July / August 2017

The Piano Trios of Hubert Parry

"Parry was the first English composer whose development could be traced to the concerted practice of chamber music. "--H.C. Colles writing in Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music.

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) was born in Bournemouth, England. As far as music went, he received some lessons on the piano as youth but did not formally study it. He was educated Eton and Oxford and though he showed an extraordinary aptitude for music, he took a degree in law and modern history as his father wanted him to have a career in commerce. From 1870 to 1877 he worked in the insurance industry, but he continued his musical studies, first with from William Sterndale Bennett, and later with the pianist Edward Dannreuther when Brahms proved to be unavailable. After leaving the insurance industry, Parry became a full-time musician and during the last decades of the 19th century was widely regarded as England’s finest composer. In the 1890s he became director of the Royal College of Music and was appointed Professor of Music at Oxford. He helped establish classical music at the centre of English cultural life. As head of the Royal College of Music, his pupils included Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frank Bridge and John Ireland.

His music shows the influence of Bach and Brahms, The respected music critic H.C. Colles, writing in Cobbett’s Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music notes that Parry was the first English composer whose development could be traced to the concerted practice of chamber music. Parry’s First Piano Trio was completed in 1878 and performed to acclaim.

Piano Trio No.1 in e minor shows the hand of a bold and eager mind. The first movement, Allegro appassionato and the Scherzo, molto vivace, display great ingenuity and originality in their handling of form and tonality. Both movements are brimming with attractive, highly appealing melody. The emotional heart of the trio can be found in the third movement, Adagio ma non troppo. Parry’s gift for lyrical composition is of the first order. The finale, Allegro giocoso, is an energetic rondo, full of exhilarating melodies and elan.  This work is of the first rank and it had been composed by a German or Austrian it would have entered the concert repertoire.

Parry’s Piano Trio No.2 in b minor, which dates from 1884, is a pioneering work with a rich flow of supple melody. The opening movement, Maestoso--Allegro con fuoco, begins with an slow, stately introduction which is seamlessly incorporated into the turbulent and passionate first theme of the Allegro. The whole movement is permeated with intense rhythmical energy. A highly lyrical slow movement, Lento, follows. Then comes a buoyant scherzo, Allegro vivace, with a melodious trio. The finale, Maestoso--Allegro con moto, begins with an introduction which recalls the first movement. The main theme of the Allegro (where our sound-bite begins) is Brahmsian in nature, but melodies from each of the preceding movements make brief appearances in altered forms.

You can hear soundbites from each movement on our website and if you desire purchase the parts from Edition Silvertrust by clicking on the links above.