Hamilton Clarke

James Hamilton Siree Clarke was an English conductor, organist and composer, born in Birmingham in 1840 and died in Banstead in 1912. His career was devoted mainly to church music, the theatre and orchestras in Victorian England, and his name is linked with several of the best-known figures in the British musical scene of the period.

Before settling in London, he held posts in Ireland and at Queen's College, Oxford. In 1872 he succeeded Arthur Sullivan as organist of St Peter's Church in Cranley Gardens. He then conducted orchestras in several London theatres, composed incidental music for Henry Irving's productions at the Lyceum, and conducted for the D'Oyly Carte company. For a time he was chief conductor of the Carl Rosa Opera Company. Between 1889 and 1891 he took charge of the Victorian National Orchestra in Melbourne and served as inspector of Australian military bands. Back in England, he returned to theatre work until ill health forced him to retire before his time.

He was a prolific composer of sacred music, organ pieces, songs, operetta and orchestral works. As an arranger, he was notable for orchestrating several of Sullivan's overtures, and his Manual of Orchestration (London, 1888) proved practically useful. He also wrote fiction and music criticism.