HOWELL, Dorothy Gertrude

Dorothy Gertrude Howell was an English composer and pianist. She received the nickname of the "English Richard Strauss" in her lifetime.

Howell achieved fame with her symphonic poem Lamia (inspired by the Keats poem), which Sir Henry Wood premiered at The Proms on 10 September 1919; McEwen introduced Wood to the work. Wood directed Lamia again that same week (on 13 September 1919) and again in six subsequent Proms seasons, but after 1940 the piece was neglected until its revival at the 2010 Proms season. It received a centenary performance at the Proms in 2019. Howell dedicated Lamia on its 1921 publication to Wood. Her nickname of "English Strauss" was written in a press review of Lamia's first Proms performance. The press were very recognizing of Howell's success in the first performances of Lamia, with headlines emphasizing her age and her gender- "Girl Composer's Success" and "Girl Composer's Triumph". After Lamia's initial success, she returned to her family in Birmingham. In December of 1920, The Birmingham Festival Choral Society staged a performance of Lamia, conducted again by Wood.