Fred Hartley
Encyclopedia
Fred Hartley was a Scottish pianist, conductor and composer of light music
best known for his waltz Rouge et Noir. He sometimes composed music under the pseudonym Iris Taylor.
Hartley was born in Dundee
in 1905, where he attended Harris Academy
. He later attained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
. He made his first public broadcast as a solo pianist in 1925 and in 1931 went on to form his "Novelty Quintet", which regularly made broadcasts on the BBC. In 1946, he was made Head of BBC Light Music.
He composed mainly in the light music
genre and his compositions were often featured on the BBC Light Programme
. In addition to "Rouge et Noir", compositions for orchestra include the "Scherzetto for Children", "The Hampden Roar", "Alpine Festival", "The Ball at Aberfeldy", "Whispering Breeze", "Hampden Road March" and "A Dream of Hawaii". A fuller list is available at Philip Scowcroft's Light Music Garland site.
Fred Hartley published several of his piano works under the name Iris Taylor – 'Dreamy Afternoon', 'Cuckoo in Love' and 'Twentieth Century Nocturne'.
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
best known for his waltz Rouge et Noir. He sometimes composed music under the pseudonym Iris Taylor.
Hartley was born in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1905, where he attended Harris Academy
Harris Academy
Harris Academy is a co-educational comprehensive school located in the West End of Dundee, Scotland.-Admissions:The school's current rector is Mr. James Thewliss....
. He later attained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. He made his first public broadcast as a solo pianist in 1925 and in 1931 went on to form his "Novelty Quintet", which regularly made broadcasts on the BBC. In 1946, he was made Head of BBC Light Music.
He composed mainly in the light music
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
genre and his compositions were often featured on the BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
. In addition to "Rouge et Noir", compositions for orchestra include the "Scherzetto for Children", "The Hampden Roar", "Alpine Festival", "The Ball at Aberfeldy", "Whispering Breeze", "Hampden Road March" and "A Dream of Hawaii". A fuller list is available at Philip Scowcroft's Light Music Garland site.
Fred Hartley published several of his piano works under the name Iris Taylor – 'Dreamy Afternoon', 'Cuckoo in Love' and 'Twentieth Century Nocturne'.