| Hamilton Harty has not been entirely forgotten on CD, but has sadly not received a comprehensive set of reissues. His recording with W H Squire of Elgar’s Cello Concerto is a gramophone classic, and has been reissued occasionally (most recently by Pearl in 1999). It’s a performance which is well worth hearing. He recorded extensively both as orchestral conductor and piano accompanist. | |
| Saint-Saens – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op.28 Orchestra, Hamilton Harty Daisy Kennedy, violin |
Columbia L1335 Matrices 76558-1, 76559-1 Recorded 1919 Available from January 1920 to July 1924Daisy Kennedy was an Australian violinist, and a regular in UK concert halls. She married the pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch. |
| Beethoven – Romance No.1 in G major Op.40 Daisy Kennedy, violin Orchestra, Hamilton Harty |
Columbia L1340 Matrices 76560-2, 76561-2 Recorded 1919 Available from August 1920 to July 1924 |
| Verdi – Aida – Nile Duet. From Finale, Act III Aida – Nile Duet. From Finale, Act III. Part I (VS pp239-244) Aida – Nile Duet. From Finale, Act III. Part II (VS pp244-249) Orchestra, Hamilton Harty Frank Mullings, tenor – Radames Elsa Stralia, soprano – AidaMediafire link for Aida – Nile Duet – Frank Mullings, Elsa Stralia – Hamilton Harty (This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file) |
Columbia 7248/9 Matrices 74063-2, 74064-2 Recorded about 3rd May 1920, 80rpm Available from January 1921 to April 1924This duet was reissued on double sided Columbia 7334 in April 1924, and was available in this form until August 1930 |
| Bizet – Carmen – My Mother I Behold (Act I) Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty Elsa Stralia, soprano Frank Mullings, tenorBizet – Carmen – My Mother I Behold – Stralia, Mullings, Harty (mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”) |
Columbia 7258 Matrix 74106-2 Recorded c 14th May 1920 Available from March 1922 to April 1924Plays at 83.7rpm This was reissued on double sided 7332 in April 1924, coupled with Stralia’s 1920 account of Micaela’s aria. This was available until January 1925 when the Micaela aria was replaced with a 1924 remake – this new issue was available 22nd January 1925 to August 1930. |
| Offenbach – Barcarolle from “Tales of Hoffmann” Gabriel Jean-Marie – La Cinquantaine W.H. Squire, cello Hamilton Harty, piano |
Columbia D1325 Matrices 29439, 29520 Recorded early 1920s? |
| Stanford – Shamus O’Brien – Overture Rossini – Barber of Seville – Overture Hallé Orchestra, Hamilton HartyStanford – Shamus O’Brien – Hallé, Harty Rossini – Barber of Seville – Hallé, Harty (mp3 files – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”) |
Columbia L 1428 Matrices 75078-1, 75080-2 Recorded 20th April 1922, London Available from July 1922 to Februar 1928Both sides play at 80rpm. The overtures are both abridged. The Stanford is only slightly trimmed, but the Barber has been rather butchered to fit on one side. |
| Wagner – The Meistersingers – Overture Court Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton HartyWagner – Meistersinger – Court SO, Harty (mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”) |
Columbia 976 Matrices AX 361-1, 362-1 (4718, 4719) Recorded 7th March 1924, London Available from June 1924 to August 1932This recording is unabridged. The first side begins at 80rpm and progresses to 81rpm, while the second side remains around 80rpm. On the record label, the performance is credited simply to the Court Symphony Orchestra, and in Columbia’s 1925 catalogue it is listed under the section for Court Symphony Orchestra conducted by Albert W. Ketelbey. However, Ronald Taylor’s discography of 12” Columbia records 1906-1930 notes the conductor as “Harty (Listed in the catalogues as Ketelbey)” Another Court Symphony Orchestra recording, from 4th March 1924 (record 980, matrices AX 356-2, AX 359-1), was issued in the UK with no conductor credited, and appears in the same section of the 1925 catalogue under Ketelbey’s name but American issues gave Harty’s name. I’m inclined to accept the attribution of Harty as the conductor, partly because of the accelerando at the end of the overture which is not unusual for him. |
| Saint-Saens – Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor Op.33 W.H. Squire, cello Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton HartyMediafire link for Saint-Saëns – Cello Concerto No.1 – W.H. Squire, Hamilton Harty (This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file) |
Columbia L 1800-2 Matrices WAX 1414-2, 1415-1, 1416-1, 1417-1, 1418-4, 1419-1 (6064, 6066, 6057, 6058, 6067, 6065) Recorded 25th March 1926 Available from December 1926 to January 1940All sides run at 80.6rpm, and maintain a consistent speed – this seems a rare occurrence for Columbias of this vintage. The work is in one continous movement, though it is divided into sections. |
| Mozart – Bassoon Concerto in B flat major K191 I. Allegro (2 sides) II. Andante ma adagio (2 sides) III. Rondo (Tempo di Menuetto) (1 side) Senaille arr. Camden – Allegro Spiritoso Archie Camden, bassoon Orchestra, Hamilton HartyMozart – Bassoon Concerto – 1st movement – Camden, Harty Mozart – Bassoon Concerto – 2nd movement – Camden, Harty Mozart – Bassoon Concerto – 3rd movement – Camden, Harty Senaille – Allegro Spiritoso – Camden, Harty (mp3 files – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”) |
Columbia L 1824-6 Matrices WAX 1387-1, 1388-2, 1389-1, 1390-2, 1391-1, 1392-1 (6036, ?6035?, 6037, 6038, 6039, 6034) Recorded 30th March 1926 Available from February 1927 to January 1957This much loved recording stayed a long time in the catalogue despite the variable recording speed typical of Columbia in the mid to late 1920s. Despite all sides being recorded on the same date, the first movement ranges from 80 to almost 81rpm on each side, the second from 79 to about 80.5 and the finale from 80 to 81. The Senaille is almost stable in pitch. Camden’s inventive cadenzas are a delight, and Harty’s conducting is as pleasurable as ever, though the orchestra is rather thin sounding, with a fairly small complement of strings. |
| Haydn – Symphony No.101 in D major “Clock” I. Adagio – Presto (2 sides) II. Andante (2 sides) III. Minuetto and Trio (1 side) IV. Finale: Vivace (2 sides) Weber – Abu Hassan – Overture Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty |
Columbia L 2088–91 Matrices WAX 2664-1, 2665-2, 2666-1, 2667-2, 2668-1, 2669-1, 2670-2, 2653-1 (7535, 7531, 7532, 7518, 7519, 7517, 7521, 7527) Recorded 2nd May 1927 (Haydn), 30th April 1927 (Weber), Free Trade Hall, Manchester Available from May 1928 to August 1943The two works in this set are fine examples of Harty’s conducting, with the swooping portamenti in the third movement of the Haydn, the rush to the conclusion of the first movement, and the sheer delight of the Weber overture. However they must have been disconcerting to listen when originally released, as all the sides suffer from Columbia’s major flaw for this period, of changing speed throughout each side – most of them start at 80rpm, but reach about 81.7rpm by the end of the side. Curiously, Harty choose not to reprise the Minuet after the Trio (an option also taken by Stokowski.) There would have been time for the repeat to be included in the recording, especially as the Finale is split over two sides, each less than three minutes long. |
| Rosamunde – Overture Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton HartyMediafire link for Schubert – Rosamunde music – Sir Hamilton Harty (This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded) |
Columbia L 1998 Matrices WAX 2654-1, 2655-2 (7526, 7530) Recorded 2nd May 1927 Available from December 1927 to June 1947As is common with many UK Columbias from this period, the stated 80rpm, turns out to be unreliable, with both sides starting at that speed and ending about 81.2rpm. The recording is somewhat cut, with side 1 containing bars 1-83 and 104-185, and side 2 containing bars 206-375 and 396 to the end. |
| Schubert – Rosamunde Incidental Music Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton HartyMediafire link for Schubert – Rosamunde music – Sir Hamilton Harty (This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded) |
Columbia L 2122-5 Matrices WAX 3549-2, 3550-2, 3551-1, 3552-1, 3554-3, 3555-2, 3556-2, 3553-2 (9230, 9228, 9229, 9248, 9239, 9240, 9235, 9238) Recorded 27th April 1928 Available from September 1928 to August 1946Overture (Alphonso and Estrella) (2 sides) Entr’acte No.1 (2 sides) (a) Entr’acte No.2; (b) Shepherd’s Melody (for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn) Entr’acte No.3 (in B flat major) (without repeats) Ballet Music No.1 – Andantino (in G major) (without repeats) Ballet Music No.2 – (a) Allegro Moderato; (b) Andante un Poco Assai (without repeats) |
| Elgar – Concerto in E minor for cello and orchestra Op.85I. Adagio – Moderato (2 sides) II. Allegro Molto (1½ sides) III. Adagio (1 side) IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro ma non troppo (3½ sides) W. H. Squire, cello |
Columbia DX 117-120 Matrices: WAX 4410-7 Rec c1929, Free Trade Hall, Manchester |
| Mendelssohn – Symphony No.4 in A major Op.90 “Italian”I. Allegro vivace (1½ sides) II. Andante con moto (1½ sides) III. Con moto moderato (1 side) IV. Finale: Saltarello-Presto (2 sides) Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty Mediafire link for Mendelssohn – Symphony No.4 Italian – Hamilton Harty (These are zip files – left click the link, download the files, then unzip when downloaded) |
Columbia DX 342-4 Matrices WAX 6054-2, 6055-2, 6056-1, 6-57=2, 6058-1, 6059-1 (14899, 14902, 14901, 14900, 14912, 14916) Recorded 10th April 1931 |
| Tchaikovksy – Mazeppa – Cossack Dance Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton HartyDownload – Tchaikovksy – Mazeppa – Cossack Dance – Harty (mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as”) |
Columbia LX 240Matrix CAX 6279-1 Recorded 12th February 1932Coupled with: Johann Strauss II – Perpetuum Mobile Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam, Willem Mengelberg |
| Mozart – Divertimento No.17 in D major K334I. Allegro (1½ sides) II. Theme and 6 Variations (1½ sides) III. Menuetto & Trio VI. Rondo: Allegro London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty Mediafire link for Mozart – Divertimento No.17 – Hamilton Harty (This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded) |
Columbia LX 350-52 Matrices: CAX 7302-2, 7303-1, 7304-2, 7305-1, 7306-2, 7307-1 Recorded 1934Harty omits the fourth and fifth movements. In the second, repeats are played only in the theme and the final variation. The finale is somewhat cut, omitting bars 127-134, 1702-1861, 2072-2151, 269 and 3362-3441. |