Parry, C. H. H. (1848-1918)

[Serial_Apologist]

Who's David Heffer?
Simon Heffer has long been a champion of English composers who - at least in his eyes - are unjustly neglected or undervalued.

What a shame it's too late to bring back Parry to reassess Simon Heffer's politics.

[ahinton]

I've listened to a number of Parry's works but, whilst it's good that he's being reassessed, I've still yet to hear anything that doesn't give some impression of "I'd like to be Elgar when I grow up". Sorry.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've listened to a number of Parry's works but, whilst it's good that he's being reassessed, I've still yet to hear anything that doesn't give some impression of "I'd like to be Elgar when I grow up". Sorry.

A leetle harsh - but only a little. I'm very fond of quite a few of Parry's works - and I think that the casual dismissal of his Music that was commonplace in the '70s was grossly unjust.

[ahinton]

A leetle harsh - but only a little. I'm very fond of quite a few of Parry's works - and I think that the casual dismissal of his Music that was commonplace in the '70s was grossly unjust.

Only a personal opinion and, FWIW, I agree about that dismissal; I just find too much of his work unexciting, unengaging and lacking in individuality.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Personally I find exactly the opposite. Parry's individual style I find instantly recognisable. His earlier chamber music is from the point of view of form, adventurous, his teacher Dannreuther helping him to explore Liszt & Wagner. It is a pity that his path in instrumental & orchestral composition was deflected by commissions for oratorios which, though they contain some very fine choral writing, one feels that the texts were not overtly inspiring to him. I really wish he'd composed more chamber & orchestral music, as much of this is inspired, purposeful and often with a barely contained passionate intensity.

[ardcarp]

Parry

Sunday Feature, tonight on Radio 3 at 6.45

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000nkn

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Many thanks for pointing this out.

[LMcD]

Many thanks for pointing this out.

I had already mentioned this on the W.H.H. Parry thread .....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I had already mentioned this on the W.H.H. Parry thread .....

[LMcD]

I would have liked Simon Heffer's programme to deal at greater length with Parry's compositions, rather than concentrating quite as much on his achievements, considerable though they clearly were, as a teacher and administrator. He did the symphonies no favours by stating that No. 5 was the first, and only, one not to sound German.

[ardcarp]

I had already mentioned this on the W.H.H. Parry thread .....

Sorry. Hadn't spotted that, but it was a very good programme, IMO, and I learned a lot about Parry which I hadn't known. It sounds as if there is more to learn, e.g. from those 'blue boxes' at the RCM.

I have on my shelves 'Studies of Great Composers' by Parry. Each chapter is devoted to a composer and the first is 'Palestrina' which must be unusual for its time. I can't find a date of original publication, but it has those lovely rough-cut pages. It says something that my copy is the 19th edition (sadly!).

I would have liked Simon Heffer's programme to deal at greater length with Parry's compositions, rather than concentrating quite as much on his achievements, considerable though they clearly were, as a teacher and administrator. He did the symphonies no favours by stating that No. 5 was the first, and only, one not to sound German.

Whilst I agree there, LMcD, it was probably beyond the scope of a short programme like this. We have CotW coming up.....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can't find a date of original publication, but it has those lovely rough-cut pages. It says something that my copy is the 19th edition (sadly!).

1886 according to WIKI, 1887 according to Google Books (so, possibly written in '86, and published he following year).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A new recording from CHANDOS (who already have the only complete Symphony cycle in their catalogue, of course) celebrates the centenary with a release that includes the original version of the Fourth Symphony:

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/139065/Parry_-_Symphony_no.4,_Movements_from_Suite_moderne,_Proserpine.htm?utm

[LMcD]

Sorry. Hadn't spotted that, but it was a very good programme, IMO, and I learned a lot about Parry which I hadn't known. It sounds as if there is more to learn, e.g. from those 'blue boxes' at the RCM.

I have on my shelves 'Studies of Great Composers' by Parry. Each chapter is devoted to a composer and the first is 'Palestrina' which must be unusual for its time. I can't find a date of original publication, but it has those lovely rough-cut pages. It says something that my copy is the 19th edition (sadly!).



Whilst I agree there, LMcD, it was probably beyond the scope of a short programme like this. We have CotW coming up.....

Fair comment - and let's hope that SH's programme might encourage people unfamiliar with much of Parry's oeuvre to 'give him a go' (or another go)!

[Keraulophone]

Tenebrae, Nigel Short’s professional chamber choir, recently performed Parry’s Songs of Farewell in Exeter and Truro cathedrals. When performed at this level of expertise in tuning, ensemble, direction, and richness of tone in candle-lit, Tenebrae-like surroundings, they become a truly marvellous thing. The mainly 17th century poetry is luminous enough on its own, but Parry turns them into a mini-Requiem, recalling his students being killed at that time in the trenches. We recorded the Songs with boys singing the top line, as Christopher Robinson had done at Windsor, which somehow added a component of innocence and experience which seemed very appropriate. In performance, it was sometimes difficult to deliver the closing lines of Lord, let me know mine end without drying up.