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Thomas M. M. Hemy
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My purpose in these pages is to assemble such
data as I can about Thomas M. M. Hemy, the artist. And really nothing else. BUT, when one searches for 'Hemy' one cannot
help but see the many references to Henri F. (Frederick), (1818-1888), the artist's father. He clearly was very famous
indeed for his achievements in the field of music. I am really not qualified to talk of those accomplishments in any
way at all, but he would seem to have had a distinguished musical career to
have been a pianist of great distinction. He wrote many hymns used, maybe to this very day, in the Catholic Church.
He wrote too, what seems to have been
THE definitive tutor of its time for assisting young people to learn the piano.
Now my own mother was a very fine pianist
indeed, for most of her lifetime at least, until arthritis made it impossible
for her to play. She had
ambitions for the concert stage before she married my father & family matters
became of greater priority. But it is sobering to
me to think that she may very well have learned how first to play the piano via this very
'Hemy' tutor.
I found a copy of that instructional work at a sale near
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It is by no means a first edition, in fact far
from it, being a 1907 edition. (The first edition was published way back in 1858
- but read below that date is probably correctly 1855 - with
a great many later editions) But my copy does seem to be complete even though the condition could be better. In the front of the book,
Henri talks of nearly 300,000 copies
of the tutor having been sold by early 1879. A major achievement today, let alone 130 years ago!
A listing on e-Bay in April/May 2003 seems to suggest that the work was reissued in the 1960s by
Paxton. It would seem that the book is still 'state-of-the-art', musically speaking!
Anyway, here is the cover of my copy of the tutor and
its lead page.
And here, at left below, is another Hemy tutor, 'Hemy's Scale and Arpeggio
Manual', for your interest. It was, I learn, a supplementary course to the above tutor 'with extended five-finger
exercises and melodic studies'. It was edited by G. H. Clutsam & published by Metzler & Co (1909) Ltd. in London, England.
And at right, 'Hemy's Popular Melodies', published by Metzler & Co (1909)
Limited in London. An e-Bay item in Aug.
2009. Which sold for GBP 11.50 or approx U.S. $18.76. I have no more knowledge
about the item than what you can see.
Henri Hemy had his own band, though not, I am sure, a band
like today's bands! Hemy & Watson's Band. Here is 'True Love Waltz', a waltz that Henri Hemy both wrote
&
performed with that band! It was an eBay
item in late Jan. 2007.
Described as follows: "This beautiful, late 19th century sheet, is dedicated to Mrs. Edward Potter, Cramlington House. Music is "True Love Waltz," composed and arranged by Henri F.
Hemy, London. Music was performed at the "Balls of the nobility & gentry" by
Hemy & Watson's Band. It appears that the lithography was done by Stannard
& Dixon. There are 9 pages of music. Sheet measures 9 1/2" x 13 1/2."
I read that Henry F. Hemy, was born on Nov. 12, 1818, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He died
on Jun. 10, 1888, at Hartlepool, & was buried at St. Andrew’s, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, all in England, of course.
Now there used to be data about Henry Hemy (or maybe 'Henri')
on a 'British Library' web site that closed at the end of Mar. 2007. But the data it
contained about Henry F. Hemy survives, on this very page at least. With text as follows.
HENRY F.
HEMY (1818 - 1888)
Hemy's father, Henri Hemy
(1780-1859) was born in Germany. He volunteered for service as a military
musician with the Duke of Buccleuch and came to England in 1797. He married
Nancy Napier and chose Newcastle as his place of residence, evidently at 17
Eldon Place. There he taught the flute to the local gentry and many local bands.
He eventually emigrated to Australia in 1852 with his brothers and sisters.
His son Henry (sometimes spelled Henri) Frederick Hemy became a celebrated
musician in the North East. He had spent time at sea as a young man, and
emigrated to Australia in 1850 with his family. Unable to make his way
satisfactorily as a musician in Melbourne, he returned to Newcastle, where he
resided on Northumberland Street for some eight years. He later lived in
Gateshead and North Shields, before becoming Professor of Music at the famous
Ushaw College. He had long been a Catholic convert. His many hymns include the
tune 'Stella', and he may have originated the tune we know as 'Jingle Bells'.
Hemy's works, including waltzes, galops, quadrilles and polkas, often with local
names, fill two pages of the British Library catalogue of printed music. He also
wrote a famous pianoforte tutor in 1855. He was pianist to Lord Ravensworth for
many years and his orchestra played at all the fashionable venues in the region,
including Alnwick Castle. Like his father, he was a member of the Theatre Royal
orchestra, and possessed a fine baritone voice.
Hemy wrote entertainingly in
the local press of his days in the band (particularly in the Newcastle Chronicle) on the occasion of
the golden jubilee of the Theatre Royal. Hemy was also active in local politics
and published a manifesto in the Shields
Daily News of 3 September 1872, after failing to be elected for the
Tynemouth ward. He was aggrieved at his opponents' use of professional
canvassers. Hemy's proposals testify to his humanity and public spirit.
He
died at his home in Hartlepool and was buried in St Andrew's cemetery in
Newcastle. Eight sons survived Hemy, of whom Henri Christopher (1854-1934) of
Lovaine Place, North Shields, was a musician and composer, as was Oswin Bede
Hemy (1855-1916). The famous marine painter Charles Napier Hemy (1841-1917) was
another. Thomas Hemy (1852-1937), also a marine painter, was well-known for his
'Women and Children First', alluding to the heroic troops and crew aboard the
Birkenhead in 1852. He also
painted the Mauretania leaving
the Tyne on her maiden voyage.
In Oct. 2009, Anthony Hemy kindly advised the webmaster of a publication of the
North Tyneside Council, Heritage and Museums. Issue No. 5 of December/January
2008/9. Which contains a page of data re the Hemy family with especial emphasis on Henry
F. Hemy. You can see that publication as a 'pdf' file
here,
& are specifically directed to page 8.
OBITUARY NOTICE RE HENRI OR HENRY HEMY
A guestbook message was kindly received in May 2010 from Mr. Grenville Davies. Who seeing where I live - in Toronto, Canada - advises that he lives 23.9 miles east of Toronto and 26.4 miles south east of Quebec! I have been able to spot
'Quebec'
on my British Road Map, located west of the cathedral city of Durham. And while
'Toronto' is not on my map, it is located, I see, just north West of Bishop Auckland.
So both are County of Durham place names & Grenville lives in Hartlepool.
Grenville
has kindly provided the following text about Henry or Henri Hemy, from the
'South Durham Herald', of West Hartlepool, dated Jun. 16,
1888 (a text with capital letters is below):-
death of henri hemy
to
those who were personally acquainted with him, and indeed the whole musical
community at large, the announcement of the death of mr henry hemy, the
composer, will come with painful suddenness. the sad event occurred unexpectedly
shortly before six o'clock on sunday, at his residence, 10 regent street,
hartlepool, in which town he has resided for the past three years, having
removed from newcastle, where most of his masterpieces were composed. deceased,
who was in his 70th year of his age, and of exceedingly unostentatious habits,
has composed during his lifetime several important works, notably among which we
may mention the revised service for the catholic church, "the crown of jesus",
"the royal modern pianoforte tutor", and "hemy's vocal school". nearly the whole
of longfellow's works were set to music by him, and he was engaged upon "the
history of the organ", the completion of which he has not been spaed to see.
deceased, who, besides being pianist to the earl of ravensworth was
musical instructor of ushaw college, and leaves a grown-up family, several of
his sons occupying high positions in the musical and artistic world. the funeral
early on thursday, the coffin containing the remains of the late mr henri hemy
was removed from his late residence, 10 regent street, hartlepool, to st mary's
catholic church. in that sacred edifice a solemn requiem mass was said, the
celebrant being the reverend father buckley. the reverend father van hoof and
children attending the catholic schools were also present, and the church was
quite filled with townspeople desirous of showing sympathy for the bereaved
friends. as has already been stated in these columns, the composer. who was in
his 70th year, died somewhat suddenly from an attack of pneumonia on sunday
last. at the conclusion of the service the coffin was conveyed to the station
and thence removed to newcastle by rail, where the interment will take place in
the moor edge cemetery. on the 10th inst., at 10 regent street, hartlepool (from
pneumonia), henri f hemy, aged 69 years. the principal mourners were messrs alfred hemy, c napier hemy, and wilfrid hemy,
sons of deceased; mrs oswald and mrs alfred hemy, and messrs a and w hardy,
nephews of deceased.
And here, with capital letters added by the Webmaster, on a best efforts basis:-
Death of Henri Hemy
To
those who were personally acquainted with him, and indeed the whole musical
community at large, the announcement of the death of Mr. Henry Hemy, the
composer, will come with painful suddenness. The sad event occurred unexpectedly
shortly before six o'clock on Sunday, at his residence, 10 Regent Street, Hartlepool, in which town he has resided for the past three years, having
removed from Newcastle, where most of his masterpieces were composed. Deceased,
who was in his 70th year of his age, and of exceedingly unostentatious habits,
has composed during his lifetime several important works, notably among which we
may mention the revised service for the Catholic Church, "The Crown of Jesus",
"The Royal Modern Pianoforte Tutor", and "Hemy's Vocal School". Nearly the whole
of Longfellow's works were set to music by him, and he was engaged upon "The
History of the Organ", the completion of which he has not been spared to see.
Deceased, who, besides being pianist to the Earl of Ravensworth was
musical instructor of Ushaw College, and leaves a grown-up family, several of
his sons occupying high positions in the musical and artistic world. The funeral
early on Thursday, the coffin containing the remains of the late Mr. Henri Hemy
was removed from his late residence, 10 Regent Street, Hartlepool, to St. Mary's
Catholic Church. In that sacred edifice a solemn requiem mass was said, the
celebrant being The Reverend Father Buckley. The Reverend Father Van Hoof and
children attending the Catholic Schools were also present, and the church was
quite filled with townspeople desirous of showing sympathy for the bereaved
friends. As has already been stated in these columns, the composer. who was in
his 70th year, died somewhat suddenly from an attack of pneumonia on Sunday
last. At the conclusion of the service the coffin was conveyed to the station
and thence removed to Newcastle by rail, where the interment will take place in
the Moor Edge Cemetery. On the 10th inst., at 10 Regent Street, Hartlepool (from
pneumonia), Henri F. Hemy, aged 69 years. The principal mourners were Messrs Alfred
Hemy, C. Napier Hemy, and Wilfrid Hemy,
sons of deceased; Mrs Oswald and Mrs Alfred Hemy, and Messrs A. and W. Hardy,
nephews of deceased.
And the following from the Northern Daily Mail, of
West Hartlepool, dated i) Dec. 11, 1911 & ii) Nov. 8, 1921.
i) hemy on december 11th, at 13 milton street, laura letitia, dearly beloved
wife of oswin b hemy. interred wednesday 2-30.
ii) hemy on the 7th
inst., at 34 york road, isabella, dearly beloved wife of herbert william hemy,
and daughter of the late william and elizabeth hildreth. cortege leaves above
address on friday at 9-45 for requiem mass at st joseph's church.
Again with capital letters added by the Webmaster, on a best efforts basis:-
i)
Hemy on December 11th, at 13 Milton Street, Laura Letitia, dearly beloved
wife of Oswin B. Hemy. Interred Wednesday 2-30.
ii) Hemy on the 7th
inst., at 34 York Road, Isabella, dearly beloved wife of Herbert William Hemy,
and daughter of the late William and Elizabeth Hildreth. Cortege leaves above
address on Friday at 9-45 for requiem mass at St. Joseph's Church.
In a guestbook message, Julian Hardiment tells us
that Bing Crosby recorded a song set to Henri Frederick's music.
Thomas M. M. Hemy
datapages
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03 are now on site. Plus all
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