The Call to Arms: a descriptive fantasia, by Ezra Read, cover 1916 SC081/Art External Source Cover of The Call to Arms: a descriptive fantasia, by Ezra Read. Erza Read was born in Willenhall, Staffordshire in 1862. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith but after finishing his training he opted to try his hand at making a living as a pianist. He travelled with orchestras and over the next 25 years his compositions were published in both London and United States. Listen to Canadian historical sound recordings online at the above link (via Library and Archives Canada's Virtual Gramophone)