Thomas Augustine Geary


Thomas Augustine Geary was an Irish composer, pianist and organist, with a precocious talent particularly in vocal and piano writing.

Biography

Geary's original first name was Timothy; it is presumed that he chose "Thomas Augustine" as artist's names in admiration for Thomas Augustine Arne. He was a choirboy and choral scholar at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, where he occasionally assisted the cathedral organist, Philip Cogan. In 1792, he performed a concerto by Dussek at a charity concert at the Rotunda, Dublin, at which one of his canzonets, Soft is the Zephyr's Breezy Wing, was also performed. According to W.H.G. Flood, Geary studied at Trinity College, Dublin, but there is no evidence for this claim. According to an 1818 source, "labouring under some depression of mind he rushed out of the house, and was found drowned in the canal". In Brian Boydell's opinion, "his premature death undoubtedly robbed Irish music of a sensitive and promising talent".

Music

Geary was the first Irish composer to systematically explore the form of popular airs or folktunes with variations, which were very much in demand at his time. He also excelled in vocal writing, impressing with remarkable maturity and sensitivity in word-setting and excellent piano accompaniments. Many of his songs and piano pieces were reprinted in London and the United States for decades after his early death.

Selected compositions

Vocal
  • The Forecastle-Sailor of the Guardian Frigate, Dublin: Hime
  • Ten Canzonets, Dublin: Edmund Lee
  • Six Canzonetts, London: J. Bland. Contains: The Silver Rain; Beauty Blooms on Ev'ry Thorn; Come, Gentle Zephyr; As t'Other Day; Go, Gentle Zephyr; Pity the Sorrows.
  • Geordie Jenkin, Dublin: McDonnell
  • Old Towler, quartet
  • Leven Water, a Scots Ballad, Dublin: B. Cooke
  • The Bonny Sailor, a Favourite New Scots Song. Dublin: Hime
  • The Bonny Sailor, with flute or guitar
  • The Thatch'd Cottage, a Favourite Pastoral, with flute or guitar, Dublin: Goughs
  • Free and Easy, Dublin: Francis Rhames
  • Soft is the Zephyr's Breezy Wing, duet, Dublin: Hime
  • Listen to the Voice of Love, glee for 4 voices, Dublin: McDonnell
  • The Glasses Sparkle on the Board, London: Goulding, Phipps & D'Almaine
  • Winsan Willy, an Admired Scots Ballad, Dublin: McDonnell
  • Henry to Laura, Dublin: Francis Rhames
  • Where Liffey Stream Meand'ring Flows, a Favourite Cantatina, Dublin: McDonnell
  • With Humble Pleasure, Lord, mixed chorus
Piano or harpsichord
  • Dicky Gossip arranged as a rondo, Dublin: B. Cooke
  • Amoret and Phillida, variations, Dublin: Hime
  • Norah Creena, Irish air arranged as a rondo, incl. flute or violin, London: Goulding, Phipps & D'Almaine
  • Henry's Cottage Maid, Dublin: John Lee, also Hime
  • Kiss Me Lady, favourite air with variations, incl. violin part Dublin: McDonnell
  • Variations on O Dear What Can the Matter Be?, Dublin: Hime
  • The Greenwich Pensioner, Dublin: Hime
  • See Brother See, the Favourite Bird Song in the Opera of "Children in the Wood", Dublin: Hime
  • Grand March in Blue Beard, with variations, Dublin: Hime
  • Aileen Aroon, air and variations
  • A New Ground with 24 Airs, Dublin: Francis Rhames
  • Col. Doyle's March, Dublin: B. Cooke
  • Duke of Bedford's March and Quickstep, with flute, Dublin: W. Power

Recordings

So far only one composition by Geary has been recorded on a commercial CD:Aileen Aroon, air and variations, performed by Una Hunt, on: RTÉ lyric fm CD 109.