Hamilton Harty: Musical Polymath

Abstract

Hamilton Harty: Musical Polymath. By Jeremy Dibble. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press, 2013. 365pp (hardcover). Photographs, Musical Examples, List of Works, List of Recordings, Bibliography, Index of Works, General Index. ISBN 978-1-84383-858-6. $80 Sir Hamilton Harty is best known today as a conductor but, as the title of this book suggests, his musical talents were many and diverse. He began his career as a church organist and choirmaster, became a highly sought-after accompanist, composed works in a variety of genres, and, of course, became one of Britain's premiere conductors. He was a champion of the music of Berlioz and his arrangements and re-orchestrations of Handel were popular in his day (although they were largely swept aside with the advent of historically informed performance). The only previous book-length study of Harty and his music is the 1978 collection Hamilton Harty: His Life and Music (Blackstaff Press), edited by David Greer (reviewed in ARSC Journal Vol. 10:2/3). The present volume, part of Boydell's series, Music in Britain, 1600-2000 (formerly Music in Britain, 1600-1900), is a welcome addition to the literature. Harty was born in Hillsborough (in what is now Northern Ireland), where his father served as church organist, choirmaster, and music teacher. Music dominated Harty's life from a very early age, although he had no formal musical education. His initial studies were with his father, and the rest of his skill was gleaned from experience, dedicated practice, and the guidance of other unofficial mentors. Harty's first musical appointment, as organist and choirmaster of a parish church, came at the age of fourteen. He quickly proceeded from there to a similar post at a large church in Belfast, and then to a still larger one near Dublin. His experience in Dublin greatly expanded his musical horizons and brought him into contact with numerous performers and teachers. The most important of these was the eminent Italian-born pianist Michele Esposito who became Harty's lifelong mentor. Harty's skill and reputation as an accompanist began to outstrip the opportunities that Dublin presented, and in 1901 he moved to London. After a slow start, his career blossomed there. He was soon accompanying high profile artists such as violinist Fritz Kreisler, baritone Harry Plunket Greene, and soprano Agnes Nicholls (who he would later marry). Harty began also to be known as a composer, and it was through performance of some of his larger works that he began to develop a reputation as a top-notch conductor. Harty led a number of British orchestras, but his longest tenure was with the Halle in Manchester. He was named the orchestra's first permanent conductor in 1920, and served in that post until 1933. Harty conducted the Halle and other orchestras in more than 170 recordings between 1913 and 1935, largely for Columbia. Only a handful of these were of his own works; the composers whose music he recorded most often were Berlioz, Handel, Puccini, Verdi, and Wagner. …