Albert William Ketelby was born in Birmingham, England, in or about
1885. Precocious in music he completed a piano sonata when he was only
eleven. For six years he attended the Trinity College of Music in London
where he captured every possible prize. When he was sixteen he became a
church organist in Wimbledon, and at twenty-one he conducted a theater
orchestra in London. He later distinguished himself as a conductor of
some of London’s most important theater orchestras, besides appearing as
a guest conductor of many of Europe’s major symphonic organizations,
usually in performances of his own works. For many years he was also the
music director of the Columbia Gramophone Company in England. He died at
his home on the Isle of Wight on November 26, 1959.
A facile composer with a fine sense for atmospheric colors and for
varied moods, Ketelby produced a few serious compositions among which
were a _Caprice_ and a _Concerstueck_ (each for piano and orchestra), an
overture and _Suite de Ballet_ (both for orchestra) and a quintet for
piano and woodwind. He is, however, most famous for his lighter
compositions, two of which are known and heard the world over. _In a
Monastery Garden_ opens with a gentle subject describing a lovely garden
populated by chirping birds. After that comes a religious melody—a chant
of monks in a modal style. _In a Persian Garden_ is effective for its
skilful recreation of an exotic background through Oriental-type
melodies, harmonies, and brilliant orchestral colors. Ketelby wrote
several other compositions in an Oriental style, the best of which is
_In a Chinese Temple Garden_.