Holbrooke, Joseph (or Josef) (1878–1958)

English composer. After a hard struggle as a pianist and conductor he came under the patronage of Lord Howard de Walden, who wrote the libretti for his dramatic trilogy The Cauldron of Annwen (1912–16). Other works (many on subjects from Edgar Allan Poe) include ballets, symphonic poems, and a great deal of chamber music.

He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Works Opera Pierrot and Pierrette (1909; revised 1924 as The Stranger), The Snob, The Wizard, and the trilogy The Cauldron of Annwen (The Children of Don (1912), Dylan (1914), and Bronwen (1916)).

Ballet The Red Mask (after Poe), The Moth and the Flame, Coromanthe, and others.

Chorus and orchestra Dramatic Choral Symphony and The Bells for chorus and orchestra (both after Poe, 1903).

Orchestral and chamber symphonic poems The Raven (1900), Ulalume (1904), and The Masque of the Red Death (all after Poe); violin concerto (1917); six string quartets (including Pickwick Club after Dickens).

Other piano music and songs.