Lily Fairney (Mezzo-Soprano)
Cyril Whittle (Baritone)
The J.H. Squire Celeste Octet

There is something rather pathetic in the fact that Raff is now known almost solely by this one melodious piece. He was one of the most industrious and prolific composers who ever lived, and his students used to say of him that he ate his meals with manuscript paper beside him and pencil in hand. It is recorded that on one occasion, on coming back to his composition class after a very brief illness, he chided them with laziness, announcing proudly that during the few days lie had been off duty, he had composed a string quartet, several vocal choruses, and various smaller pieces.

His immense industry was in keeping with a great strength of character which enabled him to endure severe privations in early life ; most people would have been crushed by the handicap which, as a young man, he had to face. In the latter part of last century, however, he had achieved real distinction both as a composer and as a teacher. Operatic and symphonic works of his were performed with success, and for the last years of his life, he was Director of the Hoch Conservatoire in Frankfurt, one of the leading German schools of music.