Pitt, Percy

1870-

English organist, composer, pianist and conductor. Born in London, but educated abroad, receiving some of his musical instruction at Paris. In 1886 he went to Leipsic, where for two years he studied under Jadassohn and Reinecke, and then went to Munich, where Rheinberger was his teacher. In 1893 he returned to London and devoted himself to composition. In 1895 he was chorusmaster of the Mottl concerts, given at Queen's Hall, and the next year was made organist and accompanist there. In 1902 he became connected with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, first as pianist, then adviser of the Syndicate, assistant conductor in 1906, and in 1907 director of the Covent Graden Opera. Mr. Pitt is skilful in technique, broad minded and sympathetic, and is an excellent program analyst. Besides much chamber-music; piano compositions; songs and part-songs; he has written a number of orchestra suites; a concerto; and a Coronation march; an Oriental rhapsody; overture to The Taming of the Shrew; a symphonic poem, Le Sang des Cre"puscules; instrumental music to Paolo and Francesca, by Stephen Philips; to Alfred Austin's Flodden Field, and for Tree's performance of Richard II.; Hohenlinden, a ballad for male voices and orchestra; The Blessed Damozel, and Schwerting, the Saxon.