Sir Herbert 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 around the age of 20, where he quickly became known as an outstanding piano accompanist. The music magazine 'The Musical Times' described him as 'the Prince of Accompanists'. A self-taught conductor, he began his conducting career in 1904 and was particularly appreciated for his interpretations of the music of Berlioz. From 1920 to 1933, he was principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he restored to the high standards and critical acclaim it had enjoyed under its founder, Charles Hallé. In 1925, Harty was knighted and awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of Dublin and Manchester. His last permanent position was with the London Symphony Orchestra, but it lasted only two years, from 1932 to 1934. During his most productive period as a composer in London, he wrote large orchestral works, songs, and chamber music, incorporating folk songs and dances that reflected his Irish heritage into many of his pieces. Throughout his life, he remained true to his romantic-conservative musical language and had no time for the 'terrible cleverness of the moderns'.
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