The British Musical Biography

[E] Clarke, James Hamilton Smee, com-
poser and conductor, born in Birmingham,
January 25, 1840. His father was an amateur
organist, and encouraged his son's musical
studies, but did not intend him to follow the
art as a profession. At twelve he was organist
of St. Matthew's, Duddeston, and at fifteen
was sent as pupil to an analytical chemist,
but gave that up and was articled to a land
surveyor, 1855-61. At the expiration of his
articles he entered the musical profession,
and obtained (1862) a post as organist of Par-
sonstown Parish Church, Ireland, changing,
a year later, to Zion Church, Rathgar, Dublin.
While here he joined the Dublin Philharmonic
orchestra as first violin, and frequently as-
sisted Dr. Stewart at Christchurch Cathedral.
In 1864 he was appointed conductor of the
Belfast Anacreontic Society, and organist of
Caremony Church. This year he won the
first prize offered by the then recently estab-
lished College of Organists for an anthem.
He was appointed organist of Queen's College,
Oxford, in June, 1866, after holding office a
few months at Llandaff Cathedral, and gradu-
ated Mus. Bac, 1867. During his five years'
residence in this city he conducted the
Queen's College Musical Society, and played
the clarinet at several College concerts. He
was organist of Kensington Parish Church,
1871, and succeeded (Sir) Arthur Sullivan at
St. Peter's, South Kensington, in 1872. From
this time he turned his attention to the
theatre, and was conductor at the Opera
Conaique, Comedy, Toole's, Gaiety, and other
houses ; conductor of the D'Oyly Carte Com-
pany in the provinces, 1878, and of various
concert parties. From 1878, for some years, he
was musical director at the Lyceum Theatre,
and composed music for several dramas pro-
duced by (Sir) Henry Irving. In 1889 he was
appointed conductor of the Victorian National
Orchestra, returning from Australia in 1891.

[+] While there he acted as inspector of military
bands, and had the honorary rank of Captain
conferred upon him. In 1893 he accepted the
post of principal conductor of the Carl Rosa
Conapany. He is now resident in London.
His published works are nearly four hundred
in number, and can only be outlined in the
subjoined list. He contributed an important
series of papers to Musical Society, 1886-7.

[W] Works. — Dramatic Incidental music to
Hamlet, 1878 ; Mercbant of Venice, 1879 ;
Eugene Aram, 1879 ; The Iron Chest (partly
from Storace), 1879 ; The Corsican Brothers,
1880; The Cup (Tennyson, 1881) ; King Lear,
1892; and Cymbeline, 1896; all for the Lyceum
Theatre, under Henry Irving. Music to Vit-
toria Contanari, and other dramas. Com-
ediettas and operettas for the German Reed
Entertainments ; Martial Law ; Castle Both-
erem, 1880 ; A pretty Bequest, etc. School
Cantatas and Operettas : Daisy Chain ; Horn-
pipe Harry, op. 858, etc. Sacred Cantata :
Praise, op. 68 ; Ode to Indastry, op. 90 ; The
Lord is my Light, anthem in 8 x^arts, op. 44
(College of Organists' Prize, 1864) ; many an-
thems. Church services, songs, part-songs, etc.
Orchestral : Symphony, No. 1, in P (Exhib-
ition Concerts, Albert Hall, August, 1873) ;
No. 2, in G minor, op. 122 (Promenade Con-
certs, Covent Garden, 1879) ; six overtures,
and other pieces. Concerto, pf. and orchestra,
op. 78 ; Quartets, strings ; Quartet, i^f. and
strings. Sonata and Romance, pf . and flute, etc.
Organ : Six sonatas ; Three andantes ; Three
offertories ; Three pieces, op. 348, etc., etc.

entry id: 91-L-21