Hubert Parry

Marking the centenary of his death, Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Hubert Parry.

Donald begins with the story of Parry's early years, rooted at Highnam Court in Gloucestershire, before looking at the period he was centred around Orme Square in London, the home of his teacher and mentor Edward Dannreuther. We hear about Parry’s connection with the long-running Three Choirs Festival: Parry’s father, Thomas Gambier Parry, was energetic and generous in his efforts to ensure the Festival’s survival, and the Three Choirs was to prove an important platform for his son’s music. Another hugely important institution to Parry was the Royal College of Music - in time, he would become Director of the College and an inspiration to the next generation of composers. We finish with the final years of Parry’s life, during World War One, when Parry's most enduring composition, Jerusalem, was first performed at the Queen’s Hall in London.

Music featured:

I was Glad Freundschaftslieder Bright Star Fantasie Sonata in B major Choral Prelude for Organ "On SS Wesley's Hampton" Symphony No.1 (2nd movement) Love is a bable Cello Sonata in A Take, O take those lips away Partita in D Minor String Quintet in E-Flat Major Symphony No. 2 in F major (The Cambridge) Long Since In Egypt's Plenteous Land Blest Pair of Sirens The Soul's Ransom Symphony No.3 in C major (The English) Who Can Dwell in Greatness The Birds of Aristophanes Crabbed Age and Youth From Death to Life Symphony No.4 (4th movement) Jerusalem Ode on the Nativity Lord Let Me Know Mine End Symphony No.5 in B minor (ii. Love) Jerusalem

Presenter: Donald Macleod Producer: Martin Williams for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Hubert Parry: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000nl6

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z