Adam Carse (Adam Von Ahn Carse) Born Newcastle 19.5.1878 Died Great Missenden 2.11.1958
He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Frederick Corder 1892-3. Between the years 1909-1922 he was assistant music master at Winchester College and from 1922 was professor of harmony and counterpoint at The RAM. a post he held until 1940.
He had an interest in the study and a collection of old wind instruments. He bequethed his collection of over 350 instruments to the Horniman Museum in South London.
Orchestra
Symphony No.1 in C minor pub. By Stainer & Bell
Symphony No.2 in G minor pub. By Stainer & Bell
Symphony No.3 in F major
Symphony No.4 in C major
Symphony No.5 in E flat
Symphonic poem " In a Balcony"
Miniature Suite
Concert Overture No.1 in D
Concert Overture No.2 in B flat
Holiday overture
Happy Heart overture pub. by Augener
Suite from "The Death of Tintagiles"
Prelude to "Manfred"
Variations in A minor
"Merry Milk-maids" pub. By Augener
Miniature symphony in D for string orchestra pub. By Augener
Sinfonia in D for strings pub. By Augener
Two sketches for strings pub. By Augener
Gavotte for small orchestra pub. By Novello & Co.
"Barbara Allen" variations for string orchestra pub. By Novello & Co.
"Childhood's happy days" for piano, 7 toy instruments, and strings pub. by Augener 1922
"The Nursery"
"A Romantic Legend"
Berceuse (In Memory) for string orchestra pub. By Augener
Brass Band
"Puffing Billy" overture
Overture to a Nautical Comedy pub. by Francis, Day & Hunter
Three characteristic pieces: Prelude, Minuet, Rustic dance. pub. by Besson & Co.
Chamber
Three dances for string quartet & piano pub. by Augener
Fantasie for violin, viola & cello
Five pieces for piano violin & cello
All'antico for violin & piano pub. by Augener 1922
Air de ballet 1908 pub. by Ashdown
Berceuse for violin & piano pub. by Augener
Cavatina for violin & piano pub. by Schott
Concertino in D for violin & piano pub. by Augener 1924
Caprietto for violin & piano pub. by Augener 1920
"Day Dreams" for violin & piano pub. by Augener 1924
Deaux Morceaux Faciles for violin & piano pub. by Schott
Trois Morceaux for violin & piano pub. By Schott
Fiddle Dances – 10 Old English Dances set for violin & piano pub. by Augener
Gavotte in G for violin & piano pub. by Novello
Meditation for violin & piano 1908 pub. By Schott
Melodie in G for violin & piano pub. By Schott
Norwefian melodies for violin & piano pub. by Novello & Co
Reverie in C for violin & piano pub. by Weekes
Reverie in D for violin & piano pub. by Ashdown
Sonata in C minor pub. by Augener
Serenata for violin & piano pub. by Augener
Sonatinas: 1. In D, 2. In G minor, 3. In A major for violin & piano pub. by Augener
Three duets for 2 violins & piano: In double harness, The Mimic, Two abreast. pub. by Augener
String Quartet in A minor pub. By Augener
Easy duets for two violins pub. By Augener
Three waltzes for two violins pub. By Augener
Three pieces for viola & piano: Calm reflections, Thoughtfulness, A Breezy Storm. pub. by Augener
'Heartache' for viola & piano
Sonata in D major for cello & piano
Serenata for cello & piano pub. by Augener
Three pieces for wind instruments pub. by Augener
Piano
Air de ballet pub. By Ashdown
Album leaves for piano: Gavotte, Lullaby, Poco agitato, Scherzino, Reverie, Valse. pub. by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew 1913
"Bunch of Keys, 12 easy pieces pub. by Augener 1930
Contrasted preludes: Romantic, Scholastic, Enigmatic. pub. by Augener
Dance Rythms: Country Dance, Viennese valse, Ballet dance. pub. by Augener
Two Dances: Grasshopper dance, Eccentric dance. pub. by Augener 1919
Five pieces: Valsette, Gavotte Mignonne, Romance, Intermezzo, March. pub. by Augener
Three legends for piano pub. by Augener 1930
Gavotte in G pub. by Novello
"Fairy Glow" pub. by Augener
Impromptu pub. by Augener
"In Memory's Garden" pub. by Augener
Miniature scherzo pub. by Augener 1928
Melodie en re for violin & piano pub. by B.Schott's Sohn
Miniature Suite pub. by Augener
Nocturne pub. by Augener 1923
Three miniatures pub. by Novello
Triumphal March pub. by Ashdown
Two Sonatinas pub. by Augener
Valse No.1 in D flat pub. by Augener
Valse No.2 in B flat pub. by Augener
Valsette pub. by Lengnick
Three characteristic pieces: Valse melancholic, Erotic, Humouresque. pub. by Augener
Seven miniatures pub. by Augener
Moods & Fancies pub. by J. Williams
Air Sentimental pub. by J Williams
A Little Concert piano duet pub. by Augener
Progressive Duets pub. by Augener
Three Waltzes for piano four hands pub. by Augener
Triumphal March for piano four hands pub. by Ashdown
Variations in A minor for piano four hands pub. by J Williams
Song with Orchestra
Country Dance and song for full orchestra pub. by Augener
Judas Iscariot's Paradise Ballad for baritone, chorus and orchestra words by S Evans pub. by Augener
Song
A little Green lane words by F G Attenborough pub. by Leonard
Blossoms words by F Tindall 1914 pub. by Boosey & Co
Bridal words by F G Attenborough 1907 pub. by Leonard & Co
The Broomsquire's son unison song pub. by J Williams 1924
But once words by F G Attenborough 1907 pub. by Chappell
Call of my heart pub. by Reid Bros.
Come, Summer, come words by E Oxenford pub. by Moutrie
Did I dare words by G Hubi-Newcombe pub. by Ashdown
Day and Night words by A P Herbert pub. by Weeks & Co.
Dream on, poor heart words by E Oxenford pub. by Ashdown
From the heart words by P J O'Reilly pub. by Ashdown
Garden love songs pub. by Moutrie
Golden rod pub. by Breitkopf & Hartel
Hunting the Wren pub. by J Williams
I bring my roses pub. by Ricordi
I love sixpence pub. by J Williams
In a child's heart words by E Teschemacher pub. by Boosey & Co. 1911
John Cook's mare pub. by J Williams
Light of Life words by M P Walker pub. by Schott & Co 1916
Little bird of love words by F G Bowles pub. by Ashdown
My wedding morn pub. by Leonard
Night wind words by F G Attenborough 1907 pub. by Boosey
A Northern Song
O happy childhood words by F G Bowles pub. by Boosey
O Tender sleep words by F G Bowles pub. by A P Schmitt
Ring-a-roses words by E Teschemacher 1905 pub. by Boosey
Sandalled Feet words by F G Bowles pub. by Ashdown
Stay, stay at home pub. by. Breitkopf & Hartel
The Blackbird's roundelay pub. by Boosey
The Clasp of a Hand words by E Teschemacher pub. by A P Schmidt 1912
The Fox and the Farmer
The kid that my father bought
The key of the kingdom
The Quest pub. by Ricordi
The Rose's birthday words by E Teschemacher pub. by Chappell
The Rode garden words by F Attenborough pub. by Ashdown
The Shadow man words by H Simpson pub. by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew 1914
Under the roses pub. by Moutrie
What should a body do? pub. by Chappell
When I am gone pub. by Ashdown
A lass and sailors three pub. by Ashdown
The dearest, sweetest story words by M H Williams pub. by Ashdown
Jewel Cycle: The Pearl, The Saphire, The Opel, Amber & Amethyst words by J Edwards pub. by Collard, Moutrie
Songs from Cairo - song cycle pub. by Ashdown
The Voyage of love - song cycle pub. by Novello
Four songs pub. by Schott
Part Songs
Love & Glory pub. by Novello
To daffodils pub. by Schmidt
The Beacon pub. by Novello
John Bull shot them all pub. by Novello
The tide rises pub. by Novello
To a butterfly - for female voices pub. by Augener
Thistledown - for female voices pub. by Schmidt
Incidental music & Cantatas
"The Lay of the Brown Rosary" cantata for soloists, recitation, chorus & orchestra pub. by J Williams
"The Death of Tintagiles" complete music accompaniment to Maeterlinck's drama for orchestra
"Marguerite og France" scena for recitation and orchestra
"In a Balcony" incidental music to Browning's drama
Anthem
Come unto me
Here's Carse's A Northern Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br-t3Fux3_Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br-t3Fux3_Y)
Very VW, but very lovely.
More info:
The English composer and writer on music, Adam Von Ahn Carse (the Von Ahn was little used latterly especially after the outbreak of the Great War), was educated for a short time (in 1892) in Hannover, Germany and then as a Macfarren Scholar at the Royal Academy of Music in London between 1893 and 1902, where his teachers were Frederick Corder (composition) and Burnett.
From 1909 to 1922 Adam Carse was Assistant Music Master at Winchester College. In 1923 he returned to the Royal Academy of Music in London as Professor of Harmony and Counterpoint a post he held until 1940. His collection of 350 old wind instruments was presented in 1947 to the Horniman Museum. A catalog of this collection was published in 1951.
Works
Adam Carse's early compositions included an orchestral prelude to Byron's Manfred, the symphonic poems The Death of Tintagiles (1902) and, performed at the 1905 Henry Wood Proms, In a Balcony plus two symphonies premiered in London in 1906 and 1908, the second being revised for a Newcastle Festival performance in 1909. Later orchestral compositions were mainly shorter and lighter in style and easy enough to be readily played by amateurs. He catered indeed for the very young with a Toy Suite for piano and seven toy instruments entitled Childhood's Happy Days. Many other works were for strings only: The Variations on Barbara Allen (1921), a Berceuse (1946), Festival March, Minuet in G, Miniature Symphony in D, Northern Song, Romance and Gavotte, Three Dances, a Sinfonia in D, Two Sketches (1923), a Suite in C (1925), Variations in F, the five movement Winton Suite and sundry settings of traditional and popular tunes. For larger orchestral forces he composed a Norwegian Fantasia for violin and orchestra, Lullaby and Dance, Country Song and Dance, a late work, the brief Holiday Overture, the overture Happy Heart, the miniature suite Boulogne, A Romantic Legend (first performed in September1938 on the BBC), the Waltz Variations (played at a Patrons' Fund rehearsal in 1924), the suite The Merry Milkmaids and again aimed at children, the Dance Phantasy, The Nursery, comprising an introduction, six dances and a finale. Still other orchestral works were arrangements derived from his study of 18th Century music: The Old English Military Marches (ie those for the New Coldstream, the 35th Foot and the Duke of Gloster: at least seven others appeared in piano versions), the Georgian Tunes, which included pieces by Stanley and John Humphries and Town and Country Tunes. Compositions for brass band also claimed his attention as can be seen from the Three Characteristic Pieces, Three English Pictures and the overture Puffing Billy.
Adam Carse's chamber compositions also included many which were suitable for young amateurs with such titles as Follow Your Leader, Rondino and Slow Waltz, all for piano trio; a Trio in D Minor for the unusual combination of two violins and viola; the Terzetto for violin, viola and cello; the Capricietto in A major (1920), Hours of Pleasure and Scenes Afloat, both in three movements, the very attractive Fiddle Fancies and many other instructional pieces, plus the Waltzes of 1917 and a Sonatina in D Major, all for violin and piano; and A Dance Measure for oboe and piano and Happy Tune for clarinet and piano, both published in 1931. More serious and ambitious were a Violin Sonata in C Minor, dating from 1922 and as Cobbett remarked: "touched only slightly with modern influences". A Suite in Old Style, also for violin and piano, showed, like some of the orchestral compositions noted above, his preoccupation with old music and his ability to write convincing pastiche. For piano solo he published besides the ten old military marches we have mentioned, twelve Norwegian Folk Tunes (1924), some Preludes, sixteen Scottish Tunes (1916), a Miniature Scherzo, Three Legends and much else. Again most if not all of this output was aimed at the young student.
Adam Carse did not ignore vocal music. Apart from a large number of part songs including settings of nursery rhymes (some male voice choirs surely remember his setting of The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls), and solo songs, including a Jewel Cycle (comprising four songs: The Pearl, The Sapphire, The Opal and Amber and Amethyst), there were two larger pieces, The Lay of the Brown Rosary, a dramatic cantata for soloists, chorus and orchestra, produced as early as 1902, and Judas Iscariot's Paradise, a ballad for baritone solo, chorus and orchestra (1922).
Adam Carse's writings include technical treatises like Harmony Exercises, Summary of the Elements of Music, Practical Hints on Orchestration (1919, reprinted twice), The School Orchestra (1926), Orchestral Conducting (1929) and, perhaps also in this category, The Orchestra (1949). Others, like his articles for "Music and Letters" on Brass Instruments in the Orchestra and XVIIIth Century Orchestral Instruments and the books Musical Wind Instruments (1939) and The Adam Carse Collection of Old Musical Wind Instruments (1951) reflect his activities as a collector. Best of all perhaps are his historical studies: The History of Orchestration (1925), The Orchestra in the 18th Century (1951) and his The Life of Jullien (1957, his last major piece of writing). To these we must add his editions of symphonies by Abel, Arne, J.C. Bach, Dittersdorf, Friedrich Schwindl, Filtz, Gossec and the Stamitzes, which played their part in popularising the works of the lesser known 18th Century composers, British and foreign.
https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Carse-Adam.htm (https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Carse-Adam.htm)
COPAC lists 5 symphonies by Carse, MS scores being held at RAM: 1 in C minor; 2 in G minor; 3 in F major; 4 in C major and 5 in E flat major.
There are 4 very short viola/piano pieces ("Gently Swaying", "Heartache", "Calm Reflection", & "A Breezy Story") on this album from Guild: Heartache: Anthology of English Viola Music
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7990135--heartache-an-anthology-of-english-viola-music (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7990135--heartache-an-anthology-of-english-viola-music)
Thank you both, information duly added to the long list.
The only two pieces I've heard by Carse - The Winton Suite and the Two Sketches are very enjoyable, rather 'light' music. The Suite is neo-classical, and reminds me of the wonderful Capriol Suite. Does anyone know if his more ambitious works - the symphonies in particular - are correspondingly more serious in nature? [apologies for the poor expression - it's late in the day!]
the published music of his I have seen mentioned (in Hofmeisters and elsewhere) has mostly been Easy Trios etc. I am intrigued to know of (and to see and hear) his more extended and "serious" music.