Amy Elsie[a] Horrocks (23 February 1867 – 1919)[1][2][3][4] was an English music educator, composer and pianist. She was born to English parents (Francis James Horrocks 8 July 1829 – 27 April 1913) and Hannah Horrocks (née Allen 1833 – 22 April 1913)[5] in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and in 1882 studied piano and composition at the Royal Academy of Music with Adolf Schlösser and Francis William Davenport. She won the Potter Exhibition prize in 1888 and the Bennett Prize in 1889. After completing her studies, she performed as a pianist and taught music in London.[6][7] There are claims that she was proposed to by Sir Henry Wood, whom she turned down. One of her compositions, Romaunt of the Page, had its premiere at one of the Promenade Concerts on 6 October 1899.
She eventually married Nicholas Paramythioti (1871–1943) a businessman from Corfu, on 22 August 1903,[8] one of many lodgers at the house in Hampstead (17 Goldhurst Terrace) [9] that the family used to let rooms to. Around this time, she and Nicholas moved to France (where her two children were born, John in 1904 and Pamela in 1906), and she divided her time between France and Margate (where her parents had retired to and where they are both buried, having succumbed to the influenza epidemic, dying within a few days of each other in 1913).
She kept a diary spanning the years 1907 to 1918,[10] which she wrote as a sort of 'life-guidance manual' for her two children. These few entries give an insight into her opinions about music and composition.
24 October 1907 edit
“I’m afraid my composing days are practically over. I worked too hard once upon a time, & now I can only do very little without feeling my head spin round. And as regards the opera it really does not matter; these light things are usually written & composed by half a dozen different people; they have no consistency whatever, but nobody minds.”
21 March 1908 edit
“I have been filling up my time with composition I have from past songs in hand; because expenses are heavy & I want to help. I hope neither of my dears will want to take up music as a profession, by the way! Their Mummy should serve them as an awful warning. If you put aside prima donas, infant prodigies, & a very few composers who happen to be momentarily the sage, there is no profession worse paid; & certainly there are very few more injurious to the health.”
23 May 1908 edit
“All those things – hysterical religion, sentimental poetry, sad music – (of which I myself have written far too much!) all, as Ruskin says “waste your strength in artificial sorrow” – that strength which God gave you to bear your real troubles, to control your own nature, & to fight the battle of life.”
Daughter edit
Her daughter, Pamela described Amy as a committed pacifist and the obituaries in The Stage and The Vote announcing her death both report that "shortly before her death a jury of musicians and literary men in Paris had awarded her the prize, open to the world, for a song in honour of the 'Drapeau Bleu' - the ensign of the League of Nations" (forerunner to the United Nations).[11] The book, 'The Blind Horse of Corfu' a memoir of Amy's daughter, Pamela Morris (née Paramythioti) told to Anne Norrington, refers to Amy's composition "of a 'Song for Peace' which had apparently won an important prize."[12]
Works edit
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Horrocks composed music for orchestra, chamber ensemble, choral and solo voice. Some of her works have been recorded and issued on CD, including:
- Catherine Wilmers, Simon Marlow - A Cello Century Of British Women Composers Audio CD (22 August 2000) Quicksilva Records, ASIN: B00004U5FS
Copies of many of her compositions are held at the British Library. Selected works include (dates are dates of publication unless better dates are available):
Amoret. Song, the words by M. Byron, 1898
Another Spring. [Two-part song.] Words by C. Rossetti. Op. 18. No. 5, 1896
April Showers. [Two-part song.] Words by M. C. Gillington ... Op. 23. No. 2, 1895
Ashes of Roses (words by E. Goodall) and a Love Song of the 17th Century (words by Austin Dobson) ... With a Primrose (words by T. Carew ... ) and a Cradle Hymn (words from Kingsley's ♯Waterbabies'). [In 2 keys.], 1890
At Peep of Dawn. [Three-part song.] Words by C. Scollard, 1891
The Baby Child of Mary. Spanish Lullaby, etc., 1914
Berceuse. Op. 4. No. 1. [P. F.], 1890
The Bird and the Rose. Song, words by R. S. Hichens, 1895
- The bird and the rose for bass voice and orchestra, 1917
Bitter for sweet. [Two-part song.] Words by C. Rossetti. Op. 18. No. 3, 1895
The Blackbird. Two-Part Song for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment, the words by M. C. Gillington, 1905
Bloom, O my Rose. [Two-part song.] Words by W. S. Landor. Op. 18. No. 1, 1894
Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind. [Three-part song.] Words by Shakespeare, 1891
Bonnie wee Thing. Song, words by R. Burns, 1895
Child's Talk in April. [Duet for female voices.] Words by C. Rossetti, 1908
Christmas Carol. Words by J. Milton, 1893
Constant Love. Song, etc., 1890
Cottage Cradle Song. [Two-part song.] Words by M. Byron, 1908
- Country Dance, for cello & piano, Op. 17/2
Cradle Song and Scherzo à la Mazurka for violin and piano. Op. 12, 1893
The Cuckoo. [Duet for female voices.] Words by M. C. Gillington, 1905
The Daisy. Two-Part Song for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment, the words by Wordsworth, 1900
Dead Hope. [Two-part song.] Words by C. Rossetti, 1913
The Daisy Lullaby. [Two-part song.] Words by M. Byron, 1908
The Dancers. Two-Part Song for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment, the words by M. C. Gillington, 1905
A Dirge for the Year. Words by P. B. Shelley, 1893
The Discontented Bunny. Action Song, words by M. C. Gillington, 1911
The Dustman. Song, the words by M. Byron, 1904
Eight Variations on an original Theme for pianoforte, violin, viola and cello. Op. 11, 1893
Elfin Sleep Song [Three- part song], etc., 1899
The Fairy Cobbler. Two-Part Song for female voices, words by M. C. Gillington, 1898
The Fairy Thrall [Four-part song], etc., 1899
Forest Slumber Song. [Duet for female voices.] Words by M. C. Gillington, 1908
A Garden. Words by P. B. Shelley, 1893
Golden Eyes ... [Song.] The Words by A. Lang, 1899
Harebell Curfew. [Duet for female voices.] Words by M. Byron, 1899
Hill-Tops. [Two-part song.] Words by M. C. Gillington ... Op. 23. No. 3, 1895
The Hotspur. Song, the words by M. Byron, 1900
If I had a Court and Castle. Irish Love Song, words by M. C. Gillington, 1913
An Indian Lullaby. Song, words by M. Gillington, etc., 1899
An Indian Lullaby, etc., 1904
Irish Melody and Country Dance for violoncello and piano. Op. 17/1, 1894
July the Pedlar. Vocal Duet. Words by N. Hopper, 1899
Lady Moon. Song, the words by M. Byron, 1900
The Lady of Shalott, - Tennyson - ... with pianoforte accompaniment, 1899
The Lady of Shalott. Tennyson ... With musical accompaniment for Violin, Violoncello and Pianoforte, 1899
Love's Requiem. [Song.] Words by M. C. Gillington. [With violoncello obbligato.], 1894
A Lullaby, words by Mrs. G. Byron, 1895
Mayday Morn. [Duet for female voices.] Words by M. C. Gillington, 1905
A Midsummer Song. Words by M. Gillington. [In C minor and D minor.], 1891
My little House. Song, words by M. Byron, 1914
My Love is a slumb'ring Flower. Song, words by M. C. Gillington, 1913
My Love will ne'er forsake me. Irish Love Song, words by Mrs. G. Byron, 1895
The Night has a Thousand Eyes. Canon, words by F. W. Bourdillon, 1899
The Nightingale. Song. The Words by F. E. Weatherly, 1897
On a Nankin Plate. Song, words by A. Dobson, 1896
On the Pond. [Two-part song.] Words by F. Schloesser. Op. 18. No. 6, 1896
Philomel and the Aloe Flower. [Song.] Words by A. Webster, 1902
- Piano Trio in B♭, 1897
Picture Story Books. Action Song, words by M. C. Gillington, 1911
Prithee, Maiden. Song, words by S. Lever, 1896
Ragged Robin. [Two-part song.] Words by M. Byron, 1897
The Recompense. Song, the words by M. Byron. With Violoncello accompaniment, 1898
The Return of May. Choral Trio for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment. Words by Mrs. Hemans, 1886
The Return of May. Choral Trio for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment, etc., 1901
The Rigadoon. Song, words by M. Byron. [In D and F.], 1901
Rigaudon for Violin with Pianoforte accompaniment, 1900
A Romany Spring Song. The words by M. Byron, 1896
Rose-Song. Words by P. B. Marston, 1893
Says the Nightingale. [Duet for female voices.] Words by M. C. Gillington, 1905
The Season for Wooing. Song. Words by G. S. Aspinall, 1899
A Serenade. [Three-part song.] Words by H. M. Waithman, 1891
Sing Heigh-ho! Song. The words by C. Kingsley, etc., 1898
Six (Nine) Action Songs. Words and Actions by M. C. Gillington ... No. 1. A Birdie's Plans. No. 2. The Fan Folk. No. 3. The Sleep Fairy. No. 4. Dolly's Distress. No. 5. Impecunious. No. 6. The Beetle and the Dormouse. No. 7. The Flower Circus. No. 8. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. No. 9. The Butterfly's Wedding, 1902–04
Six Greek Love Songs, 1899
Six Pieces for piano ... (Op. 14.) No. 1. Boat-Song. No. 2. Minuet. No. 3. Romance. No. 4. Spinning-Song. No. 5. Waltz. No. 6. Mazurka, 1893
Six Songs. Op. 10, 1892
The Skylark's Wooing. [Two-part song.] Words by M. C. Gillington ... Op. 23. No. 1, 1895
Slumber Song of the Year. [Two-part song.] Words by M. Byron, 1897
- Sonata for cello and pianoforte, 1889
Sonata in G for Pianoforte and Violoncello. Op. 7, 1896
A Spanish Pastoral. Spanisches Schäferlied. [Song.] Words by M. Byron. Deutsche Uebersetzung von O. L. Sturm. [With flute obbligato.], 1899
A Spring Day. Words by Wordsworth, 1893
Spring in the Forest. Two-Part Song for female voices, with Pianoforte accompaniment, the words by M. Byron, 1899
Summer Changes. Words by P. B. Marston, 1895
A Summer Wish. [Two-part song.] Words by C. Rossetti, 1913
The Sun's the Heart of the Sky. [Song.] Words by A. Webster, 1902
Sweet Dreams. - Cradle Song. - [Duet for female voices.] The words by W. Blake, 1900
The Sweet Spring. [Duet for female voices.] Words by T. Nash, etc., 1904
A Tale of the Sea, and Valse. Two light pieces for the pianoforte, 1915
To Althea, from Prison ... [Song.] English words by R. Lovelace ... Deutsch von W. A. Kastner, 1900
To Music, to becalm his Fever. Words by R. Herrick, 1893
To Violets. Vocal Duet. Words by M. Byron, 1899
Tragedy. Two-Part Song for female voices, the words by M. C. Gillington, etc., 1898
Travellers' Tales. Action Song, words by M. C. Gillington, 1911
Trois Pièces faciles pour violon avec accompagnement de piano. Op. 34. 1. Barcarolle. 2. Élégie. 3. Masjurka, 1900
Twilight, - Rêverie - for Violoncello and Pianoforte ... Taken from ♯Songs for Children', 1901
Two Fairy Songs, for ... treble voices. 1. Elfin Sleep Song. 2. The Fairy Thrall. Words by M. C. Gillington. Op. 13, 1892
Two Lyrics ... No. 1. Forget-me-not ... No. 2. An Idle Poet. Words by H. Robertson, 1903
Waltz. Op. 4. No. 2. [P. F.], 1890
Weep you no more, sad Fountains. [Duet for female voices.] Words anonymous, etc., 1904
When Mortals are at Rest, etc., 1893
The Winds. A Cantata for treble voices, words by M. C. Gillington. Op. 22. (German words by W. Kastner), 1898
4 Songs ... [No. 1.] My Lady Wind. [No. 2.] The Shepherd. [No. 3.] The Babes in the Wood. [No. 4.] The Lamb, 1900
4 Songs ... [No. 1.] The Old Woman and her Broom. [No. 2.] Sleep, Baby, sleep. [No. 3.] Cock Robin's Serenade. [No. 4.] Up in the Morning early, 1900
4 Songs ... Voice Part in Tonic Sol-fa notation, etc., 1901
4 Songs. [No. 1.] The Flowers' Mother. [No. 2.] A Little Spring Song. [No. 3.] Queen Mab. [No. 4.] Adventure. [Words by M. C. Gillington and T. Hood.], 1904
6 Action Songs. The words by M. Gillington ... In Staff and Tonic Sol-fa Notation. [No. 1.] The Marching Host. [No. 2.] The Blue Room. [No. 3.] The Weathercock. [No. 4.] The Flowers' Frocks. [No. 5.] Old Jack Frost. [No. 6.] The Soldier's Return, 1901
Notes edit
- ^ Although frequently referred to in text books as Elsie, her birth certificate lists her name as Amy Eliza and her marriage certificate Amy Elise.
References edit
- ^ "Horrocks, A.E. (Amy Elsie) on VIAF". Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Modern Reprint of Obituary from The Etude". April 1920. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ An article in The Stage from Dec 18th 1919 regrets "to announce the death in Paris of Amy Elise Horrocks, the well-known song-writer"
- ^ An article in The Vote from Dec 19th 1919 regrets "to announce the death in Paris a few days ago of Amy Elise Horrocks"
- ^ Parish records for Kent, census returns and death certificates
- ^ Brown, James Duff; Stratton, Stephen Samuel (1897). British musical biography: a dictionary of musical artists, authors, and composers born in Britain and its colonies. p. 208.
- ^ Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (1994). The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393034875. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ Marriage certificate
- ^ Census returns 1881 and 1891
- ^ Copy in possession of her descendants
- ^ The Stage 18 Dec 1919
- ^ The Blind Horse of Corfu by Anne Norrington, published by Green Branch Press (2007)
- ^ "Amy Elise Horrocks was twice called to the platform after the first performance of her 'orchestral legend' Undine" (Henry J. Wood Maker of the Proms by Arthur Jacob, Methuen 1994).