Alfred Holmes (1837 - 4 March 1876) was an English

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ist,

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, and

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. His compositional output includes orchestral works (including six symphonies, thought to be lost), chamber music, several works for solo violin, and some choral works.''An encyclopedia of the violin'' by Alberto Bachmann, page 365 Born in London, Holmes was the older brother of violinist and composer Henry Holmes. Both men studied the violin initially with their father and then at the Spohr's Violin School. The brothers made their professional debut together when Alfred was just 10 years old, performing in concert as duettists at the

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on 13 July 1847. They then toured throughout Europe to much acclaim and violinist/composer Louis Spohr dedicated his three violin duos to them. The brothers parted ways in 1864 with Alfred settling in Paris and Henry remaining in London. In Paris, Holmes was highly active as a composer and produced a large amount of music during his 12 years there. In April 1875 ''

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'' reported on a performance at the Crystal Palace of ''Jeanne d'Arc'', a dramatic symphony with solo vocalists and chorus, first performed in St Peterburg. It was judged "a striking instance of mistaken ambition". His other symphonies were also given programmatic names, such as ''Robinhood'', ''The Siege of Paris'', ''Charles XII'' and ''Romeo and Juliet''.Nicolas Slonimsky. ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'', 7th ed. (1984) He was also active as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concert soloist; notably forming his own

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, and taught the violin privately. He died in Paris in 1876, in his late 30s.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Alfred 1837 births 1876 deaths English composers English violinists British music educators 19th-century British composers 19th-century violinists British male violinists 19th-century English musicians 19th-century British male musicians