He was an organist and composer born in London, England, who completed his education at the Royal College of Music under Charles Viliers Stanford and Oxford University. Following his graduation he became an organist at Emmanuel Church, West Hampstead, London for the period 1906 to 1911.
5 years later he would go to St. Michael’s, Cornhill, London, in 1916 and there he would remain as an organist for the next 50 years, giving 1,833 concerts, with his only break in service there being in 1941 when he went to King’s College, Cambridge, as the Director of Music to become Boris Ord’s deputy.
In 1919 he became the founder of Saint Michael’s Singers and conducted them until 1966 in their renditions of many choral pieces and works by new composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells.
He wrote many compositions for organ and choral singing and settings of texts of the Anglican liturgy including Magnificat and Nunc Dimitus and his “Cradle Song” is a setting of the popular hymn “Away in a Manger”. His best-known and most popular work is his setting for “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rosetti.
He died in Cambridge, England, when he was 88 years old.
In the Bleak Mid-Winter recordings
Kings College Choir, Cambridge
London 444 848 (CD: Noel – Christmas at King’s)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Away in a Manger recordings
Kings College Choir, Cambridge
London 444 848 (CD: Noel – Christmas at King’s)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Darke
- http://www.thorpemusic.com/darke002.html
- http://www.stainer.co.uk/darke.html
- http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Darke-Harold.htm