# Fred Hartley

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{{Short description|Scottish pianist, conductor and composer}}
{{about||the U.S. politician|Fred A. Hartley, Jr.|the English cricketer|Fred Hartley (cricketer)}}
{{redirect|Iris Taylor|the unsuccessful political candidate|New Democratic Party of Manitoba candidates, 1999 Manitoba provincial election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
'''Fred Hartley''' (1905 – 8 April 1980) was a Scottish rhythm pianist, conductor, composer and arranger of [light music](/source/light_music) best known for his waltz ''Rouge et Noir''. He sometimes composed music under the pseudonym '''Iris Taylor'''.<ref>Philip Scowcroft,[http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/76.htm 76th Garland]. Retrieved 17 September 2010</ref>

==Early life==
Hartley was born in [Dundee](/source/Dundee) in 1905, the son of conductor William Hartley director of the Dundee School of Music. He attended the [Harris Academy](/source/Harris_Academy) in Dundee, and later attained a scholarship to the [Royal Academy of Music](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Music).{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Career==
Hartley made his first public broadcast as a solo pianist in 1925 and in 1931 went on to form his Novelty Quintet, which regularly made broadcasts on the BBC. In 1946, he was made Head of BBC Light Music.<ref name=piano>[http://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Fred%20Hartley.html Fred Hartley piano solos], Celtic Music. Retrieved 17 September 2010</ref>

Hartley composed mainly in the [light music](/source/light_music) genre and his compositions were often featured on the [BBC Light Programme](/source/BBC_Light_Programme). In addition to ''Rouge et Noir'', compositions for orchestra include the ''Scherzetto for Children'', ''The Hampden Roar'',<ref name=piano/> ''Alpine Festival'', ''The Ball at Aberfeldy'', ''Whispering Breeze'', ''Hampden Road March'' and ''A Dream of Hawaii''.<ref name=garland>Philip Scowcroft, [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/7th.htm 7th Garland]. Retrieved 17 September 2010</ref>

Hartley published several of his piano works under the name Iris Taylor, including ''Dreamy Afternoon'', ''Cuckoo in Love'', ''Twentieth Century Nocturne'' and ''Starry Night''. Recordings of his compositions and arrangements were issued by the RAF Salon Orchestra in 2023.<ref>''[https://www.mikepurtonrecording.com/ A Cocktail of Happiness: The Music of Fred Hartley]'', RAFMRL023 (2023)</ref>

==Personal life==
Hartley was married to Gwenyth Marjorie. He died at his home, 3 Pulford Road, [Leighton Buzzard](/source/Leighton_Buzzard), in April 1980, aged 74.<ref>'Deaths', in ''The Times'', 10 April 1980, p. 26</ref>

==References==
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartley, Fred}}
Category:1905 births
Category:1980 deaths
Category:British light music composers
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Category:Musicians from Dundee
Category:Scottish pianists
Category:People educated at Harris Academy
Category:20th-century British pianists
Category:20th-century British classical musicians
Category:20th-century Scottish composers
{{UK-composer-stub}}
{{Scotland-musician-stub}}
{{UK-pianist-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fred Hartley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hartley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hartley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.