RESOUNDING ECHOES: From August 2022, Robert McCarney's regular series features little-known twentieth century classical composers.
PODCAST: Join Jenna Orkin, Maria Nockin, John Daleiden, Gerald Fenech, Julian Jacobson, Patrick Maxwell, Giuseppe Pennisi and Mike Wheeler for a fascinating fifty-minute audio only programme.
English composer Hubert Parry was born in Bournemouth on 27 February 1848. His interest in music developed at Eton, where he was taught music by George Job Elvey, organist of St George's Chapel, Windsor. At Oxford he studied law and modern history, destined for a career in insurance, but he continued with music alongside his work, taking lessons from William Sterndale Bennett and Edward Dannreuther.
Later, George Grove took an interest in Parry, who was Grove's assistant editor at the new Dictionary of Music and Musicians (writing 123 articles), and then professor of composition and music history at the newly formed Royal College of Music, when Grove became the first director there. Parry's students included Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Frank Bridge and John Ireland. When Grove retired, Parry became the RCM's director from 1895 until his death at Rustington, West Sussex on 7 October 1918.
Parry's choral music was taken more seriously than his orchestral works, during his lifetime, although Shaw dismissed the 1892 oratorio Job as 'the most utter failure ever achieved by a thoroughly respectworthy musician'. The diatonic Parry style with influences of Bach and Brahms, itself influenced later composers including Elgar and Vaughan Williams.
Spotlight. Sensitively Recorded - Gerald Fenech enjoys the choral music of Hubert Parry. 'The results are truly stirring and the renditions are consistently warm and poignant ...'
Ensemble. Remarkable Assurance - Mike Wheeler savours an Anglo-American programme from the Sitwell Singers
Ensemble. Superb and Imaginative Playing - Roderic Dunnett marks Thomas Trotter's forty years as Birmingham City Organist by reviewing a special anniversary recital and investigating the artist's large output on the Regent Records label
CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording - Gerald Fenech finds William Vann's new recording of music by Parry revelatory. '... highly dramatic performances seething with passionate endeavour and glorious grandeur.'
Towards the Unknown Region - The late George Colerick discusses Ralph Vaughan Williams as writer on music, particularly when he turns his thoughts towards Beethoven's Choral Symphony
CD Spotlight. Simply Irresistible - Gerald Fenech listens to two albums of British music. '... an inspiration for other composers ...'
Ensemble. A Neat Idea - A song recital by James Gaughan and David Hammond, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Work of Great Integrity - Mike Wheeler listens to 'Lauda Creatoris' by Richard Roddis, plus choral music by Handel, Parry, André Caplet, Alessandro Costantini, Nancy Telfer and Dan Miller
Ensemble. A Musical and Social Bonanza - Roderic Dunnett continues his in-depth review of this year's Three Choirs Festival in Hereford
Mozart Changes - Carleton Etherington's organ recital at Derby Cathedral, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A New Venture - Mike Wheeler listens to Brahms, Elgar, Haydn, Parry, Philip Moore, Purcell, Rutter, Stanford and Vivaldi from Derby Cathedral Choir
Ensemble. Engaging Accounts - A Celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of Derby Cathedral Girls' Choir, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Richly Sonorous - Derby Bach Choir joins forces with Derventio Brass for music by Schütz, Bruckner, Elgar, Walton, Parry, Monteverdi and Rutter, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. The Treasured Crown - Roderic Dunnett reports in depth on last month's Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester
A Player to be reckoned with - Organ music from Richard Hills, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Deliciously Romanticised - Keith Bramich attends the first evening concert of the 2016 Gloucester Three Choirs Festival
Ensemble. Sharing the Honours - Rheinberger and Parry from the Sitwell Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Winner - Derby Choral Union's anniversary concert, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Immensely Responsive - The Choir of Merton College, Oxford, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... beautifully moulded lines ...'
Ensemble. Effective Contrast - Cipriano de Rore and Hubert Parry from the Derwent Singers, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Vocal Chamber Music - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Mosaic at Derby Cathedral
Ensemble. Refreshingly Inventive - A recital by Soraya Mafi and Ian Tindale captivates Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. An Involving Account - A visit from Die Marienkantorei, Osnabrück, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Well-Intentioned - Music for seafarers, heard by Howard Smith. '... a lot to recommend it ...'
Ensemble. Endearingly Oddball - British music from Derby Choral Union, including Britten's 'Rejoice in the Lamb', heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Novel Results - The first release on Robert King's new label, heard by Robert Anderson. '... may lack something in grandeur but nothing in subtlety.'
Ensemble. The Finest of Them All - The 2012 Hereford Three Choirs Festival, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett
Ensemble. Sorcerers and Apprentices - Collaborative organ performances at Derby Cathedral by Peter Gould, Tom Corfield, Christopher Johns, Ben Bloor and Sachin Gunga delight Tony Westerman
Ensemble. A Great Occasion - The Derby Roundhouse debut as a concert hall, described by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Top Class Musicianship - Roderic Dunnett visits Gloucester for the 2010 Three Choirs Festival
Incisive Playing - Daniel Hyde at the organ of Derby Cathedral, heard by Mike Wheeler