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Harry A. Harding : Two Egyptian Dances (1907)

543 views · Published 22 May 2015 · 4:53 · Indexed 26 October 2026

Channel: PSearPianist · 2015 · Music

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Phillip Sear plays two contrasting dances by the English composer, organist and schoolteacher Harry A. Harding (1855-1930).
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The Dance of Nekhbet; The Dance of Hathor ( 2:31 ).
From the incidental music to 'An Egyptian Cinderella; or, 
The Shoes of Rhodopis', a play for girls by Lilian Frances Purdon.
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(Alfred) Harry Harding (1855-1930) - he reversed his Christian names for professional purposes - was born in Salisbury, and began his musical career at 14 as accompanist to a travelling pantomime.  However, he abandoned the road to become organist to a parish church in Sidmouth, Devon at just 17.  He remained there for 16 years and somehow found time to gain a music doctorate at New College, Oxford in 1882.  He spent much of his subsequent life as a leading light in the musical life of Bedford.  He taught for 40 years at Bedford High School for Girls, and was also for many years organist at the parish church, and also the civic organist of the town.  Harding collaborated with a former classics teacher at his Bedford school, Lilian Purdon (c1870-1946), on two (or more) plays based on classical themes.  These two pieces come from his music to one of them, a retelling of the Cinderella tale set in ancient Egypt.  The music is not particularly Egyptian (the outer sections of the second piece sound Czech) but it is well written and enjoyable to play.  Both dances pay homage to Egyptian goddesses.  Nekhbet was mother of the divine aspect of the pharaoh; andHathor was the goddess of joy. love and motherhood.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk (Email:  [email protected]  
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