This is a summary of 1909 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events
- 22 February - The symphonic impression In the Fen Country by Ralph Vaughan Williams, composed in 1904, is performed for the first time at Queen's Hall in London by the newly formed Beecham Orchestra.
- 27 February - Claude Debussy conducts the first British performance of his three Nocturnes at QueenâÂÂs Hall. At the concert Debussy met Sibelius who was also visiting the UK.
- 26 April - The opera Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint Saens is staged at Covent Garden in London, marking the lifting of a ban imposed on theatrical plays and operas portraying biblical characters is rescinded by the Lord Chancellor.
- 17 May - The first performance of Cyril Scott's Piano Sonata No 1, op 66, takes place at LondonâÂÂs Bechstein Hall, the composer performing.
- 7 June - The first complete performance of A Mass of Life by Frederick Delius takes place at Queen's Hall, conducted by Thomas Beecham.
- 22 June The first staged performance of Ethel SmythâÂÂs opera The Wreckers takes place in London at His Majesty's Theatre.
- 22 September - 11-year-old pianist Marie Novello makes her Proms début, playing the Piano Concerto no. 1 in E-flat by Franz Liszt.
- 15 November - On Wenlock Edge, a song cycle by Vaughan Williams setting six poems by A. E. Housman, is performed for the first time in London at the Aeolian Hall. The performers are tenor Gervase Elwes, pianist Frederick Kiddle and the Schwiller Quartet.
- date unknown - Ada Jones records her most popular song, "The Yama Yama Man", for the Victor Light Opera Company.
Popular music
New recordings
Classical music: new works
Opera
Musical theatre
Births
Deaths
- 4 February â James Lynam Molloy, poet, songwriter and composer, 71
- 18 May â August Jaeger, German-born British music publisher, friend of Elgar, 49
- 7 June â P. W. Halton, conductor, 68
- 5 December - Ebenezer Prout, composer, music theorist, author, 74
See also
References