Howard Carr (1880-1960)

 

Born in Manchester, the young Howard Carr initially trained as an engineer but soon realised he wished to pursue a career in music. As a performer Howard had the unusual ability to perform on any instrument in the orchestra to a comendable degree.

 

Much of his early experience was as a conductor/musical director of operettas in various locations throughout the country but he did venture much further afield to Australia for two lengthy stays where he was held in high esteem as a specialist in theatrical orchestration as well as being an acknowledged composer. 

 

During the 2nd World War he worked for the BBC and later wrote music for film. The 'Howard Carr Prize' for composition was founded in 1964 at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded to students up until the 1980s.

 

As a composer he wrote a substantial amount of orchestral music including overtures, ballet suites and two symphonies.

 

Symphony No.1 in E minor (1902)

Composed early in his career, this work is programmatic with short pencil annotations on most pages of the score. The subject matter is formulaic, based around a wandering knight who frees a banished princess from the clutches of a giant. Her father initially spurns the knight's advances to his daughter but relents after realising he has been too harsh to her and allows the pair to be betrothed. They are married in a grand ceremony amidst great celebrations.

An example of the story annotations

In keeping with the theme of noble knights etc.. the music is Elizabethan pastiche interdispersed with Carr's love of romantic melody. The 1st movement after a short, slow introduction presents a standard allegro with the following thematic idea.

The main second subject is a slower more dreamy melody marked 'con amore'

SAMPLE: 1st movement (all)