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{{Short description|English organist and composer (1813–1879)}}
{{for|the novelist|Henry Hawley Smart}}
{{about||the novelist|Henry Hawley Smart|the Australian journalist and publicist|H. C. Smart}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
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==Biography==
==Biography==
Smart was born in [[London]], a nephew of the conductor [[George Thomas Smart|Sir George Smart]] and son of a music publisher, orchestra director and accomplished violinist (also called Henry Smart). He was educated at [[Highgate School]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Legge|first1=Robin|title=Smart, George Thomas|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Smart,_George_Thomas_(DNB00)|accessdate=30 September 2016}}</ref> and then studied for the law, but soon gave this up for music.
Smart was born in [[London]], a nephew of the conductor [[George Thomas Smart|Sir George Smart]] and son of a music publisher, orchestra director and accomplished violinist (also called Henry Smart). His sister was the artist and composer [[Harriet Anne Smart]]. He was educated at [[Highgate School]],<ref>{{Cite DNB|wstitle=Smart, George Thomas|display=Smart, George Thomas ''s.v.'' Henry Thomas Smart|last=Legge|first=Robin Humphrey|author-link=Thomas Legge|volume=52|page=390}}</ref> and then studied for the law, but soon gave this up for music.


In 1831, Smart became organist of [[Blackburn Cathedral|Blackburn parish church]], where he wrote his first important work, an [[anthem]]; then of [[St Giles-without-Cripplegate]]; [[St Luke's, Old Street]]; and finally of [[St Pancras New Church]], in 1864, which last post he held at the time of his death, less than a month after receiving a government pension of £100 per annum. Smart was also skilled as a mechanic, and designed several [[Pipe organ|organ]]s.<ref>George P Upton, ''The Standard Cantatas'', Echo, 2010 (reprint of 1888 edition), p.190-3.</ref> He was also invited by [[William Sterndale Bennett]] to join the Committee of his [[Bach Society]] leading to the first English performance of Bach's
In 1831, Smart became organist of [[Blackburn Cathedral|Blackburn parish church]], where he wrote his first important work, an [[anthem]]; then of [[St Giles-without-Cripplegate]]; [[St Luke's, Old Street]]; and finally of [[St Pancras New Church]], in 1864, which last post he held at the time of his death, less than a month after receiving a government pension of £100 per annum.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Smart, Henry|volume=25|page=250}}</ref> Smart was also skilled as a mechanic, and designed several [[Pipe organ|organ]]s.<ref>George P Upton, ''The Standard Cantatas'', Echo, 2010 (reprint of 1888 edition), p.190-3.</ref> He was also invited by [[William Sterndale Bennett]] to join the Committee of his [[Bach Society]] leading to the first English performance of Bach's [[St Matthew Passion]] in 1854.
[[St Matthew Passion]] in 1854.


Though highly rated as a composer by his English contemporaries, Smart is now largely forgotten, save for his [[hymn tune]] "Regent Square", which retains considerable popularity, and which is commonly performed with the words "[[Christ is Made the Sure Foundation]]", "Light's Abode, Celestial Salem", or "[[Angels from the Realms of Glory]]". His many compositions for the organ (some of which have been occasionally revived in recent years) were described as "effective and melodious, if not strikingly original" by the 1911 ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', which also praised his [[part songs]]. A [[cantata]] by him, "The Bride of Dunkerron" was written for the [[Birmingham]] Festival of 1864; another cantata was a version of the play ''[[King René's Daughter]]'' (1871). The [[oratorio]] ''Jacob'' was created for [[Glasgow]] in 1873; and his opera ''Bertha'' was produced with some success at the [[Haymarket Theatre|Haymarket]] in 1855.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}
Though highly rated as a composer by his English contemporaries, Smart is now largely forgotten, save for his [[hymn tune]] "Regent Square", which retains considerable popularity, and which is commonly performed with the words "[[Christ is Made the Sure Foundation]]", "Light's Abode, Celestial Salem", or "[[Angels from the Realms of Glory]]". His many compositions for the organ (some of which have been occasionally revived in recent years) were described as "effective and melodious, if not strikingly original" in the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition|''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Eleventh Edition]] (1911), which also praised his [[part songs]].<ref name="EB1911"/> A [[cantata]] by him, "The Bride of Dunkerron" was written for the [[Birmingham]] Festival of 1864; another cantata was a version of the play ''[[King René's Daughter]]'' (1871). The [[oratorio]] ''Jacob'' was created for [[Glasgow]] in 1873; and his comic opera ''Bertha or The Gnome of Hartzburg'' was produced with some success at the [[Haymarket Theatre|Haymarket]] in June 1855.<ref>The Illustrated London News Saturday 2 June 1855</ref>


[[Harry Emerson Fosdick]] greatly admired "Regent Square", and wrote his own "God of Grace and God of Glory" specifically in the hope that it would be generally sung to that tune. He was horrified when, in 1935, ''[[The Methodist Hymnal]]'' instead set the lyrics to [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]' "[[Cwm Rhondda]]".<ref>{{cite book |title = Hymns & history: An annotated survey of sources |location = Abilene, Texas |publisher = ACU Press |first = Forrest Mason |last = McCann |pages = 258–259 |year = 1997 }}</ref>
[[Harry Emerson Fosdick]] greatly admired "Regent Square", and wrote his own "God of Grace and God of Glory" specifically in the hope that it would be generally sung to that tune. He was horrified when, in 1935, ''[[The Methodist Hymnal]]'' instead set the lyrics to [[John Hughes (1873–1932)|John Hughes]]' "[[Cwm Rhondda]]".<ref>{{cite book |title = Hymns & history: An annotated survey of sources |location = Abilene, Texas |publisher = ACU Press |first = Forrest Mason |last = McCann |pages = 258–259 |year = 1997 }}</ref>


In the last 15 years of his life, Smart was practically blind. He composed by dictation, primarily to his daughter Ellen, who was married to [[Joseph Joachim]]'s brother Henry Joachim. Smart died at his residence near [[Primrose Hill]] in London in July 1879.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45941020/the-late-mr-henry-smart/ |title=The Late Mr. Henry Smart |newspaper=[[Leeds Mercury]] |location=[[West Yorkshire]], England |page=5 |date=9 July 1879 |accessdate=1 March 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
In the last 15 years of his life, Smart was practically blind.<ref name="EB1911"/> He composed by dictation, primarily to his daughter Ellen, who was married to [[Joseph Joachim]]'s brother Henry Joachim. Smart died at his residence near [[Primrose Hill]] in London in July 1879.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45941020/the-late-mr-henry-smart/ |title=The Late Mr. Henry Smart |newspaper=[[Leeds Mercury]] |location=[[West Yorkshire]], England |page=5 |date=9 July 1879 |accessdate=1 March 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* {{IMSLP|id=Smart, Henry Thomas}}
* {{IMSLP|id=Smart, Henry Thomas}}
*{{MutopiaComposer|SmartHT}}
*{{MutopiaComposer|SmartHT}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120222115027/http://www.loumy.org/index.php?navig=partition&search=Smart%20henry Free scores by Henry Smart] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110102095901/http://www.loumy.org/ loumy.org]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222115027/http://www.loumy.org/index.php?navig=partition&search=Smart%20henry Free scores by Henry Smart]}} on {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110102095901/http://www.loumy.org/ loumy.org]}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTFkPUSxT3o |title=Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Regent Square) |via=[[YouTube]] |accessdate=1 March 2020}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTFkPUSxT3o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/KTFkPUSxT3o |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Regent Square) |via=[[YouTube]] |accessdate=1 March 2020}}{{cbignore}}
{{EB1911|wstitle=Smart, Henry|volume=25|page=250}}


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Latest revision as of 18:37, 21 December 2024

For the novelist, see Henry Hawley Smart. For the Australian journalist and publicist, see H. C. Smart.

Henry Smart
Born(1813-10-26)26 October 1813
London, England
Died6 July 1879(1879-07-06) (aged 65)
London, England
Occupation(s)Organist, composer
Known for"Regent Square"

Henry Thomas Smart (26 October 1813 – 6 July 1879) was an English organist and composer.

Biography

[edit]

Smart was born in London, a nephew of the conductor Sir George Smart and son of a music publisher, orchestra director and accomplished violinist (also called Henry Smart). His sister was the artist and composer Harriet Anne Smart. He was educated at Highgate School,[1] and then studied for the law, but soon gave this up for music.

In 1831, Smart became organist of Blackburn parish church, where he wrote his first important work, an anthem; then of St Giles-without-Cripplegate; St Luke's, Old Street; and finally of St Pancras New Church, in 1864, which last post he held at the time of his death, less than a month after receiving a government pension of £100 per annum.[2] Smart was also skilled as a mechanic, and designed several organs.[3] He was also invited by William Sterndale Bennett to join the Committee of his Bach Society leading to the first English performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion in 1854.

Though highly rated as a composer by his English contemporaries, Smart is now largely forgotten, save for his hymn tune "Regent Square", which retains considerable popularity, and which is commonly performed with the words "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation", "Light's Abode, Celestial Salem", or "Angels from the Realms of Glory". His many compositions for the organ (some of which have been occasionally revived in recent years) were described as "effective and melodious, if not strikingly original" in the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911), which also praised his part songs.[2] A cantata by him, "The Bride of Dunkerron" was written for the Birmingham Festival of 1864; another cantata was a version of the play King René's Daughter (1871). The oratorio Jacob was created for Glasgow in 1873; and his comic opera Bertha or The Gnome of Hartzburg was produced with some success at the Haymarket in June 1855.[4]

Harry Emerson Fosdick greatly admired "Regent Square", and wrote his own "God of Grace and God of Glory" specifically in the hope that it would be generally sung to that tune. He was horrified when, in 1935, The Methodist Hymnal instead set the lyrics to John Hughes' "Cwm Rhondda".[5]

In the last 15 years of his life, Smart was practically blind.[2] He composed by dictation, primarily to his daughter Ellen, who was married to Joseph Joachim's brother Henry Joachim. Smart died at his residence near Primrose Hill in London in July 1879.[6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Legge, Robin Humphrey (1897). "Smart, George Thomas s.v. Henry Thomas Smart" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 390.
  2. ^ a b c  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Smart, Henry". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 250.
  3. ^ George P Upton, The Standard Cantatas, Echo, 2010 (reprint of 1888 edition), p.190-3.
  4. ^ The Illustrated London News Saturday 2 June 1855
  5. ^ McCann, Forrest Mason (1997). Hymns & history: An annotated survey of sources. Abilene, Texas: ACU Press. pp. 258–259.
  6. ^ "The Late Mr. Henry Smart". Leeds Mercury. West Yorkshire, England. 9 July 1879. p. 5. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via newspapers.com.

Further reading

[edit]
  • William Spark, Henry Smart (London, 1881)
[edit]
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