This is a comprehensive, annotated list of compositions by Joseph Holbrooke. For a simplified version of this catalogue, arranged by opus number, see List of works by Joseph Holbrooke.
Holbrooke was notorious for continually revising and recasting his compositions in different forms:
"The most disconcerting aspect of any inquiry into the works of Holbrooke is that elucidation is not proportionate to the amount of facts unearthed: instead confusion, contradiction and complication tend to increase. It is characteristic that even the composer's name can be found in any combination of Joseph or Josef and Holbrook or Holbrooke. Many works bore various opus numbers at different periods; conversely, an opus number can be found attached to several different works; and the identity of some earlier compositions, particularly in the realm of chamber music, is difficult to trace because of recasting and incorporation into new definitive versions. It is in a way ironic that such a situation should arise with Holbrooke of all composers, for from the first he gave evidence of orderliness of mind in listing and designating his music (e.g. Poem No.2, Symphonic Quartet No.1); but revisions, rearrangements and reshufflings led to havoc from which not even works of later date, when the numbering system might have been expected to have settled down, are exempt."Thompson, Kenneth: Holbrooke - some catalogue data (Music and Letters (1965) XLVI(4), p.297)
Dramatic
Opera Varenka (c.1907) [possibly unfinished,Although omitted from work-lists, this opera is alluded to quite often in early Holbrooke literature: Lowe calls it "a work of somewhat lurid character", whilst Baughan, writing in The Musical Standard, describes the libretto by B.W. Findon as "written in the ultra-passionate Italian mode" and quotes Holbrooke as follows - "it [Varenka] hovers between the popular style and Wagner drama ... Not an original conception, perhaps, but one which I thought feasible". A selection of items was performed at a Grand Promenade Concert in aid of the Playgoers’ Club Pantomime Fund for Poor Children (organised by Findon, who was on the committee) at His Majesty's Theatre, London, on 24 November 1907: the soloists included Edith Clegg and Constance Drever. Thomas Beecham conducted the New Symphony Orchestra. no longer extant Not included in any catalogue of Holbrooke's works.Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." The "Early Opera" amongst his list of casualties is without doubt Varenka.] Pierrot and Pierrette, Op.36a (1908) [later revised as The Stranger Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of the musical works of Josef Holbrooke (London: Modern Music Library, 1952)] Dylan, Son of the Wave, Op.53 (1909) [No.2 of the cycle The Cauldron of Annwn] The Children of Don, Op.56 (1910–12) [No.1 of the cycle The Cauldron of Annwn] The Enchanter, opera-ballet, Op.70 (1914) [originally assigned as Op.65,Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.313) also titled The Wizard Holbrooke, Joseph: List of complete works by Josef Holbrooke (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924)Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.290)] Bronwen, Op.75 (1915–24, revised 1928 Dated from the autograph full score of Acts 2 and 3 held by the National Library of Wales, MSS 23863-23865F) [No.3 of the cycle The Cauldron of Annwn, originally assigned as Op.67 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.314)] The Sailor's Arms, operetta, Op.105 (1925–30) The Snob, operetta, Op.114 (1920s) [originally assigned as Op.49,Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.311) also assigned as Op.88,Holbrooke, Joseph: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924, p.19) also assigned as Op.102 Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of the works of Josef Holbrooke (London: Paxton & Co., n.d. [c.1929], p.16)] Tamlane, opera-ballet, Op.132 (1941–43)
Ballet Pierrot, ballet suite, Op.36b [for interpolation into the opera Pierrot and Pierrette, Op.36a (1908), adapted from the Pantomime suite, Op.16a (1896–97) Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.208)] The Revels Arlequin Columbine Pantalon Clown Tarantelle Coromanthe (c.1917) [also titled The Dawn of Love,Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.223) no longer extant,The ballet is described in great detail by George Lowe (1920) and assigned the opus number 61 but no subsequent catalogue of Holbrooke's works includes it. There is, however, a waltz for two pianos of the same title, Op.18c, which is probably related to the ballet. originally assigned as Op.61 ] The Moth and the Flame, Op.62 (1912–17) [originally published under the pseudonym Jean Hanze] The Masque of the Red Death, Op.65 (1904–13) [originally assigned as Op.47,Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904) originally styled Poem No.8, also titled The Red Masque,List of Joseph Holbrooke's Poeana (London: Rudall Carte, 1937) originally published under the pseudonym Jean Hanze] The Palace Gates, outside - Entrance of the Guests Dance of the Buffoons, and the deformed The Violet Room - Dance of Prince Prospero The Blue Room - A Bacchanal Dance The Scarlet Room - Dance of Death Pandora (1919) [recast in Film Music Suite No.1, for dance orchestra and piano, Op.84 (c.1927)] Bronwen, ballet music, Op.75a (1929) [for interpolation into the opera Bronwen, Op.75] Welsh Dance No.1 Welsh Dance No.2 Welsh Dance No.3 Irish Dance No.1 Irish Dance No.2 Aucassin and Nicolette, Op.115 (1935)
Incidental music Pontorewyn, Op.26c (1914) [originally assigned as Op.17 No.8 Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, pp.207, 230, 306)] Llwyfan y byd, Op.117a (1935) [also titled Theatre of the World Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, October 1941)] Beccles Tower, Op.117b (1930s) Harlech, pageant (1930s) Spalding, pageant (1930s)
Orchestral
Symphonies Les Hommages, Op.40 (1900, revised 1904) [styled both Symphony No.1 Holbrooke, Joseph: Les Hommages, Symphony No.1, full score (London: Novello & Co., n.d. [c.1910])Holbrooke, Joseph: Joseph Holbrooke's 8 symphonies (London: Modern Music Library, 1940) and Suite No.3,Holbrooke, Joseph: Les Hommages, Grand Suite No.3, piano reduction (London: Leonard & Co., 1909)Holbrooke, Joseph: Complete list of Holbrooke's published musical works (London: Modern Music Library, 1941) originally titled Bohemian Suite,Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.209) originally assigned as Op.37 ] Festiva (Marcia heroique): Hommage à Wagner Serenata: Hommage à Grieg Elegiac Poeme: Hommage à Dvořák Introduction and Russian Dance: Hommage à Tschaikowsky Symphony No.1, Homage to E.A. Poe, Op.48 [see under Choral music] Symphony No.2, Apollo and the Seaman, Op.51 [see under Choral music] Symphony No.3 in E minor, Ships, Op.90 (1925) [also titled Nelson,Brian, Havergal: Josef Holbrooke, English composer (Tomorrow, 4 November 1939, pp.31-32) reprinted in MacDonald, Malcolm: Havergal Brian on music volume 1 (London: Toccata Press, 1986, p.284) also titled National Symphony,Holbrooke, Joseph: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1924, p.20) also titled Our Navy ] Warships Hospital Ships Merchant Ships Symphony No.4 in B minor, Homage to Schubert, Op.95 (1928, revised c.1933 and c.1943) [also titled The Little One Holbrooke, Joseph: Untitled and undated printed catalogue of works (London: Modern Music Library), held at Birmingham University Library MS79/16/14] Andante sostenuto. Mesto - Scherzo (Allegro marcato) - Trio: sostenuto (quasi meno) Andantino sostenuto - Poco andantino - Andante Finale: Allegro - Andante (con moto) - Allegro Symphony No.5 in E-flat, Wild Wales, Op.106 [see under Brass band] Symphony No.6 in G major, Old England, Op.107 [see under Military band] Symphony No.7 in D major, Al Aaraaf, for strings, Op.109 (1929) [arrangement of String Sextet, Henry Vaughan, Op.43 (1902), also styled Symphony No.6 ] Symphony No.8 in B-flat, Dance Symphony, Op.112 [see under Solo instruments and orchestra] Symphony [No.9], Milton, Op.131 [see under Choral music]
Other Intermezzo for small orchestra, Op.2b [arrangement of Intermezzo from Fourteen Pieces (for the young), for piano, Op.2a (1890s)] Suite for small orchestra, Op.10b Les Graces Les Fleurs Claire de lune L'Ardeur Pantomime, suite for strings, Op.16a (1897) [originally assigned as Op.24,Musical works by Josef Holbrooke 1895-1904 (Leipzig and London: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904) - described as Suite (No.4) for Grand Orchestra also titled Pantomimic Suite, recast as Pierrot, ballet suite, Op.36b ] Arlequin Columbine Pantalon Clown The Raven [Poem No.1], Op.25 (1899–1900, revised 1903) [originally assigned as Op.19 ] The New Renaissance, overture (c.1902) [originally assigned as Op.28, no longer extant Not included in any subsequent catalogue of Holbrooke's works.Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." He specifically mentions The New Renaissance.] Ode to Victory (1901) [originally styled Poem No.2, originally assigned as Op.29, no longer extant Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, p.38) - Lowe describes works "with which the composer has become ultimately dissatisfied, and these he has had no hesitation in destroying." He specifically mentions Ode to Victory.] The Viking [Poem No.2], Op.32 (1901, revised 1912) [originally styled Poem No.3, originally titled The Skeleton in Armour, also titled The Corsair ] Ulalume [Poem No.3], Op.35 (1903) [originally styled Poem No.4 ] Three Blind Mice, Symphonic variations on an old English Air, Op.37 (1900) [originally assigned as Op.40 ] Dreamland, suite, Op.38 (c.1900) Ensemble The Dance Dreaming Hilarité Three Concert Waltzes (c.1904) [originally assigned as Op.44, no longer extant ] Dylan, fantasie, Op.53a (1910) [based on music from the opera Dylan, Op.53, also styled Prelude] Imperial March (1914) [another version of Triumphal March, for chorus and orchestra, Op.26a (1902, revised 1909) Brian, Havergal: Josef Holbrooke, English composer (Tomorrow, 4 November 1939, pp.31-32) reprinted in MacDonald, Malcolm: Havergal Brian on music volume 1 (London: Toccata Press, 1986, p.285) - Brian refers to the Imperial March, mistakenly assuming it to be a recent composition: his description "[Holbrooke] adds to the dignity of the work by his use of two most popular tunes, God Save the King and Rule Britannia" indicates that the two scores, if not identical, at least share fundamental similarities] The Wild Fowl, fantasie, Op.56b (1918) [originally titled The Wild Sea-Fowl,First published as such by Cary & Co. (c.1920) based on music from the opera The Children of Don, Op.56] Variations on Auld Lang Syne, Op.60 (1904, revised c.1918) [originally assigned as Op.53, also titled Portraits ] Variations on The Girl I left behind me, Op.64 (1904–05) [originally assigned as Op.48, later assigned as Op.37b Lowe, George: Josef Holbrooke and his work (London: Kegan Paul, 1920, pp.207, 309)] Hymn to Caridwen, Op.75b (1924) [based on music from the opera Bronwen, Op.75] Caradoc's Dream, for string orchestra, Op.75c (c.1920) [based on music from the opera Bronwen, Op.75]