Celebrating the Proms: from Henry Wood to Hyde Park -
The Folio Society Gallery
11 April - 8 July 2007
Admission free
A new exhibition in The Folio Society Gallery at the British Library marks the 80th anniversary of the BBC taking over the running of the Proms in 1927. The display draws on the British Library's rich collections of photographs, programmes, documents and historic recordings together with archive material from the BBC to chart the history of this enduring musical phenomenon.
The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (now the BBC Proms) have been an integral part of British musical life for over a century. This exhibition explores the world of the Victorian promenader, the experience of concert-going during the bombing raids of World War II, the music specially composed for the Proms, the much-copied and sometimes controversial Last Night of the Proms, and newer developments such as Proms in the Park.
The display brings together a number of treasured British Library collection items relating to the ever popular concerts, such as Edward Elgar's autograph score of Pomp and Circumstance March no. 1. The display features unique items from the archives of Sir Henry Wood including signed photos of various eminent composers he worked with, letters written to him by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Jean Sibelius, and a poster for his jubilee concert in 1938.
Celebrating the Proms also showcases items from the recently acquired Malcolm Sargent archive - displaying the conductor's silver pocket metronome and one of his batons alongside examples of his correspondence, including a letter written to BBC Controller of Music, Sir William Glock. A letter written by composer Malcolm Arnold to Glock expressing his fears about making changes to the traditional 'Last Night' offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the running of the Proms.
The display features audio extracts from the British Library Sound Archive (including some unique recordings from the 1930s) and historic video footage and audio clips from the BBC. Illustrations, posters and advertising materials for concerts will also be displayed.
A three-day conference entitled The Proms and British Musical Life will be held at the British Library Conference Centre, 23-25 April 2007. This event - the first ever international conference devoted to the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts - is being staged in partnership with the BBC and King's College London.
Sandra Tuppen, British Library curator, commented, "The 80th anniversary of the BBC taking over the running of the Proms provides a wonderful opportunity to display some of our treasured music manuscripts and documents, augmented by British Library Sound Archive recordings and historic BBC video footage. I hope that Celebrating the Proms will offer a fascinating insight into the history and development of the ever popular concerts."
For more information, please contact Ruth Howlett at the British Library Press Office: +44 (0)20 7412 7112 or ruth.howlett@bl.uk
Notes for Editors
Celebrating the Proms: from Henry Wood to Hyde Park is on display in The Folio Society Gallery in the British Library from 11 April to 8 July 2007. Admission is free.
The Proms and British Musical Life takes place 23 April to 25 April 2007 in the British Library Conference Centre. For a detailed conference programme and booking form, please telephone +44 (0)20 7765 2679.
The 2007 BBC Proms season is launched on 25 April 2007.
The British Library is the national Library of the United Kingdom. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk.