John Thomas harp duos from Toccata

[Sharkkb8]

Now to be found on Toccata's "Pipeline" page:  2 volumes of harp duos by John Thomas, 1826-1913.   

https://toccataclassics.com/pipeline/

JOHN THOMAS: COMPLETE DUOS FOR HARP AND PIANO, VOLUME ONE

Souvenir du Nord
Grand Duet in E flat minor
Welsh Duets

BEETHOVEN: Adelaide, Op. 46

Duet on Themes from Carmen by Bizet

HANDEL: Gigue from Water Music, Suite No. 3 in G major
GOUNOD: Marche solennelle

Duo Praxedis

First recordings

TOCC0561
_________________________

JOHN THOMAS: COMPLETE DUOS FOR HARP AND PIANO, VOLUME TWO

Bardic Fantasy on 'Llewelyn'
March of the Men of Glamorgan
Andantino
March of the Welsh Fusiliers
ARDITTI
Bacio Valse
L'Ilma Valse
L'Estasi Valse
MEYERBEER Dinorah
BELLINI Norma
ROSSINI La carità
VENZANO GASSIER Valse

Duo Praxedis

First recordings

TOCC0566

[Sharkkb8]

from John Thomas's Wikipedia page:

He was born in Bridgend, on Saint David's Day, 1 March 1826, son of a tailor, also named John Thomas, a clarinetist in the amateur town band. He was the eldest of seven children, four of whom also played the harp, most notably his brother Thomas Thomas.[2] John Thomas started off by playing the triple harp which had three sets of strings and was very difficult to play. At the age of 14, through the influence of Ada Lovelace (Lord Byron's daughter), he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music in London. His teachers there included Cipriani Potter for composition and John Balsir Chatterton for harp.[1]

He taught at the Royal College of Music, where he eventually became professor, and at the Guildhall School of Music.

He wrote many pieces for the harp that are popular today and are used in the exam syllabus. He also wrote an opera, a symphony, two harp concertos, overtures, chamber music, and two cantatas – Llewellyn (1863) and The Bride of Neath Valley (1866). He played one of his own harp concertos at a Philharmonic concert in 1852.[1]

In 1872 he was appointed harpist to Queen Victoria.[1]

[TerraEpon]

Neat. There's a nice recording of just harp music on Naxos that I have, which includs the Grand Duet. Will certainly put these on my radar.

[Sharkkb8]

Release date now announced - 4 September, at Presto, Amazon UK & USA:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8803434--john-thomas-complete-duos-for-harp-and-piano-vol-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomas-Complete-Praxedis-Hug-Rütti-Geneviève/dp/B08D4QXD1Z/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Complete+Duos+Harp+%26+Piano+1&qid=1597274382&s=music&sr=1-1

https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Duos-Harp-Piano-1/dp/B08D4QXD1Z/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=John+Thomas%3A+Complete+Duos+for+Harp&qid=1597274194&s=music&sr=1-1

[Alan Howe]

Has anyone got any idea what the music is like?