Songs by Sir Hamilton Harty

Featuring

Kathryn Rudge
Christopher Glynn
Sir Hamilton Harty

Did you know?

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Recording & Production

This album features 17 first recordings, including tracks like 'By the Sea,' 'To the Gods of Harbour and Headland,' and 'Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis.'

Compositional Technique

Harty's song accompaniments were often highly demanding, exploiting the full range and technical competence of the piano, as exemplified by 'Sea Wrack' with its swirling idiomatic accompaniment.

Composer Biography

Before becoming a conductor, Sir Hamilton Harty, the composer of these songs, spent almost two decades making a living as a professional pianist and accompanist.

Composition History

The song 'Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis,' attributed to John Dowland and supposedly transcribed by Harty from an old manuscript, was actually a creation by Harty himself.

Performer Biography

Christopher Glynn, the pianist on this recording, is a Grammy award-winning artist praised for his 'breath-taking sensitivity' and 'perfect fusion of voice and piano.'

Compositional Technique

Harty's arrangement of 'My Lagan Love' closely recalls the art of sean nós, a unique Irish vocal ornamentation style, through its metrical freedom, Mixolydian inflections, and challenging range.