German, Edward (1862–1936)

English composer. He is remembered for his operettas Merrie England (1902) and Tom Jones (1907), and he wrote many other instrumental, orchestral, and vocal works.

He studied at Shrewsbury and the Royal Academy of Music in London, 1880–87. He became an orchestral violinist and in 1888 music director of the Globe Theatre, writing incidental music for various productions, including well-received music for Henry Irving's version of Henry VIII (1892). In 1901 he completed The Emerald Isle, left unfinished by Arthur Sullivan. He had his enduring success the following year, with Merrie England, often performed by amateur opera companies.

Works Stage light operas The Rival Poets (1886, revised 1901), Merrie England (1902), The Princess of Kensington (1903), Tom Jones (after Fielding; 1907), Fallen Fairies (W S Gilbert; 1909); incidental music for Shakespeare's Richard III (1889), Henry VIII (1892), Romeo and Juliet (1895), As You Like It, Much Ado about Nothing, Anthony Hope's Nell Gwyn (1900), and others.

Orchestral two symphonies, symphonic suite in D minor, symphonic poem Hamlet, symphonic suite The Seasons, Welsh Rhapsody (1904), Theme and Six Diversions and other orchestral works.

Other Coronation March and Hymn for George V; chamber music and many songs.