JOHN THOMAS (1826-1913): Complete Duos for Harp and Piano, Vol. 1 - Souvenir du Nord, 3 Welsh Duets, Grand Duet in E Flat Minor. Duet on Subjects from Bizet’s “Carmen”, Beethoven/Thomas: Adelaide, Handel/Thomas: Gigue from Water Music, Suite No. 3, Gounod/Thomas: Marche solennelle.

Description: Harpist to Queen Victoria, this Welshman was also a prolific composer for his own instrument, writing works both for solo harp and for duos of two harps or harp and piano – a combination where the different sounds of the two instruments enhances the clarity of the texture. Thomas’ original works use the elegant Romantic style of his own day, but he often drew on Welsh folksong for his inspiration and also left a generous legacy of transcriptions, especially of operatic favorites. Duo Praxedis.