Hennessy, Swan

views updated

Hennessy, Swan

Hennessy, Swan, American composer; b. Rock-ford, 111., Nov. 24, 1866; d. Paris, Oct. 26, 1929. He was the son of an Irish-American settler. After studying general subjects at Oxford, and music in Germany, he traveled in Italy, France, and Ireland, eventually settling in Paris. He wrote about 70 compositions, several of which are derived from Irish folk melos; his technical equipment was thorough, and his idiom impressionistic. Among his Irish-inspired works are Petit trio celtique for Violin, Viola, and Cello, Rapsodie celtique for Violin and Piano, Rapsodie gaélique for Cello and Piano, Sonata in Irish Style for Violin and Piano, several piano albums “à la manière de…”, characteristic piano pieces in a humorous vein, such as Epigrammes d’un solitaire, Impressions humoristiques, etc., and 4 string quartets.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

More From encyclopedia.com