Percy Fletcher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Percy Eastman Fletcher (12 December 1879 – 10 September 1932) was a British composer of classical music best known today for his brass and military band music. He also worked as a highly successful musical director at London theatres.[1]
Born in Derby, Fletcher was largely self-taught, though his parents were both musical and he learned to play violin, piano and organ before embarking on a career of theatrical conducting. He took positions at the Prince of Wales, Savoy and the Drury Lane Theatre under Johnston Forbes-Robertson.
In 1915 he was appointed musical director at His Majesty's Theatre by Sir Herbert Tree, where he stayed until his death. Here, from 1916, he conducted (and mostly orchestrated) the music for the record-breaking five year run of Frederic Norton's Chu Chin Chow.[2] As its successor, Fletcher composed his own musical comedy, Cairo, which ran for 267 performances in 1921. A further comedy, The Good Old Days was produced at Her Majesty's in 1925.
Although working in London, Fletcher lived in Farnborough, Hampshire for many years. There is a blue plaque marking his former residence on Sycamore Road, Farnborough Park. He died from a cerebral haemorrhage in Holloway Sanatorium, Virginia Water, aged 52.[3]
