1908

A four day music festival, as part of a run of triennial events.

Conductor and co-founder of the Proms, Henry Wood was appointed festival director which was seen as a major coup for the Festival given his reputation and standing in the musical community.

Wood turned down a lucrative job offer in America to take up the role and brought with him his own Queen’s Hall Orchestra.

In his programmes he introduced Norwich audiences to some new music rarely performed outside of London at the time, including composers such as Debussy and Sibelius.

A competition was held for a new festival work; it was won by Julius Harrison and his cantata Cleopatra.

Festival Chorus, 1908. Image courtesy of Norfolk County Council Library and Information Service.

Festival Programme Advert, 1908. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Page In Programme Advertising Elgar Concert, 1908. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Illustrated souvenir. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Illustrated souvenir. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Signed copy of the 1908 Programme by the Festival Director, Henry Wood. Image taken from the Norfolk & Norwich Festival Archive.

An animation made by the Festival Futures group. Produced by Amelia, Wyatt and Laura. Kerry Green plays an excerpt from Sailor’s Hornpipe by Sir Henry Wood on flute. Voiceover by Wyatt.

Sample of ‘Harfe Impro Harp Diverse’ by Monika Gatt, and a sample of ‘Muted Cornet’ by Jeff Carter – both from Freesound.org