Fred Hartley

Fred Hartley (1905–1980) 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", "Twentieth Century Nocturne" and "Starry Night".

Birth and Death Data: Born 1905, Died 1980

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0EA7827 10-in. June 1939 Two Irish reels Alfredo Campoli Salon Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Gramophone 0EA7830 10-in. June 1939 Turkey in the straw Alfredo Campoli Salon Orchestra Orchestra arranger  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hartley, Fred," accessed November 13, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111432.

Hartley, Fred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111432.

"Hartley, Fred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 13 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111432

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