[Sheet music] The Balkan princess: Overture

Sheet music for the instrumental work, 'The Balkan princess overture', composed by Paul A Rubens. This version of the music has been included in a volume of all music from the musical play, 'The Balkan princess.'

Written in three acts, this musical play is based on a book written by Frederick Lonsdale and Frank Curzon. The play features music and lyrics written by Rubens and Arthur Wimperis with music composed by Rubens. The play was produced by Frank Curzon and performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on 19 February 1910. It also appeared on Broadway, New York City during 1911. The synoposis of the play is that a Balkan princess, Stephanie, is advised to marry in order to secure the Balkan throne and her subsequent hunt to find out what love is.

Paul Alfred Rubens was a British songwriter who composed material for the stage during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. He had no musical training and started writing music while a student at Oxford. At the age of 19, his song titled ‘The Little Chinchilla’ was picked up and featured in the show ‘The Shop Girl’ at the Gaiety Theatre, London. He is reported to have written some of the most popular songs of the Edwardian period.

Arthur Wimperis served during the First World War with the Royal Artillery and previously served in the South Africa War between 1899 and 1902 with Paget's Horse, a volunteer mounted force within the British Army. He wrote plays, lyrics, and also worked as an illustrator for The Daily Graphic newspaper. Before the war, he wrote songs for musicals such as The Balkan Princess, and later became involved in the film industry and screen writing.

Towards the bottom of this page is a sound recording of this sheet music, or a parody, that was created as part of the Music and the First World War project. More information about this recording, including names of the performers, can be found on the catalogue record for the sound recording. A link to the catalogue record for the sound recording can be found at the bottom of this page, under the heading ‘Related objects’ where it can be identified with the prefix [sound recording].