Sir H. Harty

[Guest]

Apart from him having a wonderful name, I haven't much knowledge of this composer. Lying in bed this morning (yes I'm on leave) I switched on and was mesmerised by a glorious piece, clearly English, that I didn't know. Not RVW, whose output I know quite well, though similar in style. So I assumed it was one of Elgar's works (whose output I certainly don't know well except for the obvious). The orchestration was brilliant. Then it finished and it was a symphony by Sir Hamilton. He was very good indeed, wasn't he? I'm now going to try and buy some of his works, so any recs appreciated.

bws Simon.

[mikerotheatrenestr0y]

I don't know how good the Naxos discs are, but I can warmly recommend the Chandos 3-disc set [much cheaper than the individual discs].

[Roehre]

I agree that Hamilton Harty is one of the underrated and underplayed British composers.
His Irish Symphony is one of the pieces I most of the time play on July 12th (for its finale :) ), but especially the Piano concerto and the Children of Lir deserve to be heard more as well.
With the Wild Geese on the contrary is too much a Tchaikovsky epigonism IMO, though definitely well composed (and btw the very first piece of Harty's I came to know).
Chandos has a very attractive 3CD set with his orchestral works. Highly recommended.

[Simon]

Well, you both appear to have posted at the same time, with the same recommendation!

Many thanks.

[Chris Newman]

Delightful stuff. The Children of Lyr on the Chandos disc is sung by Heather Harper. I would gladly hear her sing the whole of the Northern Ireland telephone directory. Truly one of Britain's greatest sopranos along with Margaret Price, Amy Shuard and Eva Turner.

[salymap]

I'm afraid I don't know his own compositions very well but when I was young his arrangements of Handel's Water and Fireworks Music were played alot and I was grateful to him for introducing me tothe music of John Field in an orchestral suite of four of his pieces. Surely he would make a good CotW if it hasn't been done.

[hmvman]

I would also recommend the Chandos set as a great starting point. Harty was very much instrumental in launching Isobel Baillie's career and he composed some songs for her.

[salymap]

Harty With the Wild Geese at 7pm tonight on Po3. Saens-Saens PC 2 and Nielsen symphony 4 also.

Looks good to me

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Harty With the Wild Geese at 7pm tonight on Po3.

Now that's an amazing work.

[Norfolk Born]

I also have the Chandos set. I haven't yet come to any firm conclusions about Harty's music, but all three discs are very well recorded and the performances leave nothing to be desired.