Smart was born in London, a nephew of the conductor Sir George Smart and son of a music publisher, orchestra director and accomplished violinist (also called Henry Smart). His sister was the artist and composer Harriet Anne Smart. He was educated at Highgate School,[1] and then studied for the law, but soon gave this up for music.
Though highly rated as a composer by his English contemporaries, Smart is now largely forgotten, save for his hymn tune "Regent Square", which retains considerable popularity, and which is commonly performed with the words "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation", "Light's Abode, Celestial Salem", or "Angels from the Realms of Glory". His many compositions for the organ (some of which have been occasionally revived in recent years) were described as "effective and melodious, if not strikingly original" by the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which also praised his part songs. A cantata by him, "The Bride of Dunkerron" was written for the Birmingham Festival of 1864; another cantata was a version of the play King René's Daughter (1871). The oratorioJacob was created for Glasgow in 1873; and his comic opera Bertha or The Gnome of Hartzburg was produced with some success at the Haymarket in June 1855.[3]
Harry Emerson Fosdick greatly admired "Regent Square", and wrote his own "God of Grace and God of Glory" specifically in the hope that it would be generally sung to that tune. He was horrified when, in 1935, The Methodist Hymnal instead set the lyrics to John Hughes' "Cwm Rhondda".[4]
In the last 15 years of his life, Smart was practically blind. He composed by dictation, primarily to his daughter Ellen, who was married to Joseph Joachim's brother Henry Joachim. Smart died at his residence near Primrose Hill in London in July 1879.[5]
"Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Regent Square)". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via YouTube.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Smart, Henry". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 250.
April 16, 2023
henry, smart, novelist, henry, hawley, smart, henry, thomas, smart, october, 1813, july, 1879, english, organist, composer, born, 1813, october, 1813london, englanddied6, july, 1879, 1879, aged, london, englandoccupation, organist, composerknown, regent, squar. For the novelist see Henry Hawley Smart Henry Thomas Smart 26 October 1813 6 July 1879 was an English organist and composer Henry SmartBorn 1813 10 26 26 October 1813London EnglandDied6 July 1879 1879 07 06 aged 65 London EnglandOccupation s Organist composerKnown for Regent Square Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditSmart was born in London a nephew of the conductor Sir George Smart and son of a music publisher orchestra director and accomplished violinist also called Henry Smart His sister was the artist and composer Harriet Anne Smart He was educated at Highgate School 1 and then studied for the law but soon gave this up for music In 1831 Smart became organist of Blackburn parish church where he wrote his first important work an anthem then of St Giles without Cripplegate St Luke s Old Street and finally of St Pancras New Church in 1864 which last post he held at the time of his death less than a month after receiving a government pension of 100 per annum Smart was also skilled as a mechanic and designed several organs 2 He was also invited by William Sterndale Bennett to join the Committee of his Bach Society leading to the first English performance of Bach s St Matthew Passion in 1854 Though highly rated as a composer by his English contemporaries Smart is now largely forgotten save for his hymn tune Regent Square which retains considerable popularity and which is commonly performed with the words Christ is Made the Sure Foundation Light s Abode Celestial Salem or Angels from the Realms of Glory His many compositions for the organ some of which have been occasionally revived in recent years were described as effective and melodious if not strikingly original by the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica which also praised his part songs A cantata by him The Bride of Dunkerron was written for the Birmingham Festival of 1864 another cantata was a version of the play King Rene s Daughter 1871 The oratorio Jacob was created for Glasgow in 1873 and his comic opera Bertha or The Gnome of Hartzburg was produced with some success at the Haymarket in June 1855 3 Harry Emerson Fosdick greatly admired Regent Square and wrote his own God of Grace and God of Glory specifically in the hope that it would be generally sung to that tune He was horrified when in 1935 The Methodist Hymnal instead set the lyrics to John Hughes Cwm Rhondda 4 In the last 15 years of his life Smart was practically blind He composed by dictation primarily to his daughter Ellen who was married to Joseph Joachim s brother Henry Joachim Smart died at his residence near Primrose Hill in London in July 1879 5 See also EditUNH Alma MaterReferences Edit Legge Robin Smart George Thomas Retrieved 30 September 2016 George P Upton The Standard Cantatas Echo 2010 reprint of 1888 edition p 190 3 The Illustrated London News Saturday 2 June 1855 McCann Forrest Mason 1997 Hymns amp history An annotated survey of sources Abilene Texas ACU Press pp 258 259 The Late Mr Henry Smart Leeds Mercury West Yorkshire England 9 July 1879 p 5 Retrieved 1 March 2020 via newspapers com Further reading EditWilliam Spark Henry Smart London 1881 External links EditFree scores by Henry Smart in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Free scores by Henry Smart at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP The Mutopia Project has compositions by Henry Smart Free scores by Henry Smart on loumy org Angels From the Realms of Glory Regent Square Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 Retrieved 1 March 2020 via YouTube This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Smart Henry Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Smart amp oldid 1119921639, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
