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Collection Description
Collection name Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (1895-1973)
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Description A collection of 51 volumes and 4 magazine files from the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 1895 to 1973.

The collection includes programmes from 1895 to 1954. In addition, it includes an almost complete run of prospectuses – complete except from the absence of a prospectus from 1968, the 74th season – from the 1950s until 1973. There are also numerous prospectuses for seasons before 1950. The number of programmes in the collection diminishes with year: the early parts of the collections contain mainly programmes; by the 1940s the collection is mixed between prospectuses and programmes; in the early 1950s the collection is chiefly prospectuses; from 1955 onwards, the collection consists only of prospectuses. The collection includes the programme from the first Promenade Concert, on 10th August 1895.

The programmes are from concerts that took place at the Queen’s Hall – until it was bombed in 1941 – and then the Royal Albert Hall. Originally, the concerts were organised and promoted by Robert Newman, whose name prefixed the title of the series. The BBC promoted the series from 1927 onwards, though relinquishing their sponsorship for some years during the 1940s. The orchestras that participated in the series varied. At first, one orchestra usually gave the whole season: these included the Queen’s Hall Orchestra (1895-1914), the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra (1915-1926) and the BBC Symphony Orchestra (1930-). However, the performing orchestras diversified with time. By the 1940s, it was common for two or three orchestras to share the season; the 1973 season featured 21 orchestras. In the 1940s, all the orchestras were London-based; in 1973, foreign orchestras and provincial orchestras also took part. Henry Wood conducted a significant number of the concerts from 1895 to the 1940s.

Arrangement:
The programmes are arranged chronologically.
Date range 1895 - 1973
Associated People and Organisations Promenade concerts - New Opera Company - Wood, Henry - British Broadcasting Corporation - BBC Symphony Orchestra - New Queen's Hall Orchestra (1915-) - Newman, Robert - Queen's Hall Orchestra 1895 - 1915
Associated Places Royal Albert Hall Queen's Hall, London
Associated Times 19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899 20th century - late 1971-1999 20th century - early 1900-1930 20th century - mid 1931-1970
Associated Content Brochures
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Viewing the Collection
Term-Time Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00–18.00 Saturdays: 9.00–12.00 (Junior Academy terms only) Vacation hours vary and are advertised in the Library Information section in the on-line Unicorn Catalogue.
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Location details

Royal Academy of Music, Library
Marylebone Road London NW1 5HT Open Map
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Website http://www.ram.ac.uk
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Collections Overview Books; printed music; sound recordings; choral sets; orchestral sets; manuscripts; early printed music & books; undergraduate & research
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For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record

Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status Closed
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