jmc's classics
Victor Herbert (1859-1924) was an Irish born composer in America. He is remembered mainly today for his "March of the Toys" From his operetta Babes in Toyland. Herbert was also a cellist and conductor. He wrote operettas and songs but he also wrote some orchestra music as including a string serenade and two cello concertos and other music for cello.
He is also remembered as a founder of the American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers. This is an organization that licenses performance rights for members works to venues, broadcasters and digital streamers. Among the other founders were Irving Berlin and several other people who I have not heard of. I have only become familiar with Herbert in recent months. In addition to being both a celloist and a conductor he was a prolific composer. Wikipedia says that he wrote by the two operas, 43 operettas, nine cello compositions and orchestra music. He wrote a String Serenade (Opus#12). It is not as famous as those by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak or Elgar. The first tow mentioned are more famous. His operas are not as popular. I don't know much about them. As I may have mentioned an operetta or "lite opera" is a shorter opera. It is not as serious as regular operas and often the plot is make believe. it often has spoken dialogue in it. This genre has been out of favor for decades now. Musicals are now popular. I have recently purchased a CD of Herbert's Serenade. It is played by the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim, conducted by Sebastian Tewinkle on the CPO label. I recomend this recording. it features two other of Herbert's compositions: Seven pieces for Cello and String Orchestra and Three pieces for String Orchestra. Both pieces do not have opus numbers. Maybe in the future Herbert's music will be more common throughout the year after the Christmas season. I would hope that it becomes more popular.
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