The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) were a British rock group formed in the 1970's. Members of the band included Jeff Lynne as guitarist, Roy Wood as guitarist and vocalist and Bev Bevan as drummer. Research Electric Light Orchestra
A proscenium is that part in a theatre from the curtain or drop-scene to the orchestra. The term is also applied to the curtain and the ornamental framework from which it hangs. Research Proscenium
Antonin Dvorak (Anton Dvorak) was a Czech composer. He was born in 1841 at Kralup and died in 1904. He studied at the Prague Conservatoire and became a member of the orchestra in the Bohemian Theatre at Prague, and in 1873 was appointed organist of Saint Aldbert's Church in Prague. From 1892 to 1899 he was director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York, and in 1901 was appointed director of the PragueConservatory. He composed several operas on national Bohemian subjects, songs, orchestral arrangements of Bohemian dances, several symphonies, a Stabat Mater, a cantata (The Spectre Bride), and an oratorio (St. Ludmilla). Research Antonin Dvorak
George Friderick Handel (properly Haendel) was a German composer. He was born in 1685 at Halle and died in 1759.
The strong passion which he showed early in life for the art of music overcame his father's opposition to training him as a musician, and at the age of seven he was placed under the tuition of Zachau, organist of HalleCathedral, and was soon so far advanced in the practical part of the science as to be able to officiate occasionally as deputy to his instructor.
In 1696 he was sent to Berlin, where he heard the music of Bononcini and Ariosti, then at the head of the BerlinOpera House. He returned to Halle, was appointed organist of the cathedral in 1702, but soon left to visit Hanover and Hamburg, where Steffani and Reinhard Keiser, the latter the greatest German operatic composer of his day, resided. At Hamburg he played second violin in the orchestra, and in 1794 brought out his first work, an oratorio on the Passion, and his first opera, Almira, followed in February by his Nero, and subsequently by his Florinda and Daphne.
He visited England twice, and ultimately, having received a pension from Queen Anne, settled down there. For some years his popularity was very great. He
was placed at the head of the newly-founded Royal Academy of Music, and accumulated a large fortune in spite of the heavy losses which he incurred by setting up an opera company in 1735 in opposition to that supported by the leading nobility and the principal Italian singers.
Amongst the operas which he had composed up to this date are: Radamisto, Ottone, Giulio Cesare, Flavio, Tamerlano, Scipio, Ricardo I, Orlando, Ariadne, etc. His last opera was performed in 1740. By this time he had begun to devote himself chiefly to music of a serious nature, especially the oratorio. The approval which his first works of this kind (Esther, 1731; Deborah, 1732; Athalia, 1733) had met with encouraged him to new efforts; and he produced in succession Israel in Egypt, L'Allegro and Il Penseroso, Saul, and The Messiah. The last-mentioned, which is his chief work, was brought out in 1741, for the benefit of the Foundling Hospital. It was not much appreciated at the first representation, but increased in reputation every year.
In 1742 the Samson appeared, in 1746 the Judas Maccabseus, in 1748 the Solomon, and in 1752 the Jephthah. In 1752 he became blind, but did not lose his spirits, continuing to perform in public and even to compose.
After his death he was buried in Westminster Abbey. Handel was of large and ungainly person. His manners were rough and his temper violent, but his disposition was humane and liberal. As a musician his characteristics are boldness and strength of style and combination of vigour, spirit, and invention in his instrumental compositions. Research George Frederick Handel
Johann Strauss was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1825 at Vienna and died in 1899. He was a son of Johann Strauss, the composer of waltzes, and after adopting music as a career in 1844 succeeding his father as conductor of his orchestra and from 1863 devoting himself to composition, composing successful waltzes including 'The Blue Danube' which was first performed in 1867, he also composed light operas including the 1971 'Indigo' and 1874 'Die Fledermaus'. Research Johann Strauss II
Sir John Davies was an English poet and lawyer. He was born in 1570 and died in 1626. In 1603 he was appointed solicitor-general for Ireland, and soon after attorney-general. He was knighted in 1607, returned to the English parliament in 1621, and obtained the dignity of lord chief-justice in 1626. He wrote Orchestra; Hymns to Astrea; Nosce Teipsum, a metaphysical poem and hia best-known work; he is also the author of a work on the political state of Ireland. Research John Davies
Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1732 at Rohrau and died in 1809. At the age of six he was sent to school at Haimburg, where he learned, among other things, singing and playing by rote. On account of the excellence of his voice he was appointed a choir-boy at St. Stephen's Church, Vienna. At the age of sixteen his voice began to break, and he lost his situation as a chorister. Having made the acquaintance of Metastasio, Porpora, and Cluck, Joseph Haydn gradually attracted public attention, was appointed organist to two churches, and obtained many pupils.
From 1761 to 1790 he was musical director to Prince Esterhazy, and composed during this period a great number of works, including some 120 symphonies for the orchestra, 12 operas, etc. In 1791 and 1794 he visited England, staying there nearly three years altogether, and writing his operaOrpheus and Eurydice. In 1798 he published his oratorio of the Creation, and in 1800 that of the Seasons. His old age was exempt from pecuniary troubles, and he was surrounded by appreciative friends. His last public appearance was at a performance of his Creation in 1808. Joseph Haydn's principal merit consists in his opening up a new development of instrumental composition, of which his 125 orchestral symphonies furnish abundant proof. He may be said to be the originator of the symphony and of the stringed quartette. Research Joseph Haydn
Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor and pianist. He was born in 1918 at Lawrence, Massachusetts and died in 1990. He was educated at Harvard University and the Curtis Institute of Music. From 1958 to 1969 he was Music Director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducted major orchestras around the world and composed Chichester Psalms, Jeremiah Symphony, Mass and West Side Story. Research Leonard Bernstein
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Electric Light Orchestra
