A centenary concert is being held on Friday to celebrate the life of a remarkable composer buried in Hampsthwaite.
Amy Woodforde-Finden’s music was much sought-after at the turn of the last century but her reputation fell into obscurity following her death in 1919.
Her Kashmiri Love Song inspired films, novels and even perfumes. Rudolph Valentino recorded the song in 1923.
A white marble recumbent memorial to Amy was unveiled in St Thomas a Becket Church on April 15, 1923. On the same day, the vicar’s daughter Geraldine Peck sang White Sentinels.
Amy’s marble memorial in Hampsthwaite
Thomas Flessenkaemper, the former director of music for the benefice of Hampsthwaite, Killinghall and Birstwith, returned to Hampsthwaite on Saturday for a re-enactment of the unveiling exactly 100 years on.
The German composer and pianist, who started the Amy Woodforde-Finden Music Festival last year before suddenly leaving his post, and soprano Tilly Eustace-Forrest performed while a wreath of white irises was placed on the tomb.
Saturday’s memorial event
Mr Flessenkaemper and the mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond will join local musicians to perform Amy’s songs in a concert at Hampsthwaite’s Memorial Hall on Friday.
The Kashmiri Love Song is among the songs on the programme.
The event will have the informal feel of an Edwardian soirée type event with wine and canapés at candle-lit tables. Tickets cost £8 and can be booked here.
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New music festival celebrates remarkable composer buried in Hampsthwaite
An ambitious new two-day music festival in a small Harrogate village began last night.
The Amy Woodforde-Finden Music Festival was created to promote a female composer who is buried in Hampsthwaite.
About 70 people attended a recital of her songs at St Thomas a Becket Church, featuring London mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond.
A guided tour of Amy’s Hampsthwaite this morning will be followed by a concluding concert this evening featuring two baritones and talented local musicians at St Thomas a Becket.
It is hoped the festival will become an annual event, promoting the work of Amy and other female composers, as well as engaging local artists and schools.
Amy’s music was much sought-after at the turn of the last century but her reputation fell into obscurity following her death in 1919.
Amy Woodforde-Finden’s tomb
Her tomb in St Thomas a Becket Church attracted little attention for a century until the German composer and pianist Thomas Flessenkaemper was appointed director of music for the benefice of Hampsthwaite, Killinghall and Birstwith.
Mr Flessenkaemper noticed the tomb during his interview for the role and when he took up the position he became curious. He said:
“I set out to track down this extraordinary artistic personality. I quickly realised that I had struck gold and read everything I could find about Amy Woodforde-Finden.”
He became “completely drunk on the colourfulness of her musical language” and set about establishing a festival to promote her work.
St Thomas a Becket Church last night
Mr Flessenkaemper accompanied Ms Hammond at last night’s recital, the highlight of which was Amy’s four-song Indian Love Lyrics.
The programme notes included a supportive quote from international pianist Stephen Hough, who said he “immediately fell in love with the alluring melodies, the exotic harmonies and the ultra-sentimental words” of Amy’s music.
A video set to Amy’s music featuring Hampsthwaite is available here.
Tickets for this evening’s concert are available here and at the church door tonight.
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New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village
A new music festival will be held in a Nidderdale village to celebrate the work of a famed Victorian composer.
St Thomas à Becket Parish Church in Hampsthwaite will host the two-day event after discovering Amy Woodforde-Finden was buried in its churchyard, with a marble monument created by sculptor George Wade.
Amy, who was born in Chile, died in 1919.
As well as two concerts featuring her music on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, the event will include a guided tour of ‘Amy’s Hampsthwaite’.
A spokesperson for the event said:
“Amy Woodforde-Finden’s success was particularly remarkable in the context of a male-dominated society, where women had no right to vote.
“Amy is best known for her set of Indian Love Lyrics. Her Kashmiri Song proved an instant and lasting hit and became one of the highest selling pieces of sheet music ever published at the time!
“Amy’s music perfectly captured the mood and morals of the time, and in recent years, her works have enjoyed a new appreciation, due to a revival and interest in neglected female composers.”
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The opening night will feature renowned soloist Patricia Hammond, who will travel from London to perform a song recital of Amy’s music.
Amy Woodforde-Finden
Patricia, who specialises in women composers of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, will be accompanied by the church’s director of music and mastermind of the inaugural festival, Thomas Flessenkaemper.
On the Saturday evening, members of the church will be joined by those from across the benefice of Felliscliffe, Killinghall and Birstwith, as well as local schoolchildren and musicians from the wider area.
They will perform a selection of pieces including Amy’s Pagoda of Flowers, which organisers believe is being recorded for the first time.
Tickets are available from the festival website at £12 for each concert or £20 for both. Concessions are £10 and children under 18 go free.