John Francis Larchet (13 July 1884 – 10 August 1967) was an Irish composer and teacher. He studied at Trinity College Dublin (MusB 1915, MusD 1917), also at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) with

Michele Esposito Michele Esposito (29 September 1855 – 19 November 1929) was an Italian composer, conductor and pianist who spent most of his professional life in Dublin, Ireland. Training Esposito was born at Castellamare di Stabia, near Sorrento. As a boy ...

. Larchet was music director at the

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...

from 1908 to 1935 and was therefore responsible for the stage music accompanying many of the pivotal plays of the

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, in particular those of William Butler Yeats, and also had his ballet ''Bluebeard'' performed there (in 1932), including the dancer

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. Although a prolific composer and arranger, his main contribution to Irish music was as a teacher: He taught harmony and counterpoint at the Royal Irish Academy of Music between 1920 and 1955 and was Professor of Music at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

between 1921 and 1958. Among his pupils were

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(1905–1987), Michael Bowles (1909–1998), Frederick May (1911–1985), Walter Beckett (1914–1996), Joan Trimble (1915–2000),

Brian Boydell Brian Patrick Boydell (17 March 1917 – 8 November 2000) was an Irish composer whose works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, and songs. He was Professor of Music at Trinity College Dublin for 20 years, founder of the Dowland Consort, con ...

(1917–2000), T.C. Kelly (1917–1985),

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(1917–1996),

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(1921–1995), and

Seóirse Bodley Seóirse Bodley (first name pronounced ; born 4 April 1933) is an Irish composer and former associate professor of music at University College Dublin (UCD). He was the first composer to become a Saoi of Aosdána, in 2008. Bodley is widely regarde ...

(b. 1933). Larchet was primarily a composer of miniatures and an arranger of Irish folksongs for classical ensembles. His arrangement (in 1954) of the Irish national anthem is the official version still in use today. His daughter, Sheila Larchet Cuthbert (b. 1923), is an Irish harpist and author. She published ''The Irish Harp Book: A Tutor and Companion'' (Dublin, 1975; 5/2004).

Selected works

Stage *''The Land of Heart's Desire'', incidental music to play by W. B. Yeats (date?) *''Deirdre of the Sorrows'', incidental music to play by W. B. Yeats (1907) *''The Spell'', incidental music to play by Bernard Duffy (c.1916) *''The Pipe in the Fields'', incidental music to play by T. C. Murray (c.1927) *''The Cat and the Moon'', incidental music to play by W. B. Yeats (1931) *''The Dreaming of the Bones'', incidental music to play by W. B. Yeats, scored for voice, flute and zither (1931)Published in Jacqueline Genet (ed.): ''"Words for Music Perhaps": le "new art" de Yeats'' / ''"Words for Music Perhaps": Yeats's "new art"'' (Villeneuve d'Ascq: Presses Universitaires du Septentrion, 2010), , p. 199–213. *''Bluebeard'', ballet (1932) Orchestral *''Lament for Youth'' (1939), published as 'Caoineadh na hÓige', Dublin: Oifig an tSoláthair, 1940 *''The Dirge of Ossian & MacAnanty's Reel'' (1940) for string orchestra, London: Goodwin & Tabb, 1943 *''Two Characteristic Pieces (based on traditional Irish Airs)'', London: Elkin & Co., 1952 *''Marcia, quasi Scherzo'' (1955), published as 'Máirseáil, de shórt Meidhréiseach', Dublin: Oifig Díolta Foilseachán Rialtais, n.d. *''By the Waters of Moyle'' (1957) Chamber music *''Irish Dance No. 1'' for violin & piano, London: Weekes & Co., 1911 *''Irish Airs'' for violin & piano, Dublin: Pigott & Co., c.1926 Choral *''The Legend of Lough Rea'' (text by 'Lageniensis'), London: Stainer & Bell, 1920 *''At the Mid-Hour of Night'' (Thomas Moore), arr. for satb, Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1923 *''Éamonn an Chnuich'' (trad.), arr. for ssaa; Dublin: Pigott & Co., c.1931 *''An Caitín Bán'' (trad.), arr., Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1934 *''An Spáilpín Fánach'' (trad.), arr., Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1935 *''Róisín Dubh'' (trad.), arr., Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1937 *''Peata an mhaoir'' (P. Breathnach), Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1953 *''

Sancti venite "" is a Latin language, Latin Eucharist (Catholic Church), Eucharistic hymn recorded in the Antiphonary of Bangor. History "" was composed at Bangor Abbey in the 7th century AD, making it the oldest known Eucharistic hymn. It was carried to Bobb ...

'' (Eoin McNeill) for satb, organ (1954) *''Ave Maria stella''. Motet (1957) *''Three Motets'' (1961) Songs *''In Sweet Humility'' (J. Taylor), London: Moore, Smith & Co., 1906 *''Love, and a Garden'' (H. Wyles), London: C. Woolhouse, 1906 *''Love's Question'' (H. Wyles), London: C. Woolhouse, 1906 *''The Philosophy of Love'' (

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), London: Boosey & Co., 1908 *''In Sweet Humility'' (Jane Taylor), London: Evans, 1910 *''Pádraic the Fiddiler'' (Pádraic Gregory) with violin obbl., London: Boosey & Co., 1919 *''An Ardglass Boat Song'' (Pádraic Gregory), London: Stainer & Bell, 1920 *''A Stóirin Bán'' (Pádraic Gregory), London: Boosey & Co., 1922 *''Sliabh na Mban'' (trad.), arr., Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1934 *''The Song of the Faery Child'' (1935) *''Diarmuid's Lament'' (Michael MacLiammóir), Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1937 *''The Stranger. An Old Gaelic Rune'' (anon.), London: Stainer & Bell, 1939 *''The Thief of the World'' (Francis A. Fahy), London: Boosey & Co., 1939 *''The Wee Boy in Bed'' (

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), London: Boosey & Co., 1943 *''The Cormorant'' (

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), London: Stainer & Bell, 1947 *''Wee Hughie'' (

), London: Stainer & Bell, 1947 *''The Castle of Dromore'' (

Harold Boulton Sir Harold Edwin Boulton, 2nd Baronet, (7 August 1859 – 1 June 1935), son of Sir Samuel Bagster Boulton, 1st Baronet of Copped Hall, born in Charlton then part of Kent, was an English baronet, songwriter and philanthropist, most famously author ...

), Dublin: Pigott & Co., 1949 *''The Small Black Rose'' (Donal O'Sullivan) (1955) for voice and harp, Cork: Mercier Press, 1975 *''Gleann Beag Lághach an Cheoil'' ('Torna'), Dublin: Pigott & Co., n.d.

Recordings

* ''The Dirge of Ossian & MacAnanty's Reel'': Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra, cond. Milan Horvat, on Decca DL 9844 (LP, 1956). *'' Peata an Mhaoir'': RTÉ Singers, cond. Hans Waldemar Rosen, on Harmonia Mundi HMS 30691 (LP, 1965). * ''Wee Hughie'': Bernadette Greevy (Mez) & Jeannie Reddin (pf), on Argo ZRG 5459 (LP, 1966). * ''The Stranger'': Mary Hegarty (S), Ingrid Surgenor (pf), on: ASV CD WHL 2091 (CD, 1994). * ''By the Waters of Moyle'': RTÉ Sinfonietta, cond. Proinnséas Ó Duinn, on Marco Polo 8.223804 (CD, 1996). * ''The Dirge of Ossian & MacAnanty's Reel'': Irish Chamber Orchestra, cond. Fionnuala Hunt, on: Black Box Music BBM 1003 (CD, 1997). * ''Pádraic the Fiddiler'', ''An Ardglass Boat Song'', ''A Stóirin Bán'', ''The Wee Boy in Bed'', ''Wee Hughie'': Bernadette Greevy (Mez) & Hugh Tinney (pf), on ''A Sheaf of Songs from Ireland''. Marco Polo 8.225098 (CD, 1998). * ''Lament for Youth'' (in a band arrangement by

Fritz Brase Friedrich Wilhelm Anton Brase, known as Fritz Brase (; 4 May 1875 – 1 December 1940), was a German military bandmaster, conductor, and composer who was mainly active in Dublin, Ireland, as leader of the first Army School of Music in the Iri ...

), performed by Band of the Defence Forces School of Music, Mark Armstrong (cond.), on: RTÉ lyric fm CD 153 (CD, 2016). * ''The Philosophy of Love''; ''In Sweet Humility''; ''Love's Question''; ''Love and a Garden''; ''Pádraic the Fiddiler''; ''An Ardglass Boat Song''; ''Irish Airs'', Vol. 1 ''A Stóirin Bán''; ''The Bard of Armagh''; ''The Song of the Faery Child''; ''Diardmuid's Lament''; ''The Thief of the World''; ''Irish Airs'', Vol. 2; ''The Stranger''; ''The Wee Boy in Bed''; ''The Cormorant''; ''Wee Hughie''; ''The Small Black Rose'': Raphaela Mangan (Mez), Gavan Ring (Bar), Mia Cooper (vn), Verity Simmons (vc), Niall Kinsella (pf), on: Champs Hill Records CHR CD 151 (CD, 2020).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larchet, John Francis 1884 births 1967 deaths 20th-century classical composers 20th-century conductors (music) Academics of University College Dublin Alumni of the Royal Irish Academy of Music Ballet composers British ballet composers Irish classical composers Irish conductors (music) Irish music arrangers Irish songwriters Musicians from Dublin (city)