Harty Hamilton Harty

Sir Herbert Hamilton Harty (4 December 1879 – 19 February 1941) was an Irish composer, conductor, pianist and organist.

After an early career as a church organist in his native Ireland, Harty moved to London at about age 20, soon becoming a well-known piano accompanist. The Musical Times called him "the prince of accompanists". As a composer he wrote throughout his career, many of his works being well received, though few are regularly performed in the 21st century.

In his career as a conductor, which began in 1904, Harty was particularly noted as an interpreter of the music of Berlioz. From 1920 to 1933 he was the chief conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he returned to the high standards and critical acclaim that it had enjoyed under its founder, Charles Hallé. His last permanent post was with the London Symphony Orchestra, but it lasted only two years, from 1932 to 1934. During his conducting career, Harty made some recordings with his orchestras. Shortly after his dismissal by the LSO, Harty began to suffer the symptoms of a brain tumour. After surgery, he resumed his career until 1940, but the tumour returned to cause his death at the age of 61.

Selected works

Orchestral

• An Irish Symphony (1904, rev. 1915, 1924)
• A Comedy Overture (1906)
• Violin Concerto (1908)
• With the Wild Geese, symphonic poem (1910)
• Variations on a Dublin Air, for violin and orchestra (1912)
• Fantasy Scenes from an Eastern Romance (1919)
• Piano Concerto in B Minor (1922)
• The Children of Lir, symphonic poem (1938)

Orchestral arrangements of Handel

• Suite from the Water Music (1922)
• Suite from Music for the Royal Fireworks (1924)
• Polonaise, Op. 6. No. 3 (1932)
• Arietta and Passacaglia from Rodrigo (1932)
• Organ Concerto in D major (1934)
• Introduction and Rigaudon for orchestra (1935)

Other orchestral arrangements

• The Londonderry Air – arranged for solo violin, string orchestra and harp (1924)
• A John Field Suite – arrangements of piano music by John Field (1939)

Chamber

• String Quartet in F major Op. 1 (c.1900)
• 2 Fantasiestücke Op. 3 for violin, cello, piano (c.1901)
• String Quartet in A minor Op. 5 (c.1902)
• Fantasia for two pianos Op. 6 (1902)
• Romance and Scherzo Op. 8 for cello and piano (1903)
• Idyl: Arlequin et Colombine Op. 10 for piano (1904)
• Irish Fancies for piano (c.1904)
• Piano Quintet in F major Op. 12 (c.1904)
• Two Pieces for cello and piano: 1. Waldesstille; 2. Der Schmetterling (1907)
• À la Campagne for oboe and piano (1911)
• Chansonette for oboe and piano (1911)
• Orientale for oboe and piano (1911)
• Irish Fantasy for violin and piano (1912)
• Spring Fancies. Two Preludes for harp (1915)
• In Ireland, Fantasy for flute and piano (1918); arranged for flute, harp and orchestra (1935)
• Suite for Cello and Piano (1928)

Carillon

• A Little Fantasy and Fugue (1934)

Vocal

(songs for voice and piano, if not otherwise mentioned)

• Across the Door (Pádraic Colum) (1913)
• Antrim and Donegal (Moira O'Neill, Elizabeth Shane), four songs (1926)
• Bonfires (W.L. Bultitaft) (1905)
• By the Bivouac's Fitful Flame (Walt Whitman) (1912)
• Come, O Come, My Life's Delight (Thomas Campion) (1907)
• A Cradle Song (P. Colum) (1913)
• The Devon Maid (John Keats) (1913)
• A Drover (P. Colum) (1913)
• Five Irish Poems: A Mayo Love Song (Alice Milligan), At Easter (Helen Lanyon), The Sailor Man (M. O'Neill), Denny's Daughter (M. O'Neill), The Fiddler of Dooney (William Butler Yeats) (1938)
• An Irish Love Song (Katherine Tynan) (1908)
• Lane o' the Thrushes (Cathal O'Byrne (1907)
• The Mystic Trumpeter (W. Whitman) for baritone, chorus and orchestra (1913)
• Now is the Month of Maying (anon.) (1907)
• Ode to a Nightingale (J. Keats) for soprano and orchestra (1907)
• The Ould Lad (M. O'Neill) (1906)
• The Rachray Man (M. O'Neill) (1913)
• A Rann of Wandering (P. Colum) (1914)
• Rose Madness (W.L. Bultitaft) (1903)
• Scythe Song (Riccardo Stephens) (1910)
• The Sea Gipsy (Richard Hovey) (1912)
• Sea-Wrack (M. O'Neill) (1905)
• The Song of Glen Dun (M. O'Neill) (1902)
• Song of the Constant Lover (John Suckling) (1909)
• Song of the Three Mariners (anon.) (1907)
• The Splendour Falls (Alfred Tennyson) part-song (1901)
• The Stranger's Grave (Emily Lawless) (1913)
• Tell Me Not, Sweet, I am Unkind (Richard Lovelace) (1909)
• Three Flower Songs Op. 13: Poppies, Mignonette, Gorse (1906)
• To the King (R. Stephens) w/ organ obbligato (1911)
• The Wake Feast (A. Milligan) (1914)
• When Summer Comes (Harold Simpson) (1909)
• Your Hand in Mine, Beloved (H. Simpson) (1908)

Traditional songs

(arranged for voice and piano)

• Colleen's Wedding Song (Patrick Weston Joyce) (1905)
• Six Songs of Ireland Op. 18: Lookin' Back (M. O'Neill), Dreaming (Cahir Healy), Lullaby (C. O'Byrne), Grace for Light (M. O'Neill), Flame in the Skies (Lizzie Twigg), At Sea (M. O'Neill) (1908)
• Three Irish Folk Songs (P.W. Joyce): The Lowlands of Holland, The Fairy King's Courtship, The Game Played in Erin-go-Bragh (1929)
• Three Traditional Ulster Airs (Seosamh MacCathmhaoil): The Blue Hills of Antrim, My Lagan Love, Black Sheela of the Silver Eye (1905)