Sir Walter ParrattKCVO(10 February 1841 – 27 March 1924) was an Englishorganistandcomposer.[1]
Walter Parratt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 14thMaster of the King's Musick Master of the Queen's Musick (1893–1901) | |
| In office 1 June 1893 – 27 March 1924 | |
| Monarchs | Victoria Edward VII George V |
| Preceded by | William Cusins |
| Succeeded by | Edward Elgar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Walter Parratt 10 February 1841 Huddersfield,West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 27 March 1924(aged 83) Windsor,Berkshire, England |
Biography
edit
Born inHuddersfield,son of a parish organist, Parratt began to play thepipe organfrom an early age, and held posts as an organist while still a child.[2]He was a child prodigy: on one occasion he playedBach's completeThe Well-Tempered Clavierby heart, without notice, at age ten.[3]
From 1854 to 1861 he was an organist at St Paul's Church in his native town and, as successor toJohn Stainer,in 1872 atMagdalen College, Oxford,where he remained for ten years. From 1882 he held the post of organist ofSt. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.He becameHeather Professor of MusicatOxford Universityin 1908, taking over fromHubert Parry.
He became one of the foremost organ teachers of his day, with many important posts in Britain being filled by his students. He was president of theRoyal College of Organistsfrom 1905 to 1909.[2]
Parratt was also a distinguishedchessplayer, and was able to simultaneously play chess and a complex organ piece—at first sight.[4]He served for a few months as president of theOxford University Chess Cluband for two years was captain of the eight chosen to play against Cambridge.[5]
He died atWindsor Castleon 27 March 1924.[1][2][3]
Honours
editHe wasknightedin 1892. In 1893 he was appointedMaster of the Queen's MusicktoQueen Victoria,and afterward held the same office under KingsEdward VII[6]andGeorge V.[2]
Later honours included: Member (MVO, 1901), Commander (CVO, 1917), and Knight Commander (KCVO, 1921) of theRoyal Victorian Order.
After Parratt's death in 1924 a monument to him was erected in the grounds of Huddersfield Parish Church. There is also a monument to him in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, next to the entrance toKing George VI Memorial Chapelwhere KingGeorge VIand the Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are buried.
Appointments
edit- Armitage Bridge Church, 1852-1854
- St. Paul's Church, Huddersfield, 1854-1861
- Private organist to the Earl of Dudley,Witley Court,1861-1868
- Organist ofWigan Parish Church,1868-1872
- Magdalen College, Oxford,1872-1882
- St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle1882-1924
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ab"Walter Parratt".Musical Times.65:401–403. 1 May 1924.JSTOR913981.Retrieved25 February2024– via Google Books.
- ^abcdFirman, Rosemary. "Parratt, Sir Walter (1841–1924)".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/35392.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^abGrove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Vol. VI (5th ed.). 1954. p. 559.Retrieved25 February2024– via Internet Archive.
- ^Pearson, Arthur (June 1903)."Famous Yorkshire Musicians".The Non-Conformist Musical Journal.186:73, 88–90.Retrieved24 March2010.
- ^"Parratt, Sir Walter".Who's Who.Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1359.
- ^"No. 27363".The London Gazette.8 October 1901. p. 6569.
References
edit- Donald Tovey& Geoffrey Parratt,Walter Parratt: Master Of The Music(Oxford University Press, 1941).
- Organ Recitals at St George's Chapel
