Percy Fletcher

From Wind Repertory Project
Percy Fletcher

Biography

Percy Eastman Fletcher (12 December 1879, Derby, England - 10 December 1932) was an English composer and organist.

Like many of his musical contemporaries, he made his living as a musical director in various theaters in London, including the Prince of Wales, Savoy, and Drury Lane theaters. He directed at His Majesty’s Theater from 1915 until his death in 1932.

While Fletcher was quite successful as a director in the theater, he was a performer on organ, piano, and violin as well. He composed numerous ballads, choral works, orchestral suites, piano music, marches, pieces for organ, and works for military band. Throughout the 20th century, Fletcher had several of his compositions performed as test pieces for the British National Band Championships. In 1913, his tone poem Labour and Love was performed by the Irwell Springs Band, that year’s winner. In 1926, Fletcher was invited again to present a piece for the championships. He created what some consider his most serious work, An Epic Symphony, in three movements. It was brought back as a test piece for the National Championships of 1938, 1951, and 1976. An Epic Symphony and Labour and Love are played today on occasion, but sadly most of Fletcher’s repertoire is rarely performed.


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