Herbert Hughes (musicologist)
Encyclopedia
Herbert Hughes was an Irish composer, music critic and collector of folk songs.
He was born and brought up in Belfast
, Ireland
, but completed his formal music education at the Royal College of Music
, London, graduating in 1901. Subsequently he worked as a music critic, notably for The Daily Telegraph
from 1911 to 1932.
Described as having an “ardent and self-confident manner”, Hughes is first heard of in an Irish musical capacity (beyond being honorary organist at St Peter’s Church on the Antrim Road at the age of fourteen) collecting traditional airs and transcribing folk songs in North Donegal in August 1903 with his brother Fred, F.J. Bigger, and John Campbell. Dedicated to seeking out and recording such ancient melodies as were yet to be found in the remoter glens and valleys of Ulster
, he produced in 1904 Songs of Uladh with Joseph Campbell, illustrated by his brother John and paid for by Bigger.
Continually encouraged by Bigger, and in collaborations with the poets Joseph Campbell
and Padraic Colum
(met at Bigger's house Ardrigh), and Yeats
himself, Hughes arranged and produced three celebrated Irish songs that have and will long outlast his memory, My Lagan Love, She Moved Through the Fair
and Down By The Salley Gardens
. A dispute with Hamilton Harty
over copyright on My Lagan Love was pursued on Bigger’s advice, but failed .
Apart from writing about music, Hughes composed chamber music and for the stage and film. A supporter of the Gaelic Revival
he was one of the founders with Charles Wood
of the Irish Folksong Society in 1904, and himself collected and set down hundreds of traditional melodies.
Hughes and John Robert Monsell created songs for a musical version of Richard Brinsley Sheridan
's The Rivals
called Rivals! which was staged at the Kingsway Theatre in London in September 1935 by Vladimir Rosing
.
Married to Lillian Florence (known as Meena) Meacham and Suzanne McKernan, Herbert had three children. He died in Brighton
, England
at the relatively early age of fifty-five.
He was the father of musician Spike Hughes
.
He was born and brought up in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but completed his formal music education at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, London, graduating in 1901. Subsequently he worked as a music critic, notably for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
from 1911 to 1932.
Described as having an “ardent and self-confident manner”, Hughes is first heard of in an Irish musical capacity (beyond being honorary organist at St Peter’s Church on the Antrim Road at the age of fourteen) collecting traditional airs and transcribing folk songs in North Donegal in August 1903 with his brother Fred, F.J. Bigger, and John Campbell. Dedicated to seeking out and recording such ancient melodies as were yet to be found in the remoter glens and valleys of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, he produced in 1904 Songs of Uladh with Joseph Campbell, illustrated by his brother John and paid for by Bigger.
Continually encouraged by Bigger, and in collaborations with the poets Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell (poet)
Joseph Campbell was an Irish poet and lyricist. He wrote under the Gaelicised version of his name Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil...
and Padraic Colum
Padraic Colum
Padraic Colum was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer, playwright, children's author and collector of folklore. He was one of the leading figures of the Celtic Revival.-Early life:...
(met at Bigger's house Ardrigh), and Yeats
Yeats
W. B. Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright.Yeats may also refer to:* Yeats ,* Yeats , an impact crater on Mercury* Yeats , an Irish thoroughbred racehorse-See also:...
himself, Hughes arranged and produced three celebrated Irish songs that have and will long outlast his memory, My Lagan Love, She Moved Through the Fair
She Moved Through the Fair
"She Moved Through the Fair" is a traditional Irish folk song, existing in a number of versions and which has been recorded many times.-Origins:...
and Down By The Salley Gardens
Down By The Salley Gardens
Down by the Salley Gardens is a poem by William Butler Yeats published in The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems in 1889...
. A dispute with Hamilton Harty
Hamilton Harty
Sir Hamilton Harty was an Irish and British composer, conductor, pianist and organist. In his capacity as a conductor, he was particularly noted as an interpreter of the music of Berlioz and he was much respected as a piano accompanist of exceptional prowess...
over copyright on My Lagan Love was pursued on Bigger’s advice, but failed .
Apart from writing about music, Hughes composed chamber music and for the stage and film. A supporter of the Gaelic Revival
Gaelic Revival
The Gaelic revival was the late-nineteenth-century national revival of interest in the Irish language and Irish Gaelic culture...
he was one of the founders with Charles Wood
Charles Wood (composer)
Charles Wood was an Irish composer and teacher.Born in Armagh, Ireland, he was the fifth child and third son of Charles Wood Sr. and Jemima Wood. His father was a tenor in the choir of the nearby St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh , and later worked as the Diocesan Registrar of the church...
of the Irish Folksong Society in 1904, and himself collected and set down hundreds of traditional melodies.
Hughes and John Robert Monsell created songs for a musical version of Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
's The Rivals
The Rivals
The Rivals, a play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, is a comedy of manners in five acts. It was first performed on 17 January 1775.- Production :...
called Rivals! which was staged at the Kingsway Theatre in London in September 1935 by Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Sergeyevich Rosing , aka Val Rosing, was a Russian-born operatic tenor and stage director who spent most of his professional career in England and the United States...
.
Married to Lillian Florence (known as Meena) Meacham and Suzanne McKernan, Herbert had three children. He died in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at the relatively early age of fifty-five.
He was the father of musician Spike Hughes
Spike Hughes
Patrick "Spike" Cairns Hughes was a British jazz musician, composer and music journalist. He was the son of Irish composer, writer and song collector Herbert Hughes...
.
Partial bibliography
- Songs of Uladh, (1904)
- Irish Country Songs (four volumes 1909, 1915, 1934 and 1936)
- Historical Songs and Ballads of Ireland (1922)
External links
- The Modernist Journals Project - biographical entry
- The Contemporary Music Centre - biographical entry