Tragic prelude

MS lost, probably discarded by HB before 1907

In a letter in 1949 (when the composer was 73), Brian wrote:
»My father died at 23 [ie when Havergal was 23] & for some strange reason I started to write large works. The first was called "Tragic Prelude". Eventually I obtained permission to send the full score to Halford & he sent for me. His first words were ‘“Tragic Prelude” – prelude to what – we can’t have a prelude for nothing’. A fugue was out of my head in those days… I don’t know what happened to Tragic Prelude – it was my first orchestral effort & I still remember Halford’s demonstration in musical tautology.«

orchestra

unpublished; unperformed