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

[Serial_Apologist]

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.

Me too. I thought there was a lot of rhetoric about "Englishness" without defining what it was - particularly with regards to the 5th symphony - which hopefully COTW will go towards correcting, though on general evidence I'm not holding my breff. Also, it was amusing someone of the hyper-conservative ilk of Simon Heffer by implication recommending what he described as the revolutionary aspects of Parry's music - a case, as so often, of revolution being OK at sufficient distance. Dear me - what would the Hefferlump's political forbears have said?

[ardcarp]

I wonder if anyone knows Parry's Pied Piper of Hamelin? It is scored for orchestra, SATB choir plus tenor and bass soloists. I think Parry intended it to be 'for children' but not by children. I found this online, which does not distinguish itself chorally.

https://vimeo.com/97820972

Perhaps not a great work anyway, but indicative of Parry's instinct to interest young people in music.

Why is it that I can never remember that the 'Composers' section of the Forum is arranged alphabetically and not chronologically?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Me too. I thought there was a lot of rhetoric about "Englishness" without defining what it was - particularly with regards to the 5th symphony - which hopefully COTW will go towards correcting, though on general evidence I'm not holding my breff. Also, it was amusing someone of the hyper-conservative ilk of Simon Heffer by implication recommending what he described as the revolutionary aspects of Parry's music - a case, as so often, of revolution being OK at sufficient distance. Dear me - what would the Hefferlump's political forbears have said?

And the programme rather missed the visionary and subversive side of Blake's Jerusalem . It is very far , as Parry instinctively grasped , from being a patriotic hymn.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I thought COTW gave a much better portrait of Parry than the Heffer prog. I can't pretend to have the knowledge that others on this strand have of his work. He clearly had great melodic gifts but some of it does seem a bit ploddingly worked through e.g. the very beautiful slow movt of the 2nd symphony played today - what would his hero Brahms have made of the same material? Still it is enough to be able to create beauty surely ? I wonder he'd gone to France / Germany he might have developed more as a composer? Finally for all his idiosyncrasies good to hear Robert Tear in that lovely setting of the Keat's sonnet .

[Suffolkcoastal]

I wonder if anyone knows Parry's Pied Piper of Hamelin? It is scored for orchestra, SATB choir plus tenor and bass soloists. I think Parry intended it to be 'for children' but not by children. I found this online, which does not distinguish itself chorally.

https://vimeo.com/97820972

Perhaps not a great work anyway, but indicative of Parry's instinct to interest young people in music.

Why is it that I can never remember that the 'Composers' section of the Forum is arranged alphabetically and not chronologically?

Yes, I know it and have a vocal score of the work, composed around 1905 I think.

[frankbridge]

I've always loved Parry's music, and am greatly looking forward to his being next Composer of the Week on the Third. Incidentally, a good friend of mine had a grandmother who had been in service to the Parrys at Highnam Court, so we all went down to Gloucestershire for a sort of nostalgia trip, to see the grounds and the House. And of course, he had a town house in London, just off High Street Kensington, which was not very far from the Royal Albert Hall

[hmvman]

Me too. I thought there was a lot of rhetoric about "Englishness" without defining what it was...

I seem to remember there was a TV programme on Parry a few years back with the Prince of Wales and Professor Jeremy Dibble (who appears to be the 'go to' expert on the composer.) I recall that HRH seemed obsessed with the "Englishness" of the music, again with no firm definition of it.

[Serial_Apologist]

I seem to remember there was a TV programme on Parry a few years back with the Prince of Wales and Professor Jeremy Dibble (who appears to be the 'go to' expert on the composer.) I recall that HRH seemed obsessed with the "Englishness" of the music, again with no firm definition of it.

No carbuncles in it?

[antongould]

I thought COTW gave a much better portrait of Parry than the Heffer prog. I can't pretend to have the knowledge that others on this strand have of his work. He clearly had great melodic gifts but some of it does seem a bit ploddingly worked through e.g. the very beautiful slow movt of the 2nd symphony played today - what would his hero Brahms have made of the same material? Still it is enough to be able to create beauty surely ? I wonder he'd gone to France / Germany he might have developed more as a composer? Finally for all his idiosyncrasies good to hear Robert Tear in that lovely setting of the Keat's sonnet .

Roehre, late of this parish, thought very, very highly of the slow movement of the 2nd symphony and I personally love the whole work .......

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

the very beautiful slow movt of the 2nd symphony played today

Roehre, late of this parish, thought very, very highly of the slow movement of the 2nd symphony and I personally love the whole work .......

But wasn't it the slow movement of the first Symphony that was played today?

(EDIT: yes, it was (just checked on the i-Player) )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I seem to remember there was a TV programme on Parry a few years back with the Prince of Wales and Professor Jeremy Dibble (who appears to be the 'go to' expert on the composer.) I recall that HRH seemed obsessed with the "Englishness" of the music, again with no firm definition of it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011g941

(No mention of Prof Dibble in the list of Credits, though.)

[LMcD]

But wasn't it the slow movement of the first Symphony that was played today?

(EDIT: yes, it was (just checked on the i-Player) )

Donald Macleod did say that all 5 symphonies would be featured, in chronological order, throughout the week.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Donald Macleod did say that all 5 symphonies would be featured, in chronological order, throughout the week.

- and it looks as if we're getting the entire Second Symphony today.

[BBMmk2]

- and it looks as if we're getting the entire Second Symphony today.

I wish that the general media could programme composers music without their Anniversary being a reason.

[Ein Heldenleben]

But wasn't it the slow movement of the first Symphony that was played today?

(EDIT: yes, it was (just checked on the i-Player) )

Thanks for the correction . Listening on the M5 on afour hour journey to London Donald's impeccable enunciation was lost in the road roar . Parry's immaculate orchestration cut through though....