I wear this distinguished connection lightly, but I am in fact the great-grand-niece of Carl Hemann – ‘Barnsley’s leading composer of music’ according to his obituary in the Barnsley Chronicle of January 1930*. A church organist all his life, his real name was John Thomas Biltcliffe but he wrote under the name of Carl Hemann as ‘English people and other nationalities took more notice of a piece when it was under a German composer’s name’.
Perhaps his best known work is Carl Hemann’s First Six Months at the Pianoforte which sold all over the world, and is still (amazingly) in print, and still a fine introduction to the repertoire of the Victorian family soiree. Long evenings trawling ebay and the Amazon Used listings have provided me with further works from his considerable oeuvre of over 100 solos and studies.
Below is a typical example of his less demanding compositions for the salon. Note the economy of musical material, and use of slow harmonic progression and repetitive motifs, arguably anticipating Philip Glass by almost a century.
Carl Hemann’s most popular piece was entitled British Cavalry – Grand-Galop de Concert. To this tune (according to the Barnsley Chronicle) generations of Barnsley children marched into school every day. Modern children sadly do not have this privilege. So to stimulate a revival of interest in my great-grand-uncle’s neglected music, I offer below a charming morceau de concert, Laughing Waters, recorded by world-renowned pianist John Lenehan, as a FREE DOWNLOAD for readers of this blog. Just click to play:
*For my overseas readers I should explain that Barnsley is a small-ish town in Yorkshire, England, built on now-defunct heavy industries such as coal mining – but still ‘a lively shopping and social hub’ according to the Welcome to Yorkshire website. Other celebrities from Barnsley include chat show host Michael Parkinson, and Arthur Scargill, NUM leader, who crossed swords with Margaret Thatcher in the miners’ strike of 1984.
John Lenehan is of course one of Britain’s finest pianists and it was awfully good of him to bend his talents to such inconsequential stuff. He can normally be found accompanying the likes of Kennedy, Tasmin Little, and John Harle, or playing with leading orchestras in concert halls around the world. His solo recordings include Nyman, Satie, John Ireland, and his recitals often include film projection and jazz repertoire. With the London Soloists Ensemble he is about to commence a residency at St John’s Smith Square, London. For more about John visit his website. He retains copyright in the recording, by the way.
Thank you St Edward’s Church, Barnsley for sending me the obituary of John Biltcliffe and the splendid portrait.
Mr Hemann’s interest in the British armed forces extends further to a piano duet entitled “The British Yeomanry” – a signed copy of which I am fortunate to own.
Dedicated to his sister “with the composer’s kindest regards” and dated April 1915, it has a surprising rumbustious style considering the fate of the soldiers in the trenches at that time.
Part of the cover, with the composer’s dedication can be seen here:
http://www.richardsemmens.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hemann-cover.jpg
Thanks Richard! Can’t help noticing that the ‘British Yeomanry’ look remarkably like Canadian Mounties, but maybe the art department wasn’t so fussy in those days
Mr. Biltcliffe’s works are still being played at our church in the US. by our bell choirs. We will be performing Cubley Brook once again on April 26, 2015 on our spring program. Lots of fun. Thanks for the information on this site. I have learned much.
I loved the performances on YouTube! What concentration. Thanks for telling me about them. Morwenna
Interesting. I’m a member of the Ecclesfield Handbell Ringers, based just outside Sheffield. One of our first conductors, dating back to the early 20th Century, was a Mr Biltcliffe, who came from Thurlstone, near Barnsley. Our understanding was that this Biltcliffe wrote Cubley Brook for us as he would walk past it on his way from Thurlstone to Ecclesfield for practices. Indeed, we believe we have the original manuscript in our archives somewhere.
Given the (rather surprising) number of musical Biltcliffes from Barnsley, are these one and the same? Or part of the same family?
John Thomas’s piano music is a pleasure to play. As a Biltcliffe, I included his Theme and Variations on “Sun of My Soul” in a double CD I recorded in 2013.
John Thomas’s son, C H C Biltcliffe, was also a distinguished organist. He was the Sheffield City Hall organist for many years in the 1930s and 1940s. It was from that venue that he broadcast, very regularly, on both the National Programme Daventry and the BBC Home Service. He had half-hour slots at lunchtimes.
A pleasure to hear from another Biltcliffe! Morwenna
To the great granddaughter of Carl Hemann, how delighted I am to read about Carl, since the age of 9 years I have treasured my copy of The first six months at the pianoforte. Price at the time 3/6p. I am now 78 and my tatie copy has moved everywhere with me. I have never progressed beyond it and do not want to, I love this book so much. Was there a follow on book? Is it possible to find another copy of the one I have, because mine is very fragile.
I happened to come across the reference in the Lady Organist to C H C Biltcliffe, son of John Thomas (aka Carl Hemann). He was indeed an accomplished organist whose career lasted for several decades. Apart from his many performances in Sheffield City Hall, he was also organist and choirmaster of St Augustine’s Church where my father was vicar in the 1930s. When I was born Mr Biltcliffe became my godfather. We left Sheffield soon after but returned some years later and I joined the choir where he was still in charge in the1950s. Now 84 , I enjoy my breakfast cereals every morning with a silver spoon given me by Mr Biltcliffe at my christening.
That’s marvellous to hear David, and I will pass this on to my family who still live in the Sheffield area who will be delighted to add this story to our own family history. Thank you! Morwenna