Many Victorian english musicians held positions as organists and Clarke was no exception, starting out in Dublin and then in London (1871), succeeding Arthur Sullivan as organist at St Peter's, South Kensington. At this time he started writing symphonies, operas and incidental music for the theatre. Sadly his symphonic works seem to be now lost save the third entitled Sinfonia da Camera.
Clarke was a close associate of Sullivan arranging musical selections from many of his operas.
Failing eyesight forced his retirement from musical life in 1901. He later suffered increasing mental health problems and died at Banstead Asylum, London. There are no recordings of any of his huge output of works.
Overture to Hamlet - 1884
Composed for a production of the play at the Lyceum Theatre, London, his has come down to us as a two piano reduction but I have orchestrated samples from it.
The Hamlet overture is highly episodic in structure as might be expected for a non operatic overture. The slow introduction begins and after a dramtic opening statement we hear a falling chomatic phrase on the strings which builds up to a passionate climax.
The pace picks up in the shape of an Allegro Agitato.
SAMPLE: Hamlet - start
A calmer central section for woodwind with string accompaniment is followed by a return to the main allegro theme heard now on full fortissimo brass.
A short fanfare passage quickly subsides to a 'morendo' ending as the curtain rises.
