most patriotic and enthusiastically received pieces of British music ever. Wood was knighted in 1911 for his services to music. His portrait (by Frank O. Salisbury, 1943) is in the National Portrait Gallery.

Related Topics:
Battle of Trafalgar - Last Night of the Proms - 1911 - Frank O. Salisbury - 1943 - National Portrait Gallery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wood was an honorary associate of the Rationalist Press Association, from 1937 - 1944.

Related Topics:
Rationalist Press Association - 1937

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~