Hubert Parry

 

Hubert Parry
1848 - 1913

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry is perhaps most notable, at least West of the Atlantic, as a teacher of Ralph Vaughan Williams, often mentioned in the same breath as fellow British composer Charles Villiers Stanford. Otherwise, it must be Jerusalem, Blest Pair of Sirens, and I Was Glad which are most commonly known today.

In pejorative terms, Parry is considered an academic composer of the Victorian Era. Dusty, conservative, with nary a blood vessel overtaxed, his music represents the stiff upper lip in British Classical Music. Even in comparison to Stanford, who also bears the brunt of some of these descriptors, Parry is considered four square.

Yet, I enjoy exploring Parry's music every chance I get. I am most familiar with his choral/orchestral oratorios and other choral works, but have also come across the odd orchestral piece as well. I believe Parry is attributed to a church hymn or two as well. 

I do worry Parry will come across as mediocre this listening go around, yet I am a formalist at heart, so maybe I will fall for the composer's conservative efforts.

Recordings and reviews currently on hand
(Click orange links to visit a musing)
(Green links are reviews yet to come)

Recordings

1992: Boult conducts Parry
1992: Symphonies (Bamert)
    •  Symphony 1
    •  Symphony 2 & 3
    •  Symphony 4 & 5
1995: Orchestral Music (Bamert)
1998: Songs of Farewell
2006: Oratorios & Cantatas
2007: Ode on the Nativity
2012: I Was Glad
2012: Järvi conducts Parry
2018: String Quartets
2019: Piano Trio 1 & 3
2019: Piano Trio 2 & Piano Quartet
2020: Judith
2023: Prometheus Unbound