William Hurlstone
Encyclopedia
William Yeates Hurlstone (7 January 1876 – 30 May 1906) was an English
composer who studied piano and composition at the Royal College of Music
, after gaining a scholarship. His piano professors were Algernon Ashton
and Edward Dannreuther
. His composition teacher, Charles Villiers Stanford
, considered Hurlstone, among the many brilliant students whom he taught, to have been his most talented. In 1906, he returned to the college as Professor of Counterpoint, but died later that year of bronchial asthma
. He is buried in Croydon Cemetery with members of his family, though the monumental cross that surmounted the grave has been destroyed.
ensembles. Although of very high quality, none achieved any great fame. Among the better known are
Additionally, he composed four instrumental sonatas for:
There is also a Quintet in G minor for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano.
His orchestral works include
Hurlstone is considered one of the 'might have been great' composers of the early 20th century.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
composer who studied piano and composition at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, after gaining a scholarship. His piano professors were Algernon Ashton
Algernon Ashton
Algernon Bennet Langton Ashton was a British composer and Professor of piano at the Royal College of Music 1884–1910....
and Edward Dannreuther
Edward Dannreuther
Edward Dannreuther was a German pianist and writer on music resident from 1863 in England. He trained as a musician at the Conservatoire at Leipzig, where he was a pupil of Ignaz Moscheles, a severe critic of the music of Wagner and Franz Liszt...
. His composition teacher, Charles Villiers Stanford
Charles Villiers Stanford
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was an Irish composer who was particularly notable for his choral music. He was professor at the Royal College of Music and University of Cambridge.- Life :...
, considered Hurlstone, among the many brilliant students whom he taught, to have been his most talented. In 1906, he returned to the college as Professor of Counterpoint, but died later that year of bronchial asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. He is buried in Croydon Cemetery with members of his family, though the monumental cross that surmounted the grave has been destroyed.
Musical works
The greater part of his body of work consists of works for chamberChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ensembles. Although of very high quality, none achieved any great fame. Among the better known are
- Phantasie for String Quartet in A minor (published early 1905), which won first prize in the inaugural CobbettCobbett AssociationThe Cobbett Association for Chamber Music Research is an organization dedicated to the rediscovery of works of forgotten chamber music. The association was founded in 1990, with the objective of...
Chamber Music Competition, - Piano Quartet in E minor, Op. 43,
- Piano Trio in G major, dating from 1905,
- Trio in G minor for clarinet, bassoon and piano, and
- Four Characteristic Pieces for clarinet and piano (Ballade, Croon Song, Intermezzo and Scherzo).
Additionally, he composed four instrumental sonatas for:
- piano solo (in F minor),
- violin and piano,
- cello and piano, and
- bassoon and piano.
There is also a Quintet in G minor for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano.
His orchestral works include
- Variations on a Swedish Air,
- Variations on a Hungarian Air,
- Variations on an Original Theme,
- Magic Mirror Suite (based on the fairy tale of Snow WhiteSnow White"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
), and - a Piano Concerto in D major.
Hurlstone is considered one of the 'might have been great' composers of the early 20th century.
Editions of his music
- Four Characteristic Pieces (B clarinet and piano) Emerson Edition (Ref: E97)
- Quintet in G minor (flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano; ed. Jonathan Kershaw 1998) Emerson Edition (Ref: E324)
- Scherzo (clarinet, bassoon and piano; missing movement from Trio in G minor; ed. Richard Moore) Emerson Edition (Ref: E404)
- Trio in G major (violin, cello and piano; published by Edition SilvertrustEdition SilvertrustEdition Silvertrust is a U.S. publisher of chamber music. Founded by R.H.R. Silvertrust, Editor of The Chamber Music Journal and President of The International Cobbett Association for Chamber Music Research....
in 2008, Catalogue No. ES 2008-90) - Trio in G minor (clarinet, bassoon, and piano; new complete edition 2006) Emerson Edition (Ref: E488) -- This replaces the original Edition E62 (1982) which was found to contain many inaccuracies.
- Sonata in F (bassoon and piano) Emerson Edition
Recordings
- Hurlstone: Chamber Works (Dutton VocalionDutton VocalionDutton Vocalion specialises in re-issuing on CD music recorded between the 1920s and 1970s, and in issuing albums of modern digital recordings. It was established by British recording and re-mastering engineer Michael J. Dutton....
) CDLX7128 (2003) - William Hurlstone: Orchestral Works (LyritaLyritaLyrita is a classical music record label, specializing in the works of British composers.Lyrita began releasing LPs in October 1959 as Lyrita Recorded Edition for sale by mail order subscription. The founder of the company, Richard Itter of Burnham, Buckinghamshire, was a businessman and record...
) SRCD208 (orig. 1993 - reissued 2006)- features variation sets on an Original Theme and a Hungarian Air, as well as the Magic Mirror Suite
- William Hurlstone: Piano Concerto, Variations on a Swedish Air, Piano Quartet, Piano Trio (Lyrita) SRCD2286 (orig. 1979, 1984 - reissued 2007)
- (The) English Romantics - Works for Clarinet, Bassoon & Piano (Clarinet Classics) CC0023 (1998)
- features Trio for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1998 edition NOT the 2006 edition) and the Four Characteristic Pieces
- Goossens, Hurlstone and Turnbull: Violin Sonatas (Somm Recordings) SOMMCD031 (2003)
- Romantic Cello (Dutton VocalionDutton VocalionDutton Vocalion specialises in re-issuing on CD music recorded between the 1920s and 1970s, and in issuing albums of modern digital recordings. It was established by British recording and re-mastering engineer Michael J. Dutton....
) CDLX7102 (1999)- features Sonata for cello and piano.
External links
- William Yeates Hurlstone: A Web Resource These pages, prepared by Dr Peter Horton and Katy Hamilton, offer a biography of the composer, a catalogue of his works, facsimiles of letters, documents concert programmes in the collections of the Royal College of Music, some audio recordings, and facsimiles of some of Hurlstone's childhood writings.
-
[Web site for book Black Mahler: The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Story], by Charles Elford, 2008, Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd., London, England, ISBN 978-1-906210-78-6 - "Biography", a 2000-word appendix of Richard J. Moore's The Trio in G Minor for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano by William Yeates Hurlstone: a Critical Reassessment -- The ... Reassessment also cites dozens of sources.
- "Hurlstone Piano Trio in G Major", 2- to 3-minute audio excerpt per movement, Edition SilvertrustEdition SilvertrustEdition Silvertrust is a U.S. publisher of chamber music. Founded by R.H.R. Silvertrust, Editor of The Chamber Music Journal and President of The International Cobbett Association for Chamber Music Research....
- "William Yeates Hurlstone" at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...