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Horatio Parker

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Horatio Parker
Born(1863-09-15)September 15, 1863
Auburndale,Massachusetts
DiedDecember 18, 1919(1919-12-18)(aged 56)
Cedarhurst,New York
EducationRoyal Music School
Occupation(s)Composer and teacher

Horatio William Parker(September 15, 1863 – December 18, 1919) was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure inmusicallife inNew Haven,Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the undergraduate teacher ofCharles Iveswhile the composer attendedYale University.

Biography

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He was born inAuburndale,Massachusetts. His earliest lessons were with his mother. He then studied inBostonwithGeorge Whitefield Chadwick,Stephen A. Emery,and John Orth.[1][2]His first professional position was playing the organ at St. Paul's Episcopal Church inDedham, Massachusetts.[3]He was paid a salary of roughly $300 a year from September 1880 to January 1882.[3]

He finished his formal education in Europe, a common destination for a young American composer in the 1880s, where he studied inMunichwithJosef Rheinberger.His fellow students at theRoyal Music SchoolinMunich[4]includedArthur WhitingandH. H. Huss.[5][6]In Munich Parker composed his first significant works, including asymphonyand a dramaticcantata.He also premiered Joseph Rheinberger's Organ Concerto No. 1 in F Major from 1884 there.[7]

After his return to the United States in 1885, he was for two years professor of music in the Cathedral School of St. Paul inGarden City, Long Island.From 1888 to 1893, he was organist ofTrinity Church, New York City,and from 1893 to 1901 organist ofTrinity Church, Boston.[8]In 1893, Parker became Battell Professor of the theory of music atYale University.He was appointed Dean of Music at that school in 1904, a position which he held for the rest of his life.[9][10]

TheUniversity of Cambridgebestowed on him the honorary degreeDoctor of Music(Mus.Doc.) in May 1902.[11]He directed the Derby Choral Club, organized byFrances Osborne KellogginDerby, Connecticut,for 16 consecutive seasons until his death.[12]On December 30, 1915, he was elected as a national honorary member ofPhi Mu Alpha Sinfoniafraternity, the national fraternity for men in music. Parker died inCedarhurst, New York.

Parker was the uncle ofParker Bailey.His daughter's family still summers inBlue Hill, Mainewhere Parker was part of the early group of that resort's musically inclined rusticators.

Composition

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Before leaving New York City in 1893, Parker had completed hisoratorio,Hora Novissima,set to the opening words ofDe contemptu mundibyBernard of Cluny.It was widely performed in America; and also in England, in 1899 at Chester, and at theThree Choirs Festivalat Worcester, the latter an honour never before paid an American composer.[8]European critics called it one of the finest of American compositions.[1]While he is mostly remembered for this single work, he was a prolific and versatile composer in a mostly conservative Germanic tradition, writing two operas, songs, organ and incidental music, and a copious quantity of works for chorus and orchestra. Influences in his compositions includeMendelssohn,Brahms,Wagner,as well asDebussyandElgarin some works which he composed closer to 1900. During his lifetime he was considered to be the finest composer[citation needed][dubious–discuss]in the United States,[by whom?]a superior craftsman writing in the most advanced style.

In 1892, Parker composed thehymn tune"Auburndale" in celebration of the laying of the cornerstone of the new church building of theEpiscopalparish he was baptised in,Parish of the Messiah.His father,Charles Edward Parker,had been the architect for that congregation's chapel; famed Episcopal bishopPhillips Brookslaid the cornerstone. "Auburndale" was later published in the 1916 Hymnal ( "The Messiah Miracle: A History The Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburndale 1871–1971," privately published, 1971).

Parker entered his opera,Mona,into a contest at theMetropolitan Operawinning the prize for best composition in 1911. He won 10,000 dollars and his opera was performed by the company.Monapremiered on March 14, 1912 and ran for four performances. The title role was taken byLouise Homer.He won theLos Angeles$10,000 prize for his operaFairyland.[10]

Works

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Choral

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  • King Trojan(1885)
  • The Kobolds
  • Harold Harfagar(1891)
  • Hora Novissima,Op. 30 (1893)
  • The Holy Child,Op. 37 (1893)
  • The Legend of Saint Christopher,Op.43 (1898)
  • A Wanderer's Psalm,Op. 50 (1900)
  • A Star Song,Op. 54, (1902)
  • The Shepherds' Vision,Op. 63
  • Morven and the Grail,Op. 79, an oratorio written for the centenary celebration of theHandel and Haydn Society[10](1915)
  • In Heavenly Love Abiding[13]

Operas

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  • Mona,Op. 71 (1912)
  • Fairyland,Op. 77 (1915)

Orchestral works

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  • Concert Overture in E, Op. 4 (1884)
  • Regulus,Overture héroïque,Op. 5 (1884)
  • Venetian Overturein B, Op. 12 (1884)
  • Scherzo in g, Op. 13 (1884)
  • Symphony in C, Op. 7 (1885)
  • Count Robert of Paris,Overture, Op. 24b (1890)
  • A Northern Ballad,Op. 46 (1899)
  • Organ Concerto in E-flat minor, Op. 55 (1902)
  • Vathek,Op. 56 (1903)
  • Collegiate Overture,Op. 72, with male chorus (1911)
  • FairylandSuite, Op. 77d (1915)

Orchestral songs

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  • Cahal Mor of the Wine-Red Hand,Op. 40 (1893)
  • Crepuscule,Op. 64 (1912)
  • The Red Cross Spirit Speaks(J. Finley), Op. 83 (1917)[14]
  • A. D. 1919,A Commemorative Poem by Brian Hooker Set to Music by Horatio Parker (op.84) [ "Published in Memory of the Two Hundred and Twenty-one Yale Men who Gave their Lives in the World War and in Recognition of the Service Rendered to the Allies by the Eight Thousand Yale Men who Responded to the Call to Arms" ] - Published by Yale University Press in 1919.

Organ

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  • Geschwindmarschfor 2 Organists (1881)
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 17 (1890): 1. Concert Piece No 1 - 2. Impromptu - 3. Romanza - 4....
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 20 (1891): 1. Melody and Intermezzo - 2. Wedding-Song - 3.... - 4. Fantasie
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 28 (1891): 1.... - 2. Concert Piece No 2 - 3. Pastorella - 4....
  • 5 Sketches, Op. 32 (1893)
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 36 (1893): 1. Canzonetta - 2.... - 3. Fugue - 4. Eglogue
  • 3 Compositions (1896)
  • Organ Sonata in E flat minor, Op. 65 (1908)
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 66 (1910): 1. Festival Prelude - 2. Revery - 3. Postlude - 4. Scherzino
  • 5 Short Pieces, Op. 68 (1908)1. Canon In the Fifth - 2. Slumber-Song - 3. Novelette - 4. Arietta - 5. Risoluto
  • Introduction and Fugue in e (1916)

Chamber music

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  • String Quartet in F, Op, 11 (1885)
  • Suite for Piano Trio Op. 35 (1893)
  • String Quintet in d, Op. 38 (1894)
  • Suite in e, Op. 41 for Violin and Piano (1894)

Piano

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  • Präsentirmarschfor 4 hands
  • 5 Morceaux caractéristiques,Op. 9 (1886)
  • 4 Sketches,Op. 19 (1890)
  • 6 Lyrics,Op. 23 (1891)
  • 2 Compositions(1895)
  • 3 Morceaux caractéristiques,Op. 49 (1899)

Notable students

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For Parker's notable students, seeList of music students by teacher: N to Q § Horatio Parker.

References

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  1. ^abGilman, D. C.;Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905)."Parker, Horatio William".New International Encyclopedia(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  2. ^Beach, Chandler B., ed. (1914)."Parker, Horatio".The New Student's Reference Work.Chicago: F. E. Compton and Co.
  3. ^abKearns, William (1990).Horatio Parker, 1863-1919: His Life, Music, and Ideas.Scarecrow Press. p. 5.ISBN978-0-8108-2292-4.RetrievedJanuary 20,2021.
  4. ^Charles H. Kaufman."Whiting, Arthur Battelle".Grove Music Online.Oxford Music Online.Oxford University Press, accessed March 21, 2016
  5. ^"Whiting, Arthur". Clippings file. Music Division. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
  6. ^"Arthur Whiting."Unknown newspaper.1885?. In "Whiting, Arthur". Clipping file. Music Division. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
  7. ^Horatio Parker Organ WorksClassical Net
  8. ^abChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922)."Parker, Horatio William".Encyclopædia Britannica(12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  9. ^Olmstead, Andrea (1999).Juilliard: a history.Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.ISBN0-252-02487-7.
  10. ^abcRines, George Edwin, ed. (1920)."Parker, Horatio William".Encyclopedia Americana.
  11. ^"University intelligence".The Times.No. 36779. London. May 28, 1902. p. 12.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^"Mrs. Frances Osborne Kellogg Dies at Osborndale; Dairy Farmer, Prize Cattle Breeder, Manufacturer, Patron of Arts Deeded Vast Property for a Park".Evening Sentinel (Ansonia, CT).September 27, 1956.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  13. ^"Best Six American Anthems"(PDF).The Diapason.7(2): 1. January 1, 1916.
  14. ^"The New York Symphony.; A New Symphony by Dubois-- Mme. Homer, Soloist".The New York Times.November 11, 1917.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024– via Newspapers.com.
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