Henry Holmes (7 November 1839 – 9 December 1905)^[1] was a Britishviolinist,composer, andmusic educator. His compositional output includes aviolin concerto, several works for solo violin, five symphonies, a concert overture, two sacredcantatas for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra, and otherchamber and choral works.^[2][3]

Born in London, Holmes was the 2 year younger brother of violinist and composerAlfred Holmes. Both men studied the violin initially with their father and then at theSpohr's Violin School. The brothers made their professional debut together when Henry was just eight years old, performing in concert as duettists at theHaymarket Theatre on 13 July 1847. They then toured throughout Europe to much acclaim and violinist/composerLouis Spohr dedicated his three violin duos to them. The brothers parted ways in 1864, with Alfred settling in Paris and Henry remaining in London.^[2]

In London, Holmes was active as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concert soloist. He taught the violin privately and at theRoyal College of Music spent much of his time composing. Some of his notable pupils includeArnold Dolmetsch,Arthur Elwell Fisher,Jessie Grimson andKathleen Parlow. In 1890 and again in 1893 a scandal relating to some female students emerged, and Holmes eventually left forSan Francisco, California, where he taught the violin. He died there in 1905 at the age of 66. Some of his manuscripts were thought to have been destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.^[4]

His works include two sacred cantatas –Praise Ye the Lord andChristmas Day (Gloucester, 1880), as well asO may I join the choir invisible for baritone solo, chorus and strings. Of the symphonies only the last two have survived. The first (in A, op. 32) was given at theCrystal Palace on 24 February 1872. Symphony No 4,Fraternity op. 48, dates from 1877 and No 5,Cumberland op. 57, from 1887.^[5] His Violin Concerto in F, op. 39, was first performed at Crystal Palace on 11 December 1875. Other works include two string quartets, a piano quintet op. 49, an octet for stings and two horns (1889), and songs.^[6]

A critic inGloucester was not impressed and made the following criticism in 1880:

The event at Gloucester was the daily appearances of Mr Henry Holmes – aesthetic, violinist, and the composer of a very mediocre cantata. The hair of this genius was crimped and his manners had been put in curl-papers. One day he was accompanied by Mrs Holmes, dressed in a tablecloth and a nimbus,^[7]

• Son-in-law, English novelistEdgar Jepson

• Free scores by Henry Holmes (composer) at theInternational Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

• 1839 births
• 1905 deaths
• 19th-century English composers
• 19th-century English male composers
• Academics of the Royal College of Music
• British music educators
• English Romantic composers
• English violinists
• British male violinists
• 19th-century British male musicians

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