Harold Edwin Darke (29 October 1888 – 28 November 1976) was an English composer and organist. He is particularly known for his choral compositions, which are an established part of the respertoire of Anglican church music. Darke had a fifty-year association with the church of St Michael, Cornhill, in the City of London.
Darke served for 50 years at St Michael's Church, Cornhill, LondonDarke served as acting Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge during World War II
It is widely accepted that the Cornhill Lunchtime Organ Recitals series begun by Darke in 1916 is the longest-running lunchtime organ concert series in the world. His midday recitals each Monday, playing Bach in the legato style of Schweitzer, made him a City institution.[3] The series has flourished under his successors Richard Popplewell 1966–1979 and the present organist, Jonathan Rennert, from 1979. Darke also served as professor for organ at the Royal College of Music from 1919 to 1969.[1]
Darke's work as Conductor of St Michael's Singers was crowned in 1956 (on the occasion of the Choir's 40th Anniversary) with first performances of a number of now well-established works composed especially for the occasion – notably An English Mass by Herbert Howells,[4]Hierusalem by George Dyson,[5] and A Vision of Aeroplanes by Ralph Vaughan Williams.[6]
Later lifeEdit
Darke continued to be active in his later years. He recorded Elgar’s Organ Sonata in his early 70s and gave recitals at the Royal Festival Hall to mark his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays.[3] He died in Cambridge, UK, aged 88 on 28 November 1976.[1]
In a poll of choral experts and choirmasters that was published in BBC Music Magazine on 7 December 2008, "In the Bleak Midwinter" was voted the greatest Christmas carol of all time.[9] Comparing Darke's setting to another popular setting by Gustav Holst, Deputy Editor Jeremy Pound expressed the view that "While Gustav Holst's charming setting of 1909 is rightly loved by millions worldwide, it is the less well known but infinitely more stylish setting by Harold Darke from two years later that convincingly won the day in our poll."[10][11]
Most of Darke's other compositions that are still performed are settings of the Anglicanliturgy, especially his three Communion Services in E minor, F, and A minor; and his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F.[7][12] The short cantata As the Leaves Fall, (1917), setting words by the soldier poet Joseph Courtney (1891-1973), has been recorded by the Guildford Cathedral Choir, along with a later cantata, The Kingdom of God (1921), setting Francis Thompson.[13]
Organ
Suite in D minor: Prelude, Pastorale, Toccata
Prelude and Fugue on "Heinlein"
Rhapsody in E, Op. 4
Prelude on "Windsor"
Prelude in Memory of Parry
Three Hymn Preludes, Op. 20: St. Peter, Darwall's 148th, On a Theme of Tallis
Fantasy in E, Op. 39
Meditation on Brother James' Air
Retrospection
Bridal Procession
Choir
As the Leaves Fall, Op. 26 (1917), soprano solo, SATB choir and orchestra
In the Bleak Midwinter
Communion Service in E minor
Communion Service in F
Communion Service in A minor
Evening Service in F
Harvest Cantata "The Sower" for Solo Quartet, Choir and Organ. Published (1929) by OUP
Jubilate for chorus & organ in F major
The Kingdom of God, Op. 31 (1921), soprano solo, SATB choir and orchestra
^ abWright, David C. H. (2019). The Royal College of Music and its Contexts: An Artistic and Social History. Cambridge University Press. p. 351. ISBN9781107163386.
^Michael, Counsell (2015). The Canterbury Preacher's Companion 2016. Canterbury Press. p. 292. ISBN9781848257504.
^Leach, Ben (7 December 2008). "In the Bleak Midwinter voted greatest carol of all time". The Telegraph. London. from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^"BBC – Press Office – In The Bleak Midwinter hits top spot as greatest carol ever". BBC. from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^"A Christmas special: 50 Greatest Carols". BBC Music Magazine. December 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^"Harold Darke Compositions". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^As the Leaves Fall, Regent REGCD563 (2022), reviewed by MusicWeb International
^Five Mystical Songs and other British Choral Anthems, Naxos CD 8.574416 (2022)
harold, darke, harold, edwin, darke, october, 1888, november, 1976, english, composer, organist, particularly, known, choral, compositions, which, established, part, respertoire, anglican, church, music, darke, fifty, year, association, with, church, michael, . Harold Edwin Darke 29 October 1888 28 November 1976 was an English composer and organist He is particularly known for his choral compositions which are an established part of the respertoire of Anglican church music Darke had a fifty year association with the church of St Michael Cornhill in the City of London Harold DarkeBornHarold Edwin Darke 1888 10 29 29 October 1888London EnglandDied28 November 1976 1976 11 28 aged 88 Cambridge EnglandOccupation s Organist composerEra20th centurySpouseDora Garland Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life 4 Compositions 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditDarke was born in Highbury London the youngest son of Samuel Darke and Arundel Bourne He attended Dame Alice Owen s School in Islington and studied organ with Walter Parratt in Oxford and composition with Charles Villiers Stanford at the Royal College of Music He served in the Royal Air Force during World War I During his RAF service he married Dora Garland at St Michaels Church Cornhill on 25 July 1918 Dora was a violinist and was the first woman to lead the Queen s Hall Orchestra 1 Career Edit nbsp Darke served for 50 years at St Michael s Church Cornhill London nbsp Darke served as acting Director of Music at King s College Cambridge during World War IIHis first organist post was at Emmanuel Church West Hampstead from 1906 to 1911 He became organist at St Michael Cornhill in 1916 and stayed there until 1966 2 leaving only briefly in 1941 to deputise for Boris Ord as Director of Music at King s College Cambridge during World War II It is widely accepted that the Cornhill Lunchtime Organ Recitals series begun by Darke in 1916 is the longest running lunchtime organ concert series in the world His midday recitals each Monday playing Bach in the legato style of Schweitzer made him a City institution 3 The series has flourished under his successors Richard Popplewell 1966 1979 and the present organist Jonathan Rennert from 1979 Darke also served as professor for organ at the Royal College of Music from 1919 to 1969 1 Darke s work as Conductor of St Michael s Singers was crowned in 1956 on the occasion of the Choir s 40th Anniversary with first performances of a number of now well established works composed especially for the occasion notably An English Mass by Herbert Howells 4 Hierusalem by George Dyson 5 and A Vision of Aeroplanes by Ralph Vaughan Williams 6 Later life EditDarke continued to be active in his later years He recorded Elgar s Organ Sonata in his early 70s and gave recitals at the Royal Festival Hall to mark his 75th 80th and 85th birthdays 3 He died in Cambridge UK aged 88 on 28 November 1976 1 Compositions Edit source source source source source source source Darke s popular 1909 setting of In the Bleak Midwinter performed by the choir of St Paul s Episcopal Church IndianapolisHis famous 1909 setting of Christina Rossetti s In the Bleak Midwinter is often sung at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols at King s College Cambridge and at similar services around the world 7 8 In a poll of choral experts and choirmasters that was published in BBC Music Magazine on 7 December 2008 In the Bleak Midwinter was voted the greatest Christmas carol of all time 9 Comparing Darke s setting to another popular setting by Gustav Holst Deputy Editor Jeremy Pound expressed the view that While Gustav Holst s charming setting of 1909 is rightly loved by millions worldwide it is the less well known but infinitely more stylish setting by Harold Darke from two years later that convincingly won the day in our poll 10 11 Most of Darke s other compositions that are still performed are settings of the Anglican liturgy especially his three Communion Services in E minor F and A minor and his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F 7 12 The short cantata As the Leaves Fall 1917 setting words by the soldier poet Joseph Courtney 1891 1973 has been recorded by the Guildford Cathedral Choir along with a later cantata The Kingdom of God 1921 setting Francis Thompson 13 OrganSuite in D minor Prelude Pastorale Toccata Prelude and Fugue on Heinlein Rhapsody in E Op 4 Prelude on Windsor Prelude in Memory of Parry Three Hymn Preludes Op 20 St Peter Darwall s 148th On a Theme of Tallis Fantasy in E Op 39 Meditation on Brother James Air Retrospection Bridal ProcessionChoirAs the Leaves Fall Op 26 1917 soprano solo SATB choir and orchestra In the Bleak Midwinter Communion Service in E minor Communion Service in F Communion Service in A minor Evening Service in F Harvest Cantata The Sower for Solo Quartet Choir and Organ Published 1929 by OUP Jubilate for chorus amp organ in F major The Kingdom of God Op 31 1921 soprano solo SATB choir and orchestra O Brother Man O gladsome light Op 38 No 2 1929 14 Psalm 10 Te Deum for chorus amp organ in F majorReferences Edit a b c Harold Darke Composer Arranger Short Biography www bach cantatas com Retrieved 16 February 2021 Rennert Johnathan October 2019 Cornhill Visions Regent Records REGCD550 CD liner notes a b Webb Stanley Darke Harold Edwin in Grove Music Online 2001 Notes to Hyperion CDA66488 Notes to Hyperion CDH55046 Notes to Hyperion CDA67503 a b Wright David C H 2019 The Royal College of Music and its Contexts An Artistic and Social History Cambridge University Press p 351 ISBN 9781107163386 Michael Counsell 2015 The Canterbury Preacher s Companion 2016 Canterbury Press p 292 ISBN 9781848257504 Leach Ben 7 December 2008 In the Bleak Midwinter voted greatest carol of all time The Telegraph London Archived from the original on 20 March 2017 Retrieved 4 October 2019 BBC Press Office In The Bleak Midwinter hits top spot as greatest carol ever BBC Archived from the original on 4 October 2019 Retrieved 4 October 2019 A Christmas special 50 Greatest Carols BBC Music Magazine December 2008 Retrieved 4 October 2019 Harold Darke Compositions AllMusic Retrieved 2 October 2019 As the Leaves Fall Regent REGCD563 2022 reviewed by MusicWeb International Five Mystical Songs and other British Choral Anthems Naxos CD 8 574416 2022 External links EditBrief biography Brief biography The Music at St Michael s Cornhill Free scores by Harold Darke in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Harold Darke s In the Bleak Midwinter on YouTube a 1968 performance by Guildford Cathedral Choir directed by Barry Rose Recording of Darke s In the bleak midwinter from Coro Nostro a mixed chamber choir based in Leicester UK Church of England titlesPreceded byGeorge Frederick Vincent Organist of St Michael Cornhill1916 1966 Succeeded byRichard Popplewell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Darke amp oldid 1177480939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
