Haydn Wood studied the violin in London at the Royal College, where his composition teacher was Stanford. He won early success as a violinist and was sent to study with César Thomson in Belgium, later embarking on an international concert tour. He is now remembered primarily as a composer of light music.

Vocal and Instrumental Music

Wood excelled in sentimental ballads and other songs that suited the taste of his time. Among these are the famous Roses of Picardy and A Brown Bird Singing. He also wrote a quantity of orchestral music, concertos, string quartets and other works.