Victor August Herbert was born in Dublin, Ireland on 1 February 1859, and died in New York, New York, on 26 May 1924, at the age of 65. His parents were Edward Herbert (?-1861) and Fanny Lover. She later married Dr. Carl Schmidt of Langenargen, Germany. Herbert was a grandson of the Irish novelist, playwright and composer Samuel Lover (Feb. 1797 - 6 July 1868). Herbert was trained by Max Seifriz in Germany, at the Stuttgart Conservatory in 1876. In 1886, he married the Viennese opera soprano singer Therese Foerster. They had two children, Ella and Gilbert. He played cello and also was a bandmaster and conductor. He was co-founder of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), serving as vice president for a decade. Of particular merit worth mentioning are the efforts of the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project. A summary of his complete works by category follows:
|
OPERAS | ||
Year | Title | Libretto |
---|---|---|
1900 | Natoma (three acts) published separately: In My Dreams When the Sunlight Dies (Serenade) Vaquero's Song I List the Trill in Golden Throat Beware of the Hawk, My Baby (Indian Lullaby) [lyrics] Four Dances (No. 1, Habanera; No. 2, Minuet; No. 3, Panuelo; and No. 4, Dagger Dance) | Joseph D. Redding |
1914 | Madeleine (one act) | Grant Stewart (adapted from the French of Decourcelles and Thibaut) |
OPERETTAS | ||
Year | Title | Book/Lyrics |
---|---|---|
1894 | Prince Ananias [2 acts] | Francis Neilson, 1867-1961; +Fred Dixon |
1895 | The Wizard of the Nile [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1896 | The Gold Bug | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
1897 | The Idol's Eye [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
The Serenade [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 | |
1898 | The Fortune Teller [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1899 | The Singing Girl [3 acts] | Stanislaus Stange; Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
Cyrano de Bergerac [3 acts] | Stuart Reed; Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 | |
The Ameer [3 acts] | Frederic Rancken and Kirke La Shelle | |
1900 | The Viceroy [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1903 | Babette [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
Babes in Toyland [3 acts] [musical extravaganza] | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924; +Vincent Bryan, +Charles Noel Douglas | |
1905 | Mlle. Modiste [2 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
It Happened in Nordland [prologue and 2 acts] | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 | |
Miss Dolly Dollars [2 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 | |
Wonderland [3 acts] [musical extravaganza] [aka Alice and the Eight Princesses] | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 [based on Aice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll, and The Dancing Princess, by the Brothers Grimm]; +Vincent Bryan | |
1906 | The Red Mill [2 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
Dream City [2 acts] [always presented with The Magic Knight] | Edgar Smith | |
The Magic Knight [1 act] | Edgar Smith | |
1907 | The Tattooed Man [2 acts] | A. N. C. Fowler and Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1908 | The Prima Donna [2 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
Little Nemo [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 [founded on the cartoon by Winsor MacKay] | |
1909 | The Rose of Algeria [2 acts] | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
Old Dutch | Edgar Smith (adapted from the German); George V. Hobart | |
1910 | Naughty Marietta [2 acts] | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
When Sweet Sixteen [2 acts] | George V. Hobart | |
1911 | The Enchantress [2 acts] | Fred de Gesac and Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
The Duchess [3 acts] (aka Mlle. Rosita) | Joseph Herbert and Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 | |
1912 | The Lady of the Slipper [3 acts] | Ann Caldwell, Lawrence McCarty; James O'Dea |
1913 | The Madcap Duchess [2 acts] | David Stevens and Justin Huntly McCarthy |
Sweethearts [2 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936, and Fred de Gesac; Rober Bach Smith | |
1914 | The Debutante [2 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936; Robert Bache Smith, 1875-1951 |
The Only Girl [3 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 [adapted from Frank Mandel's play Our Wives (a comedy)] | |
1915 | The Princess Pat [3 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
1917 | Eileen [3 acts] (aka The Hearts of Erin) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
Her Regiment [3 acts] | William LeBaron | |
1919 | The Velvet Lady [3 acts] | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
Angel Face [3 acts] | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936; Robert Bache Smith | |
My Golden Girl [2 acts] | Frederic Arnold Kummer | |
1920 | The Girl in the Spotlight [2 acts] | Harry Bache Smith; Robert Bache Smith |
Oui Madame | G. M. Wright and Robert Bache Smith; Robert Bache Smith | |
1922 | Orange Blossoms | Fred de Gesac (based on his play The Marriage of Kitty); B. G. (Buddy) DeSylva |
1924 | Dream Girl | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 (adapted from The Road to Yesterday) |
SKETCHES | ||
Year | Title | Words |
---|---|---|
1908 | Miss Camille (written for the Lambs) | George V. Hobart |
19?? | Songbirds (written for the Lambs) | George V. Hobart |
INCENDENTAL MUSIC TO STAGE PRODUCTIONS OF OTHERS | ||
Year | Title | Words |
---|---|---|
1905 | Cinderella Man (a play)
| Edwards Childs Carpenter |
1916 | The Century Girl
Henry Blossom | |
1917 | Zeigfield Follies of 1917
| Gene Buck |
1919 | The Dream Song (a play)
| Edward Locke |
1920 | Zeigfield Follies of 1920
| Gene Buck |
1921 | Zeigfield Follies of 1921
| Gene Buck |
1922 | Zeigfield Follies of 1922
| Gene Buck |
1923 | Zeigfield Follies of 1923
| Gene Buck |
1924 | The Willow Plate (five numbers from A Chinese Shadowgraph. marionette play by Tony Sarg. For piano.) | none |
19?? | Sally
| none |
COMPOSITIONS FOR ORCHESTRA | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1916 | The Fall of a Nation which contains the following, separately published:
|
1916 | A Love Sonnet |
1898 | American Fantasia |
1895 | Belle of Pittsburg March |
???? | Cannibal Dance |
???? | Cosmopolitan March |
1925 | Danse Baroque |
1909 | Excerpts from Old Dutch (arranged for orchestra by William Christopher O'Hare) |
1935 | Festival March (contains Auld Lang Syne theme) |
1895 | Gate City March |
1897 | Inauguration March |
1919 | Indian Summer |
???? | Ocean Breezes |
???? | Persian Dance |
???? | Persian March |
1925 | Souvenir (Romanze) |
1924 | Suite of Serenades (for Jazz Orchestra, in 4 movements: Spanish, Chinese, Cuban, and Oriental) |
1901 | Suite Romantique, Opus 31 (in 4 movements: Visions; Aubade; Triomphe d'Amour; Fete Nuptial) |
???? | The Jester's Serenade |
1940 | Western Overture |
1901 | Woodland Fancies, Opus 34 (Suite in 4 movements: Morning of the Mountains; Forest Sylphs; Twilight; Autumn Frolics) |
1900 | Yesterthoughts (Arrangement for orchestra, from composition for piano. |
COMPOSITIONS FOR SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1910 | Irish Rhapsody |
1900 | Hero and Leander, Opus 33 (Symphonic poem) |
1895 | Badinage |
1903 | Columbus Suite, Opus 35 |
1938 | Dramatic Overture |
1939 | Golden Days Overture |
COMPOSITIONS FOR STRING ORCHESTRA | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1912 | Air de Ballet |
1889 | Serenade for String Orchestra, Opus 12, No. 4 |
???? | Forget-me-not |
1922 | Sunset |
ORCHESTRA ARRANGEMENTS OF WORKS OF OTHER COMPOSERS | ||
Year | Title | Composer |
---|---|---|
???? | At Dawning | Charles Wakefield Cadman |
???? | Kamenoi Ostrow | Anton Rubinstein |
???? | Land of the Sky-Blue Waters | Charles Wakefield Cadman |
???? | Love's Dream (Liebestraum) | Franz Liszt |
???? | Narcissus | Ethelbert Nevin |
???? | Scarf Dance | Cecile Chaminade |
???? | The Cat and the Mice | H. Leonard |
???? | The Donkey and the Driver | H. Leonard |
???? | The Flatterer | Cecil Chaminade |
???? | The Rosary | Ethelbert Nevin |
UNPUBLISHED ORCHESTRATIONS OF THE WORKS OF OTHER COMPOSERS | ||
Year | Title | Composer |
---|---|---|
???? | Air de Ballet | Cecile Chaminade |
???? | A Music Box | Liadow |
???? | Chant Sans Paroles | Peter Tchaikovsky |
???? | Erotik | Edvard Grieg |
???? | Gypsy Melody | Antonin Dvorak |
???? | Humoresque | Antonic Dvorak |
???? | Melody in F | Antonin Rubinstein |
???? | Organ Offertory in G | Babtiste |
???? | Polish Mazurka | Frederic Chopin |
???? | Poupee Valsante | Poldini |
???? | Sextett from Lucia | Gaetano Donizetti |
???? | Song Without Words | Felix Mendelsohn |
???? | Spinning Song | Felix Mendelsohn |
???? | Quartette from Rigoletto | Verdi |
???? | To Spring | Edvard Grieg |
???? | Valze, Opus 64, No. 1 (D Flat) | Frederic Chopin |
???? | Wiegenlied | Johannes Brahms |
BAND COMPOSITIONS | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
???? | American Girl March |
1897 | Baltimore Centennial March |
???? | Defendam March (written for 22nd Engineers, N. Y. G.) |
1894 | Eldorado March |
1897 | Inauguration March |
1898 | President's March (McKinley) |
???? | The Veiled Prophet March |
???? | Three Solitaries (Polka) (for 3 cornets or trumpets with military band accompaniment) |
???? | Twenty-second Regiment March |
CELLO COMPOSITIONS WITH PIANO OR ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
???? | Alla Mazurka (unpublished) |
???? | Bagatelle (unpublished) (with piano) |
1884 | Berceuse |
1882 | Concerto, First Violoncello in D Major, Opus 8 (unpublished) |
1894 | Concerto, Second Violoncello in E minor, Opus 30 |
???? | La Cinquantaine (by Gabriele-Marie; arr. by Herbert) |
1911 | La Serenata (with piano) |
???? | Legende (unpublished) |
1905 | Pensee Amoureuse |
1905 | Petite Valse |
???? | Polonaise (unpublished) |
1905 | Romance |
1885 | Scherzino (unpublished) |
1903 | Serenade, from Suite, Opus 3 (with piano) |
1882 | Suite, Opus 2 (in 5 movements: Allegro Moderato, Scherzo, Andante, Serenade (Andantino grazioso), Tarantelle) |
VIOLIN COMPOSITIONS WITH PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1915 | A La Valse |
1928 | Canzonetta (an arrangement for violin and piano from Serenade for String Orchestra, Opus 12, No. 4) |
???? | Cavalleria Rusticana (by Pietro Mascagni; arrangement of the Intermezzo) |
???? | Little Red Lark (an arrangement of an old Irish melody) |
???? | Mirage |
PIANO COMPOSTIONS | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
???? | Air de Ballet (piano arrangement of the orchestral piece) |
???? | Al Fresco |
???? | American Rose Waltz |
1921 | Devotion (A Love Sonnet for the Piano) |
1923 | Duo |
1915 | Estrellita (from the score of The Princess Pat) |
1903 | Fleurette (Waltz) |
???? | Get Together (Fox Trot) (using the pseud. of Nobel MacClure) |
1919 | Indian Summer (An American Idyll) |
1900 | La Coquette (Valze Brilliante) |
1900 | La Ghazel (Improvisation) |
1922 | Marion Davies March |
1900 | Mountain Brook (Imitative) |
1900 | On the Promenade (Morceau) |
???? | On Your Way (One Step) (using the pseud. of Nobel MacClure) |
1901 | Pan Americana (Morceau characteristique) (later orchestrated) |
1898 | President's March [Feb.] |
1900 | Punchinello (Characteristic) |
1884 | Serenade [4 May] |
???? | Under the Elms, Souvenir de Saratoga |
???? | Valse a la Mode (using the pseud. of Nobel MacClure) |
???? | Whispering Willows (Intermezzo) |
1916 | World's Progress March |
1900 | Yesterthoughts (Meditation) |
FLUTE AND CLARINET DUET WITH ORCHESTRA | |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1910 | L'Encore |
SONGS | |
Title | Words |
---|---|
1888 | |
Ah! Love Me (Nur du bist's) (Opus 15, No. 3) | O. E. Ehlers; English version by Sophie Schneider |
Love's Token (Liebesleben) (Opus 15, No. 2) | Brunold; English version by Henry Burck |
The Silent Rose (Die stille Rose) (Opus 15, No. 1)) | Ida von Duringsfeld; English version by Max Bendix |
1891 | |
My Heart Is True [Mien Herz ist treu] (Opus 21, No. 2) (for mezzo-soprano) | Heinrich Seidel; Eng. trans. by F. Fluck |
1894 | |
Under an Oak (Song for Bass) (from the Comic Opera Prince Ananias) | Francis Neilson |
When I Was Born I Weighed Ten Stone (Duo and Chorus) (from the Comic Opera Prince Ananias) | Francis Neilson |
1895 | |
In Dreamland (Soprano or Tenor) (from The Wizard of the Nile) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
Jenny's Baby | John Earnest McCann |
Me and Nancy | John Ernest McCann |
What Is Love? (No. 7 Duet (Kibosh and Cleopatra) of Act 1 from the Comic Opera The Wizard of the Nile) |
Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1897 | |
Fairy Tales (Waltz Song) (from The Idol's Eye) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
I Envy the Bird (Romance) (No. 21 from The Idol's Eye) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
The Secret (Opus 14) | James Russell Lowell |
The Tattooed Man (Abel and Chorus) (from The Idol's Eye | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1898 | |
Gypsy Love Song (Slumber on, my little gypsy sweetheart) (from The Fortune Teller, a Comic Opera in 3 Acts) |
Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
Mary's Lamb (written for 1898 Lamb's Gambol) | Edware E. Kidder |
The Serenades of All Nations (from The Fortune Teller, a Comic Opera in 3 Acts) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1900 | |
Hear Me (from The Viceroy, a Comic Opera in 3 Acts) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
We'll Catch You at Last, Tivolini (from The Viceroy, a Comic Opera in 3 Acts) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1903 | |
Barney O'Flynn (from Babes in Toyland) | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
I Can't Do the Sum (from Babes in Toyland) | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
Toyland [13 May](from Babes in Toyland) | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
March of the Toys (from Babes in Toyland) | n/a |
1905 | |
If I Were on the Stage (Kiss Me Again) (from the operetta Mlle. Modiste) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
When the Cat's Away The Mice Will Play (from the operetta Mlle. Modiste) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
1906 | |
Moonbeams (from the operetta The Red Mill) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
The Streets of New York (from the operetta The Red Mill) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
1907 | |
Love Laid His Sleepless Head | A. G. Swinbourne |
The Friars' Song | Charles Emerson Cook |
1908 | |
Ask Her While the Band Is Playing (from the operetta The Rose of Algeria) | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
Love Is Like a Cigarette (from the operetta The Rose of Algeria) | Glen MacDonough, 1870-1924 |
Won't You Be My Valentine? (from the operetta Little Nemo) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1910 | |
Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life (The Dream Melody) [24 Nov.] (from the operetta Naughty Marietta) | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
I'm Falling in Love with Some One (from the operetta Naughty Marietta) | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
Italian Street Song (from the operetta Naughty Marietta) | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
Naughty Marietta (from the operetta Naughty Marietta) | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
'Neath the Southern Moon (from the operetta Naughty Marietta) | Rida Johnson Young, 1869-1926 |
1911 | |
To the Land of My Own Romance (from the operetta The Enchantress) | Harry Bache Smith, 1860-1936 |
1912 | |
Love's Hour | Rida Johnson Young |
1913 | |
Sweethearts (from the operetta Sweethearts) | Robert Bache Smith, 1875-1951 |
1914 | |
If Love Were What the Rose Is | A. G. Swinbourne |
The Love of the Lorelei (from the Comic Opera The Debutante) | Robert Bache Smith, 1875-1951 |
When You're Away (from the musical The Only Girl) | Henry Blossom, 1866-1919 |
1915 | |
Remembrance | Carl Weitbrecht; English translation by Fanny Lover Schmid |
Sweet Harp of the Days (dedicated to John McCormack) | Samuel Lover |
1917 | |
An Easter Dawn (Sacred Song) | Glen MacDonough |
1919 | |
I Might Be Your "Once-in-a-While" (from the musical Angel Face) | Robert Bache Smith, 1875-1951 |
Molly (An Irish Love Song dedicated to John McCormack) | Rida Johnson Young |
1920 | |
My Day Has Come | Irving Ceasar |
1921 | |
Equity Star | Grant Stewart |
1922 | |
A Kiss in the Dark (from the operetta Orange Blossoms) | B. G. DySylva |
Dream On (Indian Lullaby) | B. G. DySylva |
Lora Lee | Joseph J. C. Clark |
Mary Came Over to Me | Irving Ceasar |
When Knighthood Was in Flower | William LeBaron |
1923 | |
God Spare the Emerald Isle | William Jerome |
Little Old New York | William LeBaron |
1924 | |
Heart o'Mine | Lawrence Eyre |
1925 | |
Give Your Heart in June-time | Grey & Atteridge |
1940 | |
I Want to Be a Good Lamb | George V. Hobart |
SONGS | |
Title | Words |
---|---|
A Maiden Went into the Field Alone (Opus 18) (for mezzo-soprano) | ???? |
Confession (also with orchestral accompaniment) | ???? |
Flower of My Heart (Opus 4) | ???? |
Fly Away, Little Bird (Opus 18) | ???? |
Fowling (Opus 10) (from Wanderer's Songs) | Rudolf von Baumbach |
If You But Knew (Opus 15) (for mezzo-soprano) | ???? |
I Love You (Opus 14) | ???? |
Longing for Home (Heimweh) (for Alto) | ???? |
Love Song (for Alto) | ???? |
Love's Life (Opus 15) | ???? |
Love's Oracle | Edward Peple |
Our Ireland Shall Be Free (four-part song) | F. J. Rooney |
Only You (Opus 15) | ???? |
Peace (Frieden) (for Alto) | ???? |
Spring Song (Opus 14) | ???? |
The Faded Rose (Opus 15) | ???? |
The First Kiss (Opus 13) | ???? |
The Innkeeper's Daughter (Opus 10) (from Wanderer's Songs) | Rudolf von Baumbach |
To Thee, My Queen of Beauty (Opus 5) (for male quartet) | ???? |
CHORAL COMPOSITIONS | ||
Year | Title | Words |
---|---|---|
1918 | Call to Freedom (aka God Shall Guide Us, as arr. by Rob Roy Perry, 1940) | Victor Herbert |
???? | Christ Is Risen | Victor Herbert |
1898 | Columbia Anthem (unison chorus with piano, later arr. by Herbert for orchestra and band) | Clay M. Greene |
???? | Eventide (Opus 20) (for male chorus) (from Wanderer's Songs) | Rudolf von Baumbach |
1915 | O'Donnell Aboo! (arr. for chorus of men's voices of the air Roderich Vich Alpine dhu, the Clanconnel War Song, A.D. 1597) | M. J. McCann |
1916 | Orange, White and Blue (Written for ceremonies in 1916, in commemoration if the landing of the first Dutch settlers on Manhattan Island, May 4, 1626. The orange, white and blue flag of this Dutch colony was raised at Battery Park.) | John R. Pine |
1913 | The Cruiskeen Lawn (arr. of an old Irish air for men's voice's, a capella) (dedicated to the Mendelsohn Glee Club, N. Y.) | anon. |
1913 | The Hail of the Friendly Sons (for men's voices, a cappella) | Joseph I. C. Clarke |
1914 | The New Ireland (for men's voices, a cappella) | Joseph I. C. Clarke |
1897 | The Sunken City (Opus 20, No. 1) (for men's voices, a cappella) | Rudolf von Baumbach; English version by Dr. Thomas Baker |
1915 | Widow Machree (by Samuel Lover; arr. by Herbert) (for men's voices, a cappella) | Samuel Lover |
CANTATA | ||
Year | Title | Words |
---|---|---|
1915 | The Captive (Opus 25) (for soprano solo, baritone solo, chorus and orchestra) [written for the Worchester, Mass., Festival, September, 1891] | Rudolf von Baumbach; English version by George Harris, Jr. |
For biographical info see
Victor Herbert: The Biography of America's Greatest Composer of Romantic Music by Joseph Kaye, (New York: G. Howard Watt, 1931).
Victor Herbert: American Music Master by Claire Lee Purdy (New York: Julian Messner, Inc., 1944)
Victor Herbert: A Life in Music by Edward N. Waters, (New York, 1955).
For songbook collections see:
Victor Herbert Song Album - Book 1 (New York: M. Witmark & Sons, 1927)
Victor Herbert Song Album - Book 2 (New York: M. Witmark & Sons, 1938)
The Music of Victor Herbert (Warner Bros. Publications, Inc., 1976)
Albums/CDs of special note are
The Music of Victor Herber recorded by Beverly Sills, soprano, and Andre Kostelanetz, conducting, on Angel records SFO-37160 (1976)
Victor Herbert EILEEN Romantic Comic Opera in Three Acts (1917) recorded in 1998 by the Ohio Light Opera, Resident Professional Company of the College of Wooster; James Stewart, Artistic Director; Newport Classic, (NPD 85615/2)
Victor Herbert: Beloved Songs and Classic Miniatures (1999) recorded by Virginia Croskery, soprano, and Keith Brion, conducting the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra on the Naxos CD 8.559.26
The Red Mill: Romantic Opera in Two Acts by Victor Herbert recorded in 2001 by the Ohio Light Opera; L. Lynn Thompson, Conductor; Steven Daigle, Artistic Director; Albany Records (Troy 492/493).
For more information, I recommend visiting Ed Glazier's Victor Herbert webpages.