A Promenade concert in the Royal Albert Hall, 2004. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known The bust of Henry Wood can be seen in front of the organ

The Proms (also more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC) is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London, United Kingdom. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Henry Joseph Wood, CH ( 3 March 1869 The Grand Organ situated in the Royal Albert Hall in London, is the second largest Pipe organ in the UK. An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Founded in 1895, each season now consists of over 70 concerts in the Albert Hall, a series of eight chamber concerts and four Saturday Matinees at Cadogan Hall, additional Proms in the Park events across the United Kingdom on the Last Night and associated educational and children's events. Chamber music is a form of Classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat Concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea London, in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is the biggest classical music festival in the world.

Proms is short for promenade concerts. The term promenade concert arose from the original practice of audience members promenading, or strolling, in some areas of the concert hall during the concert. Although the term Promenade Concert is normally associated today with the series of concerts founded in 1895 by Robert Newman and the conductor Henry Wood Promming now refers to the use of the standing areas inside the hall (the arena and gallery) for which ticket prices are much lower than for the reserved seating. Single concert promming tickets can be purchased, with few exceptions, only on the day of the concert, which can give rise to long queues for well-known artists or works. Prommers can purchase full or half season tickets instead for guaranteed entry, although not guaranteed standing position. A number of Prommers are particularly keen in their attendance, and see it as a badge of honour to achieve the "Grand Slam" of attending every concert of the season. In 1997 one programme in the BBC documentary series "Modern Times" covered this dedicated following.

History

Although earlier promenade concert series had previously existed, the first Proms concert was held on 10 August 1895 in the Queen's Hall in Langham Place and was arranged by Robert Newman. Although the term Promenade Concert is normally associated today with the series of concerts founded in 1895 by Robert Newman and the conductor Henry Wood Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Queen's Hall was a classical music Concert hall in Central London, England, opened in 1893 and was beloved by Londoners until its Robert Newman (1858-1926 was the manager of the Queen's Hall who founded the series of Promenade Concerts with Henry Wood as conductor. Newman's idea was to encourage an audience who, though not normally attending classical concerts, would be attracted by the low ticket prices and more informal atmosphere (in addition to promenading, eating, drinking and smoking were all allowed).

However, it is the conductor Henry Joseph Wood whose name is most closely associated with the concerts. Conducting is the act of directing a Musical performance by way of visible gestures WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Henry Joseph Wood, CH ( 3 March 1869 As conductor from that first concert, Wood was largely responsible for expanding the repertoire heard in later concerts, such that by the 1920s the concerts had grown from being made up of largely more popular, less demanding works, to presenting music by contemporary composers such as Claude Debussy, Richard Strauss and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Achille-Claude Debussy (aʃil klod dəbysi (August 22 1862 &ndash March 25 1918 was a French Composer. Richard Georg Strauss (11 June 1864 &ndash 8 September 1949 was a German Composer of the late Romantic era and early modern era particularly noted Ralph (reɪf Vaughan Williams OM (12 October 1872 &ndash 26 August 1958 was an English Composer of symphonies, Chamber music A bronze bust of Wood, belonging to the Royal Academy of Music,^[1] is placed in front of the Organ for the whole season. The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a well known conservatoire and one of the leading music institutions in the world The Grand Organ situated in the Royal Albert Hall in London, is the second largest Pipe organ in the UK. While now known as BBC Proms, the text on the tickets (along with the headline BBC Proms next to the BBC Logo), still says BBC Music presents the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

In 1927, the BBC — later based at Broadcasting House opposite the hall — took over the running of the concerts, and when the BBC Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1930 it became the main orchestra for the concerts. Broadcasting House is the headquarters and Registered office of the BBC in Portland Place, London, England. At this time the season consisted of nights dedicated to particular composers; Mondays were Wagner, Fridays were Beethoven with other major composers being featured on other days. Ludwig van Beethoven ( English ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən, 16 December 1770 &ndash 26 March 1827 was a German Composer and Pianist. There were no Sunday performances.

However, with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the BBC withdrew its support. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Proms continued though, under private sponsorship, until the Queen's Hall was gutted by an air raid in 1941 (its site is now the St George's Hotel and BBC Henry Wood House). The following year, the Proms moved to their current home, the Royal Albert Hall, and the BBC took over once more. In 1944 however increased danger to the Royal Albert Hall from bombing meant that the Proms moved again to the Bedford Corn Exchange. Bedford Corn Exchange is located on St Paul's Square in the Castle area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. This venue had been the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 1941 and played host to the Proms until the end of the war.

From the 1950s, the number of guest orchestras giving concerts in the season began to increase, with the first major international conductors (Leopold Stokowski, Georg Solti and Carlo Maria Giulini) performing in 1963, and the first foreign orchestra, the Moscow Radio Orchestra, performing in 1966. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Leopold Stokowski (born Leopold Anthony Stokowski though on occasion WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Georg Solti, KBE ( 21 October 1912 Carlo Maria Giulini ( May 9, 1914 &ndash June 14, 2005) was an Italian conductor, and violist. Since that time, almost every major international orchestra, conductor and soloist has performed at the Proms. In 1970, Soft Machine's appearance led to press attention and comment as the first "pop" band to perform there. Soft Machine was an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S

The other major conductor associated with the Proms was Sir Malcolm Sargent who was Chief Conductor between 1948 to 1966. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes -->Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent (29 April 1895 &ndash 3 October 1967 He was noted for his immaculate appearance (evening dress, carnation) and his witty addresses where he good-naturedly chided the noisy prommers. Sir Malcolm championed choral music, classical and British composers especially the brilliant black composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (15 August 1875 &ndash 1 September 1912 was an English composer who achieved such success he was called the "African Mahler " The charity founded in his name continues to hold a special 'Promenade Concert' each year shortly after the main season ends. The charity also benefits (along with the Musicians' Benevolent Fund and a third "musical" charity, chosen each year) by many thousands of pounds from a collection made by the prommers after most concerts. The Musicians' Benevolent Fund (MBF is a United Kingdom charity offering help and support to working and retired Musicians, other professionals in the (The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children merged with CLIC in early 2005 forming CLIC - Sargent).

The Proms continue today, and still present newly commissioned music alongside pieces more central to the repertoire and early music. Innovations continue, with pre-Prom talks, lunchtime chamber concerts, children's Proms, Proms in the Park either appearing, or being featured more heavily over the past few years. In the UK, all concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3, an increasing number are shown on BBC4 with some also broadcast on BBC1 and BBC2. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located BBC Four is a BBC Television channel available to digital television ( Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable) viewers in the It is also possible to hear the concerts live from the BBC Proms website. The Last Night is also broadcast in many countries around the world.

In 1996 a related series of eight lunchtime chamber concerts was started, taking place on Mondays during the Proms season. In their first year these were held in the Britten Hall of the Royal College of Music (just across Prince Consort Road from the Albert Hall). Edward Benjamin Britten Baron Britten, OM CH (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976 was an English Composer, conductor, The following year they moved slightly further afield, to the Henry Cole Lecture Theatre at the V & A. Sir Henry Cole ( 15 July 1808, Bath, England – 18 April 1882, London, England) was a Civil The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design housing a permanent collection In 2005 they moved further again, to the new Cadogan Hall, just off London's Sloane Square. Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat Concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea London, in the United Kingdom. Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the fashionable London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea These allow the Proms to include music which is not really suitable for the vast spaces of the Albert Hall.

Since 1998, the Blue Peter Prom, in partnership with long-running BBC television programme Blue Peter, has been an annual fixture. Blue Peter is a BBC Television programme for children It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the ^[2] Aimed at children and families, the Prom is informal, including audience participation, jokes, and popular classics. ^[3] High demand for tickets - which are among the lowest priced in the season - saw this Prom be split in 2004 into 2 Proms with identical content. ^[4]

The 2004 season also featured the Hall's newly rebuilt pipe organ, now again the largest in the British Isles. The Grand Organ situated in the Royal Albert Hall in London, is the second largest Pipe organ in the UK. It took two years to complete the task (2002–2004) and was the work of Noel Mander, Ltd. , of London. It was the first complete restoration of the instrument since Harrison and Harrison's work in 1936.

The Proms today

The Proms 2005. Most people sit, while Promenaders stand in front of the orchestra. The Royal Albert Hall Organ is in the background. The Grand Organ situated in the Royal Albert Hall in London, is the second largest Pipe organ in the UK.

2008 season

The 2008 season will run from 18 July-13 September 2008. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The BBC released details of the season slightly earlier than usual, on 9 April 2008. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[5] As expected, composers whose anniversaries are marked include, Ralph Vaughan-Williams, 2008 being 50 years since his death; Elliott Carter and Olivier Messiaen in their centenary year; Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to mark the centenary of his death; and Karlheinz Stockhausen, whose 80th birthday would have fallen during the season (he died on December 5, 2007). Ralph (reɪf Vaughan Williams OM (12 October 1872 &ndash 26 August 1958 was an English Composer of symphonies, Chamber music Elliott Cook Carter Jr (born in New York City on December 11, 1908) is an American Composer from New York City. Olivier Messiaen ( December 10 1908 &ndash April 27 1992 was a French Composer, organist and ornithologist. Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov ( Николай Андреевич Римский-Корсаков, Nikolaj Andreevič Rimskij-Korsakov) also Nikolay Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The celebration of Stockhausen is centred on two large-scale concerts on 2 August 2008, and complementing Vaughan-Williams's interest in folk music, the first Saturday is given over to a celebration of various aspects of British folk, including free events in Kensington Gardens and the Albert Hall, and ending with a céilidh in the hall itself. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous A céilidh ( (in modern usage is a traditional Gaelic social Dance originating in Ireland and Scotland, but now common throughout the ^[6]

Other changes include additional pre-Prom talks and events, for the first time there will be a related talk or event before every Prom, to be held in the Royal College of Music. The Royal College of Music is a well known conservatoire located in the South Kensington district of London, England, and one The popular child-oriented Prom this year becomes the Doctor Who Prom (rather than the Blue Peter Prom of recent years. Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Blue Peter is a BBC Television programme for children It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the ^[6]

Just over a month before the announcement, Margaret Hodge, the UK Culture Secretary suggested "that the Proms was one of several big cultural events that many people did not feel comfortable attending",^[7] and advocated an increase in multicultural works and an effort to broaden the audience. Margaret Eve Lady Hodge, MBE ( Née Margaret Oppenheimer born 8 September 1944, Cairo. The Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport is a UK cabinet position with responsibility for the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

2007 season

The 2007 season ran from 13 July–8 September 2007, with the first concert beginning with Walton's Portsmouth Point and included Elgar's Cello Concerto performed by Paul Watkins and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Portsmouth Point is an Overture for Orchestra by the English composer William Walton, composed in 1925 Sir Edward Elgar 's Cello Concerto in E minor Op 85 was his last notable work and is a cornerstone of the solo Cello repertoire Paul Watkins (born 1970 is a living English classical cellist. The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Following the previous year's Voice day, brass instruments were specially featured with two concerts on 28 July 2007. A brass instrument is a Musical instrument whose tone is produced by vibration of the lips as the player blows into a tubular Resonator. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Early press coverage focused heavily on the fact that musical theatre star Michael Ball would be the central performer in a concert on 27 August and a concert of British film music on 14 July. Michael Ashley Ball (born 27 June 1962, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire) is an Olivier Award winning English Actor Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan A film score is a broad term referring to the music in a film which is generally categorically separated from songs used within a film Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. This led to media accusations of "dumbing down", despite Nicholas Kenyon's defence of the programme. The term "dumb-down" was coined by Ken E Smith of Colorado according to the Oxford English Dictionary, which has the official definition of the term as used by Mr Sir Nicholas Roger Kenyon CBE (born February 23, 1951 in Cheshire) is an English music administrator editor and writer on music ^[8][9][10] Anniversaries marked in this Proms season included the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Edward Elgar, the 100th anniversary of the death of Edvard Grieg and the 50th anniversary of the death of Jean Sibelius as well as marking 80 years since the first BBC sponsorship of the Proms.

In February 2007 it was announced that the 2007 season would be Nicholas Kenyon's last as controller of the BBC Proms as he would take up the position of Managing Director at the Barbican Centre from October 2007. Barbican Centre is the largest Performing arts centre in Europe ^[11] He will be succeeded by Roger Wright who will also retain responsibility for BBC Radio 3 and take up a broader role controlling the BBC's classical music output across all media. ^[12]

2006 season

The 2006 season (the 112th) marked the 250th birthday celebrations of Mozart and the centenary of Shostakovich's birth. Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich ( Russian: ru Дмитрий Дмитриевич Шостакович ( &ndash 9 August 1975 was a Russian Composer New initiatives for the year included four Saturday matinee concerts at the Cadogan Hall and the chance for audience members to get involved with The Voice, a collaborative piece performed in two Proms on 29 July. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat On 3 September 2006, a concert was cancelled due to a fire which damaged the hall's electrical system. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[13]

Last Night of the Proms

Most people's perception of the Proms is taken from the 'Last Night', although this concert is very different from the others. In the UK, it is usually broadcast on BBC2 (first half) and BBC1 (second half) and usually takes place on the second Saturday in September. The concert is traditionally in a lighter, 'winding-down' vein, with popular classics being followed by a series of British patriotic pieces in the second half of the concert. This sequence begins with Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. The Pomp and Circumstance Marches (full title "Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches" Op 1 (Land of Hope and Glory), and continues with Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs which culminates in Thomas Arne’s Rule Britannia. Usage as the national anthem of England See also National anthem of England Land of Hope and Glory has long been traditionally sung amidst much flag-waving Fantasia on British Sea Songs or Fantasy on British Sea Songs is a piece of classical music arranged by Sir Henry Wood in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle Thomas Augustine Arne (12 March 1710 &ndash 5 March 1778 was an English Composer, best known for the patriotic Rule Britannia!. Rule Britannia! is a British Patriotic song, originating from the Poem "Rule Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music The concert concludes with Hubert Parry's Jerusalem (a setting of a poem by William Blake), and the British national anthem. Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry 1st Baronet (27 February 1848 &ndash 7 October 1918 was an English Composer, best known for the choral song Jerusalem " And did those feet in ancient time " is a short Poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem (1804 " And did those feet in ancient time " is a short Poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem (1804 "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms It is the National The Prommers have made a tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne but it is not in the programme. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294 However, when James Loughran, a Scot, conducted at the Last Night in the 1970s he did include the piece in the programme.

Tickets are highly sought after. Promming tickets are no more expensive than for other concerts throughout the season, but tickets for seats are more expensive. It is usually necessary to attend several other Proms in the season to have a chance of getting a Last Night ticket. In the post-War period, with the growing popularity of the "Last Night", the only way to obtain tickets was through a postal ballot system where prospective buyers submitted an application well in advance, along with a stamped and addressed reply envelope. The lucky ones received their tickets by return.

Prommers with tickets are likely to queue up much earlier than usual (even overnight) in order to ensure a good place to stand in the hall. The resulting cameraderie adds to the atmosphere. Fancy dress is an optional extra: from dinner jackets to patriotic T-shirts. A costume party ( American English) or a fancy dress party ( British English) mainly in contemporary Western culture, is a type of Party Black tie is a dress code for semi-formal evening events and is worn to many types of social functions A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a Shirt which is pulled on over the head to cover most of a person's Torso. Many use the occasion for an exuberant display of Britishness. Britishness is a term referring to a sense of national identity of the British people, and common Culture of the United Kingdom. Union Flags are carried and waved by the Prommers, especially during Rule Britannia. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Flags (mostly national flags and regional flags), balloons and party poppers are all welcome. Sir Henry Wood's bust is crowned with a laurel chaplet by representatives of the Promenaders, who often wipe an imaginary bead of sweat from his forehead or make some similar gentle visual joke. A laurel wreath is a circular Wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the Bay Laurel ( Laurus nobilis Lauraceae) an aromatic Near the end, the conductor makes a speech thanking the musicians and audiences, and mentioning the main themes covered through the season.

The Royal Albert Hall could be filled many times over with people wishing to attend the Last Night. To accommodate these people, and to cater for those who are not near London, the Proms in the Park concerts were started in 1996. Initially there was only one, in London's Hyde Park adjacent to the Hall. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Hyde Park is one of the largest Parks in central London, England and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner More locations have been added in recent years, and in 2005, Belfast, Glasgow, Swansea and Manchester hosted a Last Night Prom in the Park which was broadcast live from each venue. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales. 2007 saw Manchester's prom being replaced by one in Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough ( IPA ( Received pronunciation) is a Town in the Tees Valley sub-region of the North East of England Each location has its own live concert, typically playing the country's respective national anthems, before joining in a live big screen video link up with the Royal Albert Hall for the traditional finalé.

Leonard Slatkin, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra until recently, expressed a desire to tone down the nationalism of the Last Night somewhat, and since 2002 Rule Britannia has only been heard as part of Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs (another piece traditional to the last night) rather than separately. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Leonard Edward Slatkin (born September 1 1944 is an American Fantasia on British Sea Songs or Fantasy on British Sea Songs is a piece of classical music arranged by Sir Henry Wood in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle Slatkin's first Last Night was in 2001, just days after 9/11 attacks: it was more restrained than normal. He was the first non-Commonwealth citizen to conduct the final night. A heavily revised programme saw Beethoven's 9th replacing the Sea Songs etc and also included Samuel Barber's melancholy Adagio for Strings. Samuel Osborne Barber II ( March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American Composer of Orchestral, Opera, "Adagio for Strings" is a work for String orchestra, arranged by the American Composer Samuel Barber from his first string quartet

Last Night Conductors

The following table lists by year the people who have acted as conductor at the Last Night of the Proms. Conducting is the act of directing a Musical performance by way of visible gestures This duty is normally undertaken by the Principal Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but the role has on occasion been undertaken by a number of guest conductors. Where appropriate, the table indicates such guest status.

See also

• BBC Electric Proms
• List of music festivals in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• The Proms at bbc.co.uk
• BBC Proms reviews at musicOMH.com