Harry Farjeon facts for kids
Harry Farjeon (born May 6, 1878 – died December 29, 1948) was a British composer. He was also a very important teacher of music. For over 45 years, he taught harmony and composition at the famous Royal Academy of Music in London.
Harry Farjeon's Early Life and Studies
Harry Farjeon was born in Hohokus Township, New Jersey, United States. He was the oldest son of author Benjamin Farjeon. His mother, Margaret, was the daughter of American actor Joseph Jefferson. When Harry was a baby, his family moved back to Britain. He lived in Hampstead, London, for the rest of his life.
Harry had a younger sister named Eleanor Farjeon (born 1881). They shared many imaginary adventures together. Eleanor grew up to write popular children's books and poems. She even wrote the words for the famous hymn, Morning Has Broken. Harry's younger brothers were J. Jefferson Farjeon (born 1883), who became a novelist, and Herbert Farjeon (born 1887), who wrote for plays.
Harry studied music at home with private teachers like Landon Ronald. In 1895, he joined the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, he learned how to compose music and play the piano. He studied with important teachers such as Frederick Corder. Many other famous composers were also studying there at the same time. These included Arnold Bax and Eric Coates.
While at the Academy, Harry wrote an opera called Floretta. His sister Eleanor wrote the story for it. This opera was performed at the Academy in 1899. He also wrote two shorter operas that were performed in London in 1901 and 1902.
Harry Farjeon's Music Career
Harry Farjeon finished his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in 1900. But he returned in 1901 to teach composition. Just two years later, when he was only 25, he became the youngest professor at the Academy. After his father passed away, Harry became the main person earning money for his family.
He taught many students who later became famous musicians. Some of his students included George Lloyd and Phyllis Tate. He also taught at the Blackheath Conservatoire.
Harry Farjeon wrote music for most of his life. Many of his pieces were for the piano. These were often grouped into collections. He wrote many pieces that were fun for people to play at home. He also composed a piano sonata and chamber music. Chamber music is for small groups of instruments. He wrote four string quartets, which are for four string instruments.
He also wrote large orchestral works and many songs. He often used words written by his sister Eleanor for his songs. Besides composing, Harry wrote about music for newspapers like the Daily Telegraph. He also wrote for music magazines.
On September 3, 1903, his Piano Concerto in D minor was played at The Proms. The Proms is a very famous music festival in London. His Hans Andersen suite for a small orchestra was also very popular. It was played by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
In 1917, a collection of his songs called The Lute of Jade was performed. These songs used old Chinese poems. His Phantasy Piano Concerto and the St. Dominic Mass were published in the 1920s. These pieces were played often.
In 1937, Harry's friend, the pianist Eileen Joyce, recorded his Tarantella in A minor. This recording became very successful. It is thought that Harry wrote this piece just for her. A Christmas play called A Room at the Inn was broadcast on the radio many times. Harry wrote the music for it, and his siblings wrote the story.
On July 10, 1942, his symphonic poem Pannychis was played at The Proms. A symphonic poem is a piece of orchestral music that tells a story or describes something. Harry thought his best work was a symphonic poem called Summer Vision. Sadly, the music for it was lost during World War I.
Harry's eyesight was poor since he was a child. It got worse as he got older. His students even wrote their music on special brown paper so he could see it better. Harry taught at the Academy for 47 years. He continued teaching even after he developed Parkinson's disease. He was still teaching thirty students a week in July 1948. He fell and broke his hip. Harry Farjeon passed away in Hampstead on December 29, 1948.
Selected Works by Harry Farjeon
Orchestral Music
- 1903 - Characteristic Variations for orchestra
- 1905 - Hans Andersen Suite for small orchestra
- 1907 - Mowgli, symphonic poem
- 1913 - Summer Vision, symphonic poem (music lost)
- 1915 - The Ballet of the Trees for orchestra
- 1929 - Caldicot Suite for orchestra
- 1942 - Pannychis, symphonic poem
- Symphony in D major
- Elegy for strings
- Air on a Ground Bass for strings
- Pantomime, suite for strings
Concertos (Music for Solo Instrument and Orchestra)
- 1903 - Piano Concerto in D minor
- 1924-5 - Phantasy Piano Concerto (also for 2 pianos)
- Idyll for oboe and orchestra
Chamber Music (for Small Groups of Instruments)
- 1901 - Two Romances for violin and piano
- 1906 - Chant d'Ete and Berceuse for violin and piano, Op.14
- Suite for violin and piano Op. 20
- 1911 - Deux morceaux for viola and piano
- 1915 - Air for violins upon a ground bass for violin and piano, Op.38
- 1917 - Poem for violins and violas
- 1925 - Three tone pictures for violin and piano, Op.57
- The Sleeping Beauty Op.60/2 for flute, cello and piano
- 1927 - String Quartet No.4 in C major Op.65
- 1928 - Humoresque for cello and piano
- 1928 Two Italian Sketches for piano duet
- 1931 Vignettes Op. 72 for two pianos
- Cello Sonata in G minor
- Cello Sonata in D
- Piano Trio in B minor
- Piano Trio in G minor
- String Quartet No.1 In G
- String Quartet No.2 in B flat
- String Quartet No.3
- Violin Sonata No.1
- Violin Sonata No.2 in F sharp minor
- Violin Sonata No.3 in E flat Op.69
Operas and Dramatic Works
- 1899 - Floretta (story by Eleanor Farjeon)
- 1900 - The Registry Office, operetta
- 1902 - A Gentleman of the Road, operetta in 1 act, Op. 6
- 1932 - A Room at the Inn, Christmas Masque (with Herbert and Eleanor Farjeon)
Choral Music (for Choirs)
- 1923 - St Dominic Mass, Op. 51
- 1924 - Salvator Mundi (anthem)
- 1925 - Down-adown-Derry for women's voices, flute and strings
- The Sleeping Beauty Op.60/1, choral ballad for female voices and piano
- Lament for women's choir
Piano Music
- 1905 - Night Music Op. 11, piano suite, 7 pieces
- 1905 - Swan Song
- 1906 - Miniature Sonata Op. 12
- 1906 - Pictures from Greece Op. 13, piano suite, 6 pieces
- Two Bohemian Sketches, Op. 16
- 1906 - The Four Winds Op. 18, piano suite, 4 pieces
- 1907 - Musical Sketch Book 4 pieces
- Tone-Pictures Opp. 19, 23, 29 and 31, piano pieces, four volumes
- Three Venetian Idylls Op. 20
- A Summer Suite Op. 21, six pieces
- 3 Moments Musicaux Op. 24
- Aquarelles- Five idylls in Water Colour Op. 25
- 1909? - Prelude From The Forest of Andaine Op. 27
- 1910 - Two Idylls, Op. 28
- From the Three-Cornered Kingdom Op.30, 6 pieces
- Four Twilight Pieces Op. 34
- 1914 - Variations in A Op. 35, theme and 5 variations
- Lyric Pieces, Op. 40
- 1918 - Peter Pan Sketches Op. 44, piano suite, 5 pieces
- 1920 - Piano Sonata Op.43
- 1923 - The Art of Piano Pedalling 2 volumes
- 1923 - Tunes Without Tales Op. 53, piano suite, 10 pieces
- Two Free Fugues, Op 54
- 1925 - Six Preludes, Op 56
- 1926 - Contrasts, suite
- 1930 - Sports, suite
- 1931 - The Art of Piano Phrasing, Op. 66
- 1931 - Five Love Poems for Piano Op. 67
- 1931 - Rhapsody for two pianos Op. 70
- Tarantella in A minor (recorded by Eileen Joyce, 1937)
Song Cycles (Groups of Songs)
- 1900 - Vagrant Songs for baritone and piano (words by E.Farjeon)
- 1906 - Three Toy Songs (words by E.Farjeon)
- 1908 - Child Songs (words by E.Farjeon)
- 1917 - The Lute of Jade
- 1924 - A Sussex Alphabet (26 songs)
- Peacock Pie (words by Walter de la Mare)
