Episode 34: 20034 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 favorites. 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.TracksCharles Gounod, arr. John ThomasSoldiers’ Chorus from Gounod’s Faust (2:48)Charles Gounod, arr. John Thomas and Julius BenedictDuet on Subjects from Gounod’s Faust (1869) (8:41)Giuseppe Verdi arr. John ThomasSix 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 ThomasPrayer from Mosè in Egitto (arr. 1884) (5:22)John ThomasLe Désir. Rhapsody (1892) (4:41)Coronation March (1902) (3:57)Luigi Venzano arr. John ThomasLa Gassier Valse (arr. 1858) (2:45)First RecordingsHelp support our show by purchasing this album  at:Downloads (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by Uber. @CMDHedgecock#ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans#CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain#ClassicalMusicLivesOn#Uber#AppleClassical Please consider supporting our show, thank you!Donate (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) [email protected] This album is broadcast with the permission of Sean Dacy from Rosebrook Media.