Alfred holmes biography

Alfred Holmes (c.
Alfred Holmes was an English violinist, composer, and music educator.
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Alfred Holmes

This article is about the Gibraltarian soldier. For the English composer and violinist, see Alfred Holmes (composer).

Sgt. Alfred HolmesBEM (1 February 1931 – 1 January 1994) was a Gibraltariansergeant of the Gibraltar Regiment (now the Royal Gibraltar Regiment). He was a well remembered Officer-in-Charge of the Apes who held this position, caring for the Gibraltar Barbary macaques, for over 38 years.^[1]^[2] He described the macaques as "Gibraltar's greatest treasure".

Early life

Holmes was a second generation Gibraltarian,^[3] born in Gibraltar to Gibraltarian parents Arthur Frederick Holmes and Mercedes Carrara. His father had been previously married and fathered five children from that relationship. Following the death of his wife, he married Mercedes who was later to be Alfred's mother. Alfred was to be the only child out of that relationship as his mother died when he was just three years old. His father later remarried one final time, fathering a further five children, giving Alfred a total of ten half siblings

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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Holmes, Alfred

HOLMES, ALFRED (1837–1876), violinist and composer, son of Thomas Holmes of Lincoln, was born in London 9 Nov. 1837. He was principal soprano boy at the Oratory, King William Street, Strand, about 1847. His father gave him his first lessons in violin-playing; the study of Spohr's ‘Violin School’ and the practice of Rode, Baillot, and Kreutzer's music followed, with the result that Holmes became a finished player before he was twenty. In July 1847 he and his younger brother, Henry, his equal in talent and knowledge, played at the Haymarket Theatre for Benjamin Webster's benefit. About 1852 Spohr heard them in England, and was delighted by their renderings of his works; but their formal introduction to the public as violinists was delayed until 5 May 1853, when they appeared at the Beethoven Rooms, and their performance of Kalliwoda's double concerto, and of soli by various composers won high praise. In 1855 the brothers made the first of a series of concert tours on the continent, beginning with Bruss

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Alfred Holmes (composer)

English violinist, composer, and music educator

Alfred Holmes (c. 1837 - 4 March 1876) was an English violinist, composer, and music educator. His compositional output includes orchestral works (including six symphonies, thought to be lost), chamber music, several works for solo violin, and some choral works.^[1]

Born in London, Holmes was the older brother of violinist and composer Henry Holmes. Both men studied the violin initially with their father and then at the Spohr's Violin School. The brothers made their professional debut together when Alfred was just 10 years old, performing in concert as duettists at the Haymarket Theatre on 13 July 1847. They then toured throughout Europe to much acclaim and violinist/composer Louis Spohr dedicated his three violin duos to them. The brothers parted ways in 1864 with Alfred settling in Paris and Henry remaining in London.^[1]

In Paris, Holmes was highly active as a composer and produced a large amount of music during his 12 years there. In April 1875 The Musical Times reported on a