John Thomas: Complete Duos for Harp and Piano, Volume Three
Harpist to Queen Victoria, the Welsh composer John Thomas (1826–1913) also wrote prolifically for his own instrument, both for solo harp and for duos of two harps or harp and piano – a combination where the different sounds of the two instruments enhance the clarity of the texture. Thomas’ original works use the elegant Romantic style of his own day, but he also left a generous legacy of transcriptions, especially of operatic favourites. Although some of his music was intended for the Victorian drawing room, other pieces require a virtuoso technique – and all of it has a thoroughly engaging melodic appeal.
Duo Praxedis
Praxedis Hug-Rütti, harp
Praxedis Geneviève Hug, piano
Listen To This Recording:
Charles Gounod, arr. John Thomas
- Soldiers’ Chorus from Gounod’s Faust (2:48)
Charles Gounod, arr. John Thomas and Julius Benedict
- Duet on Subjects from Gounod’s Faust (1869) (8:41)
Giuseppe Verdi arr. John Thomas
Six Gems from Verdi’s Operas (publ. 1857) (32:41)
- No. 1 ‘Miserere’ and ‘Tu vedrai che amore in terra’ from Il trovatore (7:24)
- No. 2 ‘Il balen’ and ‘Di tale amor’ from Il trovatore (4:25)
- No. 3 ‘Or co’ dadi’, ‘Squilli, echeggi la tromba’ and ‘Sì, la stanchezza m’opprime’ from Il trovatore (6:19)
- No. 4 ‘D’amor sull’alo rosee’ and ‘Di quella pira’ from Il trovatore (5:36)
- No. 5 ‘Un dì, se ben rammentomi’ (Quartet) from Rigoletto (5:16)
- No. 6 La Sicilienne (Boléro) from Les vêpres siciliennes (3:41)
Gioachino Rossini arr. John Thomas
- Prayer from Mosè in Egitto (arr. 1884) (5:22)
John Thomas
- Le Désir. Rhapsody (1892) (4:41)
- Coronation March (1902) (3:57)
Luigi Venzano arr. John Thomas
- La Gassier Valse (arr. 1858) (2:45)
First Recordings
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