BANTOCK, Granville, English composer: b. London, 7 Aug. 1868. He was educated in London for the Indian civil service. His love of music caused a change in his plans and he took a preparatory course under Dr. Saunders. In 1889 he entered the Royal Academy of Music, where he was first holder of the Mac farren scholarship. He toured the world in 1894-95 as conductor of the Gaiety Company, conducting in the principal cities of America and Australia, and editing meanwhile The New Quarterlv Musical Review. In 1896 he joined the G. Edwardes' opera company. His London concerts of 1897 attracted wide attention be cause he confined himself exclusively to Eng lish compositions of recent date. He was ap pointed municipal director of music at New Brighton, in 1896, where he established a choral society and orchestra. He was principal of the Birmingham Music School from 1900 to 1907, and conductor of the Liverpool Orchestral Association after 1903. He was appointed
professor of music in Birmingham University in 1908. He is a prolific composer. His chief works are the operas (Caedmar> (1892); (The Pearl of Iran) (1896); an oratono, (Christ in the Wilderness> (1907); the symphonic poems, (Dante) (1902); (Fifine at the Fair' (1902) ; (The Witch of Atlas) (1903) ; (Lalla Rookh) (1903); (Dante and Beatrice) (1911); vocal works with orchestra, (Wulstan) (1892); (The Spirit of the Times) (1904); (Sea-Wanderers) (1905); (Otnar Khayyam) (1907) ; the choral symphony, (Atalanta in Calydon) (1912) ; a string quartet in C minor; serenade for four horns; piano works and songs; and the over tures, 'The Fire Worshippers) (1892); (Eu gene Arlin) (1895); (Saul) (1907) ; and (Overture to a Greek Tragedy) (1911).