Unsung Composers

The Music => Composers & Music => Topic started by: Reverie on Tuesday 16 February 2021, 19:51

Title: Henry Kimball Hadley (1871-1937) "Symphonic Fantasia"
Post by: Reverie on Tuesday 16 February 2021, 19:51
Henry Hadley was one of the most performed and published American composers of his day. He considered himself first and foremost an orchestral composer, and then a conductor.

His Symphonic Fantasia for large orchestra was first published in 1907. It's about 15 minutes in length and demonstarates his mastery of orchestration perfectly. The orchestral brass writing is especially fine.

The Sibelius software was driven hard controlling all the forces in this short but brilliant work but it coped admirably I think.

Symphonic Fantasia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxMZCaUA64
Title: Re: Henry Kimball Hadley (1871-1937) "Symphonic Fantasia"
Post by: TerraEpon on Wednesday 17 February 2021, 01:30
FWIW Dutton released an entire disc of his music, which was discussed here http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,5157.msg57856.html#msg57856

Naxos as well https://www.discogs.com/Henry-Kimball-Hadley-National-Symphony-Orchestra-Of-Ukraine-John-McLaughlin-Williams-Symphony-No-4-T/release/9967826
Title: Re: Henry Kimball Hadley (1871-1937) "Symphonic Fantasia"
Post by: Sharkkb8 on Wednesday 17 February 2021, 08:30
Also Hadley's 2nd Symphony and "Salome" suite on an obscure (to me) label, Bridge.  (Along with some other possibly interesting stuff by Edward MacDowell & Horatio Parker, et. al.)

https://smile.amazon.com/MacDowell-Hadley-Others-Orchestral-Works/dp/B087GWBZW1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=MacDowell%2C+Hadley+%26+Others%3A+Orchestral+Works&qid=1613549931&sr=8-1 (https://smile.amazon.com/MacDowell-Hadley-Others-Orchestral-Works/dp/B087GWBZW1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=MacDowell%2C+Hadley+%26+Others%3A+Orchestral+Works&qid=1613549931&sr=8-1)

Title: Re: Henry Kimball Hadley (1871-1937) "Symphonic Fantasia"
Post by: eschiss1 on Wednesday 17 February 2021, 09:31
There has even been -a- recording of this same Symphonic Fantasia, on a limited-edition record made (circa 1938...) by the Works Progress Administation. See Worldcat (https://www.worldcat.org/title/works-progress-administration-presents-los-angeles-federal-symphony-series-38-program-no-71/oclc/41662925&referer=brief_results). (I gather it's been converted to an eMusic/digital-transfer form, over Naxos or some similar service.)
Title: Re: Henry Kimball Hadley (1871-1937) "Symphonic Fantasia"
Post by: eschiss1 on Friday 22 October 2021, 22:04
Given that it's Hadley's 150th later this year, there's not many recordings being made of this or others of his works, I guess.