Potter, A(rchibald) J(ames)
Potter, A(rchibald) J(ames)
Potter, A(rchibald) J(ames) , Irish composer and teacher; b. Belfast, Sept. 22, 1918; d. Greystones, July 5, 1980. He received training under W. Vale at the choir school of All Saints, Margaret Street, in London (1929–33), D.G.A. Fox at Clifton Coll. in Bristol (1933–36), and Vaughan Williams at the Royal Coll. of Music in London (1936–38); later he took his D.Mus. at the Univ. of Dublin (1953). From 1955 to 1973 he was a prof, of composition at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. His output followed in the path of tradition and opted for Romantic qualities.
Works
DRAMATIC : Opera : Patrick, television opera (1962; RTE, March 17, 1965); The Wedding (1979; Dublin, June 8, 1981). Ballet : Careless Love (1959; Dublin, April 12, 1960); Caitlín Bhocht (1963; Radio Ireland, June 27, 1964). ORCH.: Overture to a Kitchen Comedy (1950); Rhapsody Under a High Sky (1950); Concerto da chiesa for Piano and Orch. (1952); Variations on a Popular Tune (1955); Phantasmoraggio (1956); Elegy for Clarinet, Harp, and Strings (1956); Caonie (Dirge; 1956); Finnegans Wake (1957; also for Concert Band); Fantasia Gaelach (1957); Fantasie Concertante for Violin, Cello, and Orch. (1959); Irish Rhapsody (1963); Caprice for Cello and Orch. (1964); Hunter’s Holiday for Horn and Orch. (1964); Sound the Sackbuts for 3 Trombones and Orch. (1965); Fantasie for Clarinet and Orch. (1965); Spanish Point for Guitar and Orch. (1965); Rapsóid Deireadh lae (Rhapsody for the End of the Day) for Violin and Orch. (1966); Concerto for Orchestra (Dublin, March 13, 1967); Concertino Bennio for Trumpet and Orch. (1967); Dance Fantasy (1967); Binneadán Bél for Horn and Orch. (1967); 2 syms.: No. 1, Sinfonia de Profundis (1968; Dublin, March 23, 1969) and No. 2 (1976; Springfield, Mass., Dec. 11, 1981); Madra Líath na Mara (Grey Dog of the Sea) for English Horn and Chamber Orch. (1977); Salala’s Castle for Winds and Percussion (1980). CHAMBER : String Quartet (1938); A House Full of Harpers for Irish Harp Ensemble and Concert Harp (1963); Arklow Quartet for Brass or Winds (1976–77). VOCAL : Hail Mary for Mezzosoprano, Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1966); The Cornet of Horse for Baritone, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1975); choruses; songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire