PARRY
,
JOSEPH
(
1841
-
1903
),
musician
;
b. at
Merthyr Tydfil
on
21 May 1841
, was a
pit-boy
at 9 years of age, and an
iron-worker
at 12. He grew up in a musical environment; and
sang alto in performances of oratorios
by
Rosser
Beynon
's (q.v.)
choir. In
1854
his family moved to
Dannville
,
Pennsylvania
,
U.S.A.
, where he
worked in the rolling-mills
until
1865
, and studied harmony in his spare time. His successes in composition in the
national eisteddfod of Wales
(
1863-4
) aroused public enthusiasm, and a fund was raised which enabled him to study at the
Royal Academy of Music
(
1868-71
). On returning to
Dannville
he
established a musical institute
there. He was appointed
professor
and
head of the new department of music
at
University College
,
Aberystwyth
, a post which he held from
1874 to 1880
. In
1878
he gained the degree of
Mus. Doc. (Cantab.)
.
Parry
was now much in demand as
adjudicator
and busy with his students, giving concerts in which his own compositions were prominent. From
1881 to 1888
he worked at
Swansea
as
organist
of
Ebenezer
and
head of a musical college
, which he founded. From
1888
until his death at
Penarth
, near
Cardiff
,
17 Feb. 1903
, he was
lecturer in music
at
University College
,
Cardiff
.
Parry
was a prolific and facile
composer
of songs, choruses, anthems, hymns, and some instrumental works. He composed several operas, of which ‘
Blodwen
’ (
1880
) had some 500 performances by
1896
. Among his other larger works were the oratorios, ‘
Emmanuel
’ (
1880
), ‘
Saul
’ (
1892
), and the cantata ‘
Nebuchadnezzar
’ (
1884
). He lectured and wrote much to periodicals. His romantic
career, unflagging industry, fluent talent, and professional training made him a predominant figure in the
Welsh
musical life of his day. His hymn-tune ‘
Aberystwyth
’ has become a classic.
Bibliography:
-
E. Keri Evans
,
Cofiant Dr. Joseph Parry
, Cardiff,
1921
,
1921
;
-
Y Cerddor
,
1913
.
Author:
Principal Gwilym Prichard Ambrose, M.A., Caerleon
