Sargent, (Sir) (Harold) Malcolm (Watts)

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Sargent, (Sir) (Harold) Malcolm (Watts) (b Ashford, Kent, 1895; d London, 1967). Eng. cond., organist, pianist, and composer. Organist, Melton Mowbray church 1914–24. Mus.D., Durham, 1919. Cond. his own Impression on a Windy Day at London Promenade concert 1921. On staff RCM as teacher of cond. from 1923. Cond. opera for BNOC. Mus. dir. Courtauld-Sargent Concerts 1929–40. Cond. of many choral socs., incl. Royal Choral Soc. (from 1928), Huddersfield Choral Soc. (from 1932), Liverpool Welsh Choral Union (from 1941), Leeds Phil. Soc. (from 1947). Prin. cond. Hallé Orch. 1939–42, Liverpool PO 1942–8, BBCSO 1950–7, chief cond., Henry Wood Promenade Concerts 1948–67. Cond. many f.ps. of Brit. works, incl. Walton's Belshazzar's Feast (Leeds 1931) and Troilus and Cressida (CG 1954). Frequently cond. D'Oyly Carte Opera Co. Guest cond. of int. orchs. and ambassador for Eng. mus. Arr. carols and authentic tune of Rule, Britannia! Orchestrated Brahms's Vier ernste Gesänge and Nocturne from Borodin str. qt. No.2. Knighted 1947.

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