Thomas: All Duos for Harp and Piano

The Welsh composer John Thomas (1826–1913), harpist to Queen Victoria, composed numerous works for his own instrument, both for solo harp and for duets for two harps or harp and piano – a combination in which the different sounds of the two instruments emphasize the clarity of the texture. Thomas' original works are written in the elegant romantic style of his time, but he was often inspired by Welsh folk songs and left a rich legacy of transcriptions, especially of popular opera arias. Although some of his works were intended for the Victorian salon, other pieces require a virtuoso technique – and all are characterized by an exceptionally captivating melodic quality. The present collection is a complete edition of Thomas' duos for harp and piano and contains several first recordings. The Duo Praxedis recorded these compositions. The musicians have a discography of over 20 albums, have received numerous awards, and regularly perform concerts in Europe and the USA.