Arthur Duff
Encyclopedia
Arthur Knox Duff was an Irish
composer and conductor, best known for his short orchestral pieces such as the Handel
-inspired Echoes of Georgian Dublin.
and studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music
under Charles Herbert Kitson
. He completed his education at Trinity College, Dublin
where he obtained his primary degree in arts and music. In 1942, he was awarded a doctorate in music following an examination. Duff was initially drawn to the ministry of the Church of Ireland
but abandoned his religious studies before the final examination.
He first came to public prominence in his early twenties for his organ recitals in St. Matthias's Church in Dublin.
In 1923 Duff joined the Irish Army
and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
. He was promoted to lieutenant
in 1926. He served as bandmaster
in the Army School of Music and conductor of Army no. 2 Band based in Cork
. Following his resignation from the army in 1931 Duff turned to the theatre, writing incidental music for a number of plays produced in the Abbey Theatre
, including works by W. B. Yeats and Denis Johnston
. His own play, Cadenza in Black, was produced at the Gate Theatre
in 1937.
In 1937 Duff joined Radio Éireann
as the station's first music producer and went on to become assistant director of music in 1945. Working for the national broadcaster gave him the opportunity to conduct the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra
in music by his friends, Arnold Bax
and E.J. Moeran.
Consul General
in Ireland. They were married on 6 November 1929 and a daughter, Sylvia, was born to the couple in October 1930. However, Duff and his wife separated in December 1931 and Frances and Sylivia moved permanently to the United States.
Arthur Duff died in Dublin at the age of 57 and is buried in Mount Jerome cemetery
.
and Frederick Delius
, for instance, can be heard in his small output of orchestral compositions.
Duff started off writing for the human voice. One of his earliest works was a song called Aftermath performed at a recital given in Dublin on 16 October 1924 by a baritone
, Jean Bertin. Duff accompanied on the piano. Among his early choral compositions was My Beloved Spake, a short piece performed in Dublin in 1935.
Duff's five-movement Irish Suite for Strings won praise for its "haunting melodies" following its première given by the Dublin String Orchestra in November 1940. It proved to be a popular choice in subsequent orchestral concerts, appearing again less than a year later in a programme that included Duff's score for the 1933 ballet, The Drinking Horn.. John Barbirolli
also conducted the suite when The Hallé
Orchestra performed in Dublin in September 1947. The string orchestra continued to be Duff's chosen medium for his next two works, Meath Pastoral and Twilight in Templeogue, dedicated to Irish writers, Brinsley MacNamara
and Austin Clarke
respectively. Both pieces were premiered at the same concert in April 1945.
Duff's final orchestral composition, Echoes of Georgian Dublin, is made up of five short movements, each based on the work of a composer living in Dublin during the eighteenth century. It was first performed by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra in January 1956, eight months before Duff's death.
In his Irish Times obituary, Duff as a composer was described as one whose "reticence and independence, reinforced by an obstinate nostalgia, left him indifferent to, and aloof from, the demands and conventions of his age".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
composer and conductor, best known for his short orchestral pieces such as the Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
-inspired Echoes of Georgian Dublin.
Early years and education
Duff was born in Dublin to John William Duff, a native of King's County (now County Offaly), and his wife Annie Kathleen Hickey. Duff was a chorister in Christ Church Cathedral, DublinChrist Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
and studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music
Royal Irish Academy of Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music is a linked college of Dublin City University located in Dublin, Ireland.It was founded in 1848 by a group of music enthusiasts and moved to its present address in Westland Row in 1871. The following year it was granted the right to use the title "Royal"...
under Charles Herbert Kitson
Charles Herbert Kitson
Charles Herbert Kitson was an English organist, teacher, and music educator, author of several books on harmony and counterpoint. He was born in Leyburn, Yorkshire, and attended school in Ripon. Intending originally to take holy orders, he took his BA and MA at Cambridge, where he was organ...
. He completed his education at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he obtained his primary degree in arts and music. In 1942, he was awarded a doctorate in music following an examination. Duff was initially drawn to the ministry of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
but abandoned his religious studies before the final examination.
Career
Duff had a varied career in music as a solo performer, conductor, arranger, producer, and composer.He first came to public prominence in his early twenties for his organ recitals in St. Matthias's Church in Dublin.
In 1923 Duff joined the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1926. He served as bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
in the Army School of Music and conductor of Army no. 2 Band based in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Following his resignation from the army in 1931 Duff turned to the theatre, writing incidental music for a number of plays produced in the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
, including works by W. B. Yeats and Denis Johnston
Denis Johnston
Denis Johnston was an Irish writer. He wrote mostly plays, but also works of literary criticism, a book-length biographical essay of Jonathan Swift, a memoir and an eccentric work of philosophy. He also worked as a war correspondent, and as both a radio and television producer for the BBC...
. His own play, Cadenza in Black, was produced at the Gate Theatre
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists...
in 1937.
In 1937 Duff joined Radio Éireann
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
as the station's first music producer and went on to become assistant director of music in 1945. Working for the national broadcaster gave him the opportunity to conduct the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
in music by his friends, Arnold Bax
Arnold Bax
Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, KCVO was an English composer and poet. His musical style blended elements of romanticism and impressionism, often with influences from Irish literature and landscape. His orchestral scores are noted for their complexity and colourful instrumentation...
and E.J. Moeran.
Personal life
While serving in the Irish army, Duff met Frances Emma Ferris, daughter of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Consul General
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in Ireland. They were married on 6 November 1929 and a daughter, Sylvia, was born to the couple in October 1930. However, Duff and his wife separated in December 1931 and Frances and Sylivia moved permanently to the United States.
Arthur Duff died in Dublin at the age of 57 and is buried in Mount Jerome cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
.
Compositions
Arthur Duff was not interested in making grand statements in his music but preferred to explore what he termed "the laneways and the miniature". The lack of a strong classical music tradition in Ireland led him, like many of his Irish contemporaries, to seek guidance from the great names in English music. The influence of Peter WarlockPeter Warlock
Peter Warlock was a pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine , an Anglo-Welsh composer and music critic. He used the pseudonym when composing, and is now better known by this name....
and Frederick Delius
Frederick Delius
Frederick Theodore Albert Delius, CH was an English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family of German extraction, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce...
, for instance, can be heard in his small output of orchestral compositions.
Duff started off writing for the human voice. One of his earliest works was a song called Aftermath performed at a recital given in Dublin on 16 October 1924 by a baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, Jean Bertin. Duff accompanied on the piano. Among his early choral compositions was My Beloved Spake, a short piece performed in Dublin in 1935.
Duff's five-movement Irish Suite for Strings won praise for its "haunting melodies" following its première given by the Dublin String Orchestra in November 1940. It proved to be a popular choice in subsequent orchestral concerts, appearing again less than a year later in a programme that included Duff's score for the 1933 ballet, The Drinking Horn.. John Barbirolli
John Barbirolli
Sir John Barbirolli, CH was an English conductor and cellist. Born in London, of Italian and French parentage, he grew up in a family of professional musicians. His father and grandfather were violinists...
also conducted the suite when The Hallé
The Hallé
The Hallé is a symphony orchestra based in Manchester, England. It is the UK's oldest extant symphony orchestra , supports a choir, youth choir and a youth orchestra, and releases its recordings on its own record label, though it has occasionally released recordings on Angel Records and EMI...
Orchestra performed in Dublin in September 1947. The string orchestra continued to be Duff's chosen medium for his next two works, Meath Pastoral and Twilight in Templeogue, dedicated to Irish writers, Brinsley MacNamara
Brinsley MacNamara
Brinsley MacNamara was an Irish writer.Born as John Weldon near Delvin, County Westmeath, he worked for the Abbey Theatre from 1909, and later as the registrar of the National Gallery of Ireland....
and Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke (poet)
thumb|300px|Austin Clarke Bridge in [[Templeogue]]Austin Clarke was one of the leading Irish poets of the generation after W. B. Yeats. He also wrote plays, novels and memoirs...
respectively. Both pieces were premiered at the same concert in April 1945.
Duff's final orchestral composition, Echoes of Georgian Dublin, is made up of five short movements, each based on the work of a composer living in Dublin during the eighteenth century. It was first performed by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra in January 1956, eight months before Duff's death.
In his Irish Times obituary, Duff as a composer was described as one whose "reticence and independence, reinforced by an obstinate nostalgia, left him indifferent to, and aloof from, the demands and conventions of his age".
Recordings
- Romantic Ireland, RTE Sinfonietta/Proinnsias O Duinn, (features Echoes of Georgian Dublin), Marco Polo 8.223804 (1996)
- Silver Apples of the Moon, Irish Chamber Orchestra/Fionnuala Hunt, (features Meath Pastoral and Irish Suite for Strings), Black Box Classics 1003 (1997)