View source for Henry Lazarus

{{Short description|British clarinet virtuoso}}
{{about|the musician named Lazarus|other uses of the name Lazarus|Lazarus (name)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
[[File:Henry Lazarus 001.jpg|thumb|Henry Lazarus]]
'''Henry Lazarus''' (1 January 1815 – 6 March 1895) was the leading British [[clarinet]] virtuoso of the 19th century. [[George Bernard Shaw]] wrote of Henry Lazarus:<ref>From the liner notes of Clarinet Classics CD CC0008 by [[Pamela Weston]] and Oliver Davies</ref> 
<blockquote>
He was the best clarionet [old spelling, now clarinet] player in England; when you were sitting behind Costa at the Opera you listened for certain phrases from the clarionet just as you did from the ''prima donna'', except that you were much less likely to be disappointed in the former case.
</blockquote>

Lazarus was born in London.  Raised as an orphan in the [[Royal Military Asylum]] in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], he there learned the instrument from the bandmaster John Blizzard. He later studied under Charles Godfrey, bandmaster of the [[Coldstream Guards]]. His solo debut came in 1838.

"After fulfilling engagements in various theatrical and other orchestras, he was appointed second clarinet in the Sacred Harmonic Society in 1838.  In 1840, he became first clarinetist at the opera, and at the principal concerts in London and the provinces, and was immediately recognized as the foremost clarinetist in all England.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/920| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025129/https://saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/920| archive-date=2018-10-26|title=1913 Buffet Facts Worth Knowing About Reed Instruments No 4 {{!}} Saxophone.org (page 7)|website=saxophone.org|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25}}</ref>" In 1871 he gave a highly successful concert tour of England and Wales with the pianist [[Stephen Kemp]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Kemp_Stephen_1849|chapter=Stephen Kemp|title=Biographical Dictionary of the Organ|author=W. B. Henshaw|publisher=Bardon Music|year=2003}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

Lazarus was professor of clarinet at the [[Royal Academy of Music]] from 1854 to 1895 and at the Military School of Music ([[Kneller Hall]]) "for a considerable period" from 1858.<ref name=":0" /> He wrote a ''Method for the Clarinet'' based on the [[Boehm system]], although he used primarily Albert System instruments, made by Eugène Albert, himself – some horns are even stamped, "Approved by Mr. Lazarus".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bate.ox.ac.uk/assets/files/Bate%20Collection%20Clarinets.pdf|title=BATE COLLECTION CLARINETS (page 34, #475)|website=Bate Collection Clarinets|access-date=2018-10-24|archive-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025100/http://www.bate.ox.ac.uk/assets/files/Bate%20Collection%20Clarinets.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> His method books are still in use today,<ref>{{Cite book|title=O327 – Method for Clarinet – Part 1 – H. Lazarus|last=Lazarus|first=H.|date=1946-12-01|publisher=Carl Fischer Music Publisher|isbn=9780825802065|location=New York|language=English}}</ref> and include duets, etudes, studies, finger exercises, scales, etc.

Lazarus also played the [[basset horn]] and [[saxophone]].

"In both orchestral and solo playing, the beauty and richness of his tone, his excellent phrasing, and his neat and expressive execution were equally admired.  He gave a farewell concert in St. James Hall, [on] 31 May 1892, and died in London, [on] 6 March 1895, and was buried in [[Brompton Cemetery]], London, after having given to the world the wonderful method which bears his name (Lazarus Clarinet School), and which will stand as a monument to his greatness.<ref name=":0" />"

==Compositions==
Works include

* ''Fantasia on Favorite Scotch Melodies''
* ''Fantasia on Airs from Bellini's 'I Puritani' ''<ref>[[Colin Bradbury]]. ''The Art of the Clarinettist'', Clarinet Classics 2CD set CC0008, 1994.</ref>

and many others.<ref>Pamela Weston, "Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past". Emerson</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Pamela Weston (November 1974) "Lazarus' Instrument Collection". NACWPI  
* Pamela Weston (1971) ''Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past'' Emerson, York {{ISBN|978-0-95062-098-5}}
* [[Jack Brymer]]- "Jolly good fellow, 'Henry Lazarus{{'"}}, ''The Clarinet'', 24:20, Summer 1950 & Fall 1956

==External links==
* [http://www.ram.ac.uk/facilitiesandcollections/Exhibitions/Past/Pages/Henry%20Lazarus.aspx Past exhibition info at Royal Academy, Retrieved 2009-06-25]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Lazarus, Henry|volume=16|pages=313–314}}

{{Clarinet}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazarus, Henry}}
[[Category:English classical clarinetists]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:1815 births]]
[[Category:1895 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:19th-century British classical musicians]]