ABSTRACT
The ephemeral nature of the Beecham Symphony Orchestra and the disbandment of the Hambourg Quartet, Coates were looking for more permanent employment. When an opportunity arose to join the Queens Hall Orchestra (QHO) in 1910, under Henry Wood, a conductor then at the height of his powers and energy, Coates accepted it with alacrity. Henry Wood brought an interesting and unconventional artistic policy to his programmes, especially in the Promenade Concerts. Besides a staple diet of the core orchestral repertoire Wood frequently performed new works by living composers, both native and foreign. With the Royal Philharmonic Society Orchestra he played in the premiere of Elgars Second Symphony on 24 May 1911. When Booseys published the work, they issued two versions, Coates original scoring and, later, an expanded orchestration by Percy Fletcher, including two trumpets, three trombones, euphonium, and with an expanded array of percussion instruments.
