OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. PERCY PITT

COMPOSER AND PIANIST

(Received November 24. 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Nov. 23 Tho death has occurred of Mr. Percy Pitt, well-known British composer, conductor and pianist.

The lato Mr. Pprcv Pitt was born in London in January, 1870, and educated in Paris, Leipzig (where ho studied music under Beinecke) and Munich, where llheinberger was his master. In 1895 ho composed an orchestral suite and in 1896 -*' Fetes Galantes," based on works of the French poet Verlaine. In the latter year he was appointed organist at the Queen's Hall, Lontjon, and accompanist at the famous promenade concerts there. From 1902 ho was chiefly associated with opera, being engaged as musical adviser and occasional conductor at Covent Garden, and in 1907 musical director of the Grand Opera Syndicate. Ho conducted tho Beechain Opera Company from 1915 to 1918, and two years later became artistic director of tho British National Opera Company.

In 1924 Mr. Pitt accepted the new post of musical director to tho British Broadcasting Corporation, and saw the rapid rise of broadcast music to a placo in tho national life undreamt of previously. Ho was associated in particular with a long series of studio opera productions, most of which lie prepared, rehearsed and conducted himself. When big schemes were launched, tho "Maestro," as ho was affectionately called, was always ready with the wisdom gained in his long experience to bring them to fruition. His knowledge of tho world's music and musicians was almost encyclopaedic. la 1929 he resigned his official post under tire British Broadcasting Corporation, but continued to conduct occasional light orchestral concerts for that body. Mr. Pitt was a prolific composer, his more successful works including incidental music to tho Into Sir Herbert Tree's £roductions of ''Richard If." and "Flodden Field," a symphony composed for the 1906 Birmingham Musical Festival, and a '"Ballade" for violin and orchestra written in 1900 for Ysaye. He was a master of many languages.