Chansonette Sir Hamilton Harty (1879-1941)
Sir Herbert Hamilton Harty, born in Northern Ireland, had a successful career as organist, conductor, accompanist and composer. He moved to London in 1900 and became known for his skillful accompaniments of such vocalists and instrumentalists as Fritz Kreisler. He composed constantly throughout his career, and published Chansonette as the second of Three Minatures for Oboe and Piano in 1911.
From 1932 to 1935, he was conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and spent the rest of his life guest conducting, despite the loss of his right eye from a brain tumor in 1936.
Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano, op. 2 Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Carl Nielsen offered the following description in a program note for his 1889 Fantasy Pieces: “The first slow piece gives the oboe the opportunity to sing out its notes quite as beautifully as this instrument can. The second is more humorous, roguish, with an undertone of Nordic nature and forest rustlings in the moonlight.” Both pieces suggest fanciful tales in the spirit of Nielsen’s Danish compatriot Hans Christian Andersen.