The British Musical Biography

[E] Read, John Francis Holcombe, musi-
cal amateur and composer, born at Port
Royal, Kingston, Jamaica, October 29, 1821.
Sent to his grandparents at Woolwich when,
four months old. Began to learn the violin
when about twelve from a member of the-
Royal Artillery Band, subsequently studying
composition with G. A. Macfarren. Was
appointed to the War Office, afterwards
entering the Stock Exchange. Resided at
Walthamstow for nearly forty years ; now
resident in London. Was County Magistrate
for Essex, and for some years a Vice-President,
and member of the Committee of Manage-
ment of R.A.M. In 1867 the Walthamstow
Musical Society was formed, and Mr. Read
was elected President and Conductor. Por
twenty-five years he gave his time to it, and
wrote for it many of his choral works, besides-
producing the standard compositions of all
masters. He raised Walthamstow to an im-
portant musical centre, and to him the town
is indebted for the Victoria Hall, and the
Festival which inaugurated it in 1887. Mr.
Read was also President of the Stock Ex-
change Orchestral Society for some years from
its foundation in 1885.

[W] Works. — Cantatas, etc. : Homeward Bound,
produced, Walthamstow, 1868; Consecration
of the Banner; Psyche, 1873; Carastacus,
1882 ; Bartimeus, 1885 ; Harold, composed
for the Walthamstow Festival, November 24,
1887; In the Forest, 1890; The Death of
Young Romilly, 1891 ; both for men's voices,
and produced by the Stock Exchange Society
at St. James's Hall. The Hesperus, cantata,
1896. Orchestral : Concert Overture, com-
posed for the first concert of the Stock
Exchange Society, December 18, 1885 ; Sym-
phony, Evangeline, the same, February 20,
1889; Funeral March (In Memoriam, the late
Duke of Clarence) 1892. Chamber music,
operettas, and orchestral works in MS
Woodland Waltzes, for voices and pf. duet ; a
large number of songs and part-songs, etc.
Of these works many have enjoyed much
popularity, and have been given in various"
parts of the kingdom, and in America.

entry id: 336-R-16