Born: 1898 (or 1896) - Sheffield, England
Died: September 30, 1963 - London (?), England

The English conductor, composer and pedagogue, Arnold (Wilfred Allen) Foster, studied at the Royal College of Music in London.

Arnold Foster was Director of Music of Morley College in London from 1928 to 1940; director of the English Madrigal Choir from 1928 to 1940; Director Westminster School in London from 1939. He was also lecturer at the London University Institute of Education from 1945. He was founder and conductor of the Arnold Foster Choir & Orchestra from 1945. He specialised in arranging folk music; conducting revivals of unknown or neglected choral & orchestral works of all schools. He was married with Alice Smart.

Arnold Foster's compositions include: Lord Bateman (Ballad Opera); Pianoforte Concerto on Country Dance Tunes; Midsummer Eve (Ballet); Three Festive Carols; Mirth & Melancholy; Tyrolean Scenes; The Fairy Isle (Choral Works); Suite for Strings on English Folk Airs, Playford, Morris Dance & Sword Dance Suites; Two Celtic Dances; Autumn Idyll (Small Orchestra); 3 Volumes of Manx Folk Songs; Fantasy for Piano Quartet; many Part Song Arrangements of English & Manx Folk Songs; 5 Volumes of Dance Tunes for English Folk Dance & Song Society. He published Handbooks of European National Dances, 22 Volumes.

Source: International Who's Who in Music & International Directory (4^th Edition, 1992/93)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2007)

Bach-A. Foster: Arnold Foster | Works | Recordings

Links to other Sites

Bibliography