Joseph Parry

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Joseph Parry (21 May 1841 – 17 February 1903) was a Welsh composer and guitarist.

He was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, and the hymn tune "Aberystwyth," on which the African song "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" is based.

Parry was also the first Welshman to compose an opera; Blodwen, his composition, was also the first opera in Welsh dialect. Parry, a boy of a large family, left school to work in the local coal mines when he was nine years old.

He then went to work at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, where his father was also employed.

Parry's family immigrated to the United States in 1854, settling in Danville, Pennsylvania, where Parry found work at an iron works. Despite having a keen interest in music, Parry had no opportunity to study it until the Rough and Ready Iron Works' temporary closures were announced.

Any of his co-workers were also musicians, and they gave music lessons during the iron works were closed.

Parry began attending a music sight-reading class taught by one of the guys.

He continued to study harmony with another coworker and learned how to read and write while learning about harmony. Parry began submitting compositions to eistedfodau in Wales and the United States, winning awards straight away.

Parry received two music scholarships during a return to Wales for the National Eistedfod at Llandudno, but was unable to accept due to family commitments.

When Parry and his family were studying music, a fund was established to help them. Parry went on to earn a Doctorate in Music from the University of Cambridge; he was the first Welshman to receive a Bachelor's and Doctor's degrees in music from the University.

He returned to Wales in 1874 to become the first Professor of Music at Aberystwyth University, and later accepted a position at Cardiff University.

Life

Parry was born in 1841 in Merthyr Tydfil, the seventh of eight children of Daniel (1800-1896) and Elizabeth Parry (née Richards, 1806–1886). All family members were included in the chapel choir, and the family was musically inclined. Parry's mother, who appeared at church services, was remembered for her fine voice; Elizabeth and Jane, two of Parry's nieces, and Henry, both sons of Parry, became well-known in the United States as vocalists. At age nine, he quit school to work in the mines because the family needed the money. During the mine, Young Parry worked a 56-hour week for twelve and a half pence. Parry was working at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, where his father also worked by age 12.

Daniel Parry's father immigrated to the United States in 1853; the remainder of the family was followed in 1854. Parry, like his father and brother, worked at the Rough and Ready Iron Works in Danville, Pennsylvania. Danville was a large Welsh community, and he became interested in improving Welsh culture locally by attending the Congregational Chapel and the Sunday School. Parry served as the organist for the Mahoning Presbyterian Church in Danville, and the organ he played is also in use. Parry had served in church choirs in Wales and the United States, but he had no formal music lessons until he was 17 and living in Danville.

Parry's opportunity to study music came as a result of a temporary closure of the iron works where he was employed. Parry had the good fortune to become close with three coworkers who were also musicians. The three children will often sing during break periods. Parry listened with anticipation at first and then joined in. When the ironworks were closed, one of the men began a music sight-reading class; Parry joined this class and became a fine sight-reader. His passion for harmony compelled him to investigate it as well. Parry was accepted as a pupil by one of his fellow students. At the time he began harmony studies, young Parry was unable to read or write. The instructor patiently mixed reading lessons with principles of harmony, and Parry soon became proficient at both; the teacher often found it impossible to keep up with his student. Parry learned how to play the harmonium during this period.

Parry was first finalists in the Temperance Vocal March competition at Utica in 1861. Curious as to how his music would be received in Wales, in 1864, he sent an anthem to the National Eistedfod of Wales at Llandudno. Since he was a professional musician, the adjudicators awarded him the first prize. Parry made an entry in 1865, but this time he was in Aberystwyth. The anthem entry of Parry was misjudged in the paper, so it could not be determined. Rather, he was given a seat in the Gorsedd and the title "Pencerd America" ("Chief Musician of America").

Parry and his companions who had accompanied him to Wales toured the country during this tour, giving concerts of Parry's own works. They were well-received around the region. Parry was given the opportunity to study for a year under Dr. Davies of Swansea, as well as a one-year scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. Since he had a wife and a child in the United States who were dependent on him for assistance, he had to refuse both offers. Parry's musical skills had become well-known in Wales and the United States by 1865. When Parry and his family were studying music, a fund was established to assist him; contributions from both countries were accepted. Parry contributed to his own cause by appearing in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.

Parry and his family arrived in England in August 1868, where he began a three-year study at the Royal Academy of Music under William Sterndale Bennett and Manuel Garcia. Parry appeared before Queen Victoria three times during his last year of study at the Royal Academy, each time at her request. When he appeared, the Queen made another request of Parry: that he only do works he had created. Bennett convinced Parry to enroll in a degree in music at University of Cambridge in 1871. Parry was the first Welshman to wear both the MusB and MusD while at Cambridge. Parry and his family returned to Danville, where he taught a school of music for the next three years after graduating with his bachelor's degree. It was offered to Parry when Aberystwyth University established a chair for music; he moved his family to Wales to become the university's first Professor of Music.

Parry served at Aberystwyth from 1874 to 1881. Parry used to travel as an adjudicator and appearing in concerts of his compositions in addition to his university duties. In 1878, he obtained his Doctorate from Cambridge. At the time, a candidate had to write a short oratorio and have the work publicly performed; the usual procedure was for one of the college Chapel Choirs to perform the oratorio. Parry obtained the services of several Welsh musicians, but 100 people traveled to Cambridge to perform Parry's oratorio. Parry established his own academy of music in the town when he resigned from his position at Aberystwyth University in 1880.

The Parry family left Aberystwyth for Swansea, where Parry became the organist at Ebenezer Chapel and was president of a musical academy he founded in 1881. Parry and his family immigrated to Penarth, Wales, when he was given a chair at Cardiff University in 1888. He lectured and taught at the University and was known as "Y Doctor Mawr" ("The Great Doctor"). Parry also accepted a position as the organist at Christ Church Congregational Church in Penarth.

Parry applied for principal of the Guildhall School of Music in 1896, but the vacancy was due to Sir Joseph Barnby's death. The mayor of Cardiff, colleagues, and students at Cardiff University, as well as Parry's former teachers, wrote letters to the School of Music Committee in favor of his appointment to the position. There were 38 candidates for the position; the field was limited to two candidates by the Court of Common Council through a series of ballots. After the first round of cuts, Parry was no longer considered. He remained at the university and continued his work as an eisteddfod adjudicator, a conductor at Cymanfaoed Canu, and as a performer and lecturer throughout Wales and the United States until his death.

Jane Thomas was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, in 1861. (Jane Thomas, 1844-1918) She was the daughter of Welsh immigrants and the sister of Gomer Thomas, who published several of Parry's early compositions. The couple had three sons and two daughters. When the family was still living in Danville, the older children were born; only Parry's youngest child was born in Wales. After the family moved to Penarth, two of Parry's three sons died. William, Parry's youngest son, died in 1892, but Joseph Haydn, his oldest son, died two years later. Though all of Parry's children are said to have musical ability, Joseph Haydn, his eldest, followed in his father's footsteps as a composer and educator.

Parry and his wife hoped that a trip to the United States would ease some of the dread over the deaths of their two sons later in 1894. Parry had last visited the United States on a vocal concert tour in 1880. Despite the fact that the Parrys are visiting their relatives, he thinks he should be open to the public during the visit because so many people in the United States have aided him financially when he was studying music in England.

Parry had asked an old friend to inform the Welsh people in the United States that he would be visiting and would adjudicate at eistedfodau, lecture or lead cymanfaoedd canu if desired. Parry residents could visit by calling Rev. Norma. Thomas Edwards of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, was born on July 14th. Parry and his family toured many cities and towns in the eastern United States, and they were warmly welcomed wherever they went. He kept those back in Cardiff informed of his travels by letters sent to The Western Mail, which were published by the newspaper. Parry's last trip to the United States in 1898 involved a visit to Salt Lake City, where he adjudicated at the third Salt Lake eistedfod, which was held in the Mormon Tabernacle. In late December 1902, his last major work, an opera named The Maid of Cefn Ydfa, premiered at the Grand Theatre in Cardiff.

Parry was known as both a hard worker and a religious man both in the iron works and at his craft. Despite his fame in Wales and the United States, he was not a wealthy man. Parry had no passion for business. A committee of his acquaintances managed his affairs with his permission, with Parry's friends contributing to newspaper publishing and his colleagues tending to the field of books. Since his compositions were based primarily on Welsh subjects, several of Parry's friends believed it would have been to his advantage to have settled in London, where there were now more cosmopolitan experiences to learn from. Parry and his family became residents of the United States in 1859; he was equally proud of being a Welshman and a United States resident.

David Jenkins, a Parry assistant and tutor, described him as impulsive and unwilling to criticize his own work, but not enough excited for all but advanced students, especially for music. Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who has also worked with Parry, expressed his admiration and described him as a man of outstanding musical ability.

Parry became ill just two weeks before his death. The medical disorder was severe enough to warrant surgery. An operation was carried out, and a complete recovery was planned. Due to complications, it was necessary to do a second operation a few days after the surgery. A few days after the second surgery, Parry developed a high fever from blood poisoning. Parry held a modest increase during the first few months, but Parry continued to have relapses and increased gradually. Parry, who had planned a tour of Australia and the United States for 1904, was in his hospital bed when The Maid of Cefn Ydfa was contracted for performances by three opera companies; he was never to be informed of the good news. On February 17, 1903, Parry died at his Penarth home. During his last illness, he composed Dear Wife, a salute to his wife, Jane.

Hundreds of people from all around the world attended Joseph Parry's funeral in Penarth. They followed the route from Parry's house to Christ Church, where the family worshipped and the churchyard at St Augustine's church. Officials from Cardiff University, faculty and students from Cardiff University, officials from the National Eisteddfod, and many members of various choirs throughout Wales welcomed his family and friends. Ministers from various faiths were also present at Parry's reception. He was buried in Penarth's north side. Parry's monument is topped by a seven-string lyre, with the strings representing the members of Parry's family. Two of the lyre's seven strings are broken to represent his two sons' deaths, who died before Parry.

A national fund was established in Parry's name less than a year after his demise. This was supposed to fund Jane's widow, Jane, through an annual annuity; any funds left over after Jane's death were to be used to fund a national music scholarship named for Parry.

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