Karl Edmund Otto von Booth
Karl Edmund Otto von Booth (1842-1923) was a German-born violinist and composer.
In some sources listed as Carl Booth, Otto Booth.
Contents
Biography
A composer, pianist, violinist and organist. One of four sons of Wilhelm and Elizabeth Booth, he was born 13 March 1842, at Schloss Weinheim, Weinheim.
He studied music at Carlsruhe Conservatory and violin with Concert-Meister Will. He made his debut as a violinist in Birmingham, England aged 11, in 1853. From 1856 he settled permanently in London and it was there that he studied composition under Bernhard Molique and organ under Charles Steggall.
He held the post of organist at St. Matthew's, Bayswater, London, between 1868-75.
He married “Rita” Eliza Margaret Jane Gollan in 1863 and there were four children. In 1893, Booth divorced her citing adultery with one William Humphreys whom she had known for some time. She was, in fact, already pregnant with Humphreys' child (a daughter). After the divorce she married Humphreys and then became known as Mrs.W.Desmond Humphreys.
Booth settled in South Africa around 1890. He died on 1st October 1923 in Turfontein, South Africa.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He composed the operetta Prizes and Blanks in South Africa in 1891.
Sources
Hilde Roos. 2010. 'Opera Production in the Western Cape: Strategies in Search of Indigenisation'. Unpublished PhD thesis. Stellenbosch University.
https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php?topic=8141.0
https://www.kesselmanmusic.co.uk/LostChord.html
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