Horatio Parker

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Horatio Parker

Horatio William Parker (born September 15, 1863 in Auburndale , Middlesex County , Massachusetts , † December 18, 1919 in Cedarhurst , New York ) was an American composer , organist and teacher. He is one of America's first most important composers. Parker was a central figure in the musical life of the city of New Haven, Connecticut . He was also a professor at Yale University .

In his compositions he pursued a conservative line that can be ascribed to the European romantic style.

Life

Parker was born in Auburndale, Massachusetts. He received his first music lessons from his mother before later studying in Boston. His teachers included George Chadwick , Stephen Albert Emery, and John Orth. In 1881 he went to Munich to study with Joseph Rheinberger . Germany was a popular travel destination for American students. Arthur Whiting and HH Huss followed him and also studied with Rheinberger. In Munich Parker composed his first important works (a symphony and a "dramatic" cantata)

In 1885 he returned to America. Immediately upon his return, Parker received a professorship at the Cathedral School of St. Paul in Garden City, Long Island. From 1888 to 1893 he worked as an organist at Trinity Church in New York City. In the same year he was called to the Trinity Church Boston and held this office until 1901. Also in 1893 Parker was appointed professor at Yale University , where he founded the Symphonic Orchestra . His students include a. Roger Sessions , Douglas Moore and Charles Ives . In 1902 the University of Cambridge awarded him the honorary title Doctor of Music (Mus.Doc.) Since 1898 he was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters .

Parker's health deteriorated significantly in his final years, he died in 1919 at his daughter Isabell's home in Cedarhurst, New York.

Compositions

Before Parker left New York City in 1893, he completed his oratorio Hora Novissima. This work quickly gained great popularity in America. In addition, it was performed in Chester in 1899 and at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester - an honor never before given to an American composer. The European music critics were consistently enthusiastic and described his work as one of the best American compositions of the time.

Although Parker primarily remembers this oratorio, it has left a wide variety of compositions. Parker composed two operas ( Mona , 1911 and Fairyland , 1914), a symphonic poem (Vathek), a concertino for organ, chamber music works, oratorios (including Hora novissima after Bernhard von Cluny ) and cantatas , choral works, organ and piano pieces as well as songs . His compositional style is entirely in the style of German Romanticism. Mendelsohn, Brahms, Wagner, Debussy and Elgar, among others, had influences on his compositions. The latter influences are particularly evident in his late works around 1900. Even during his lifetime he was considered an outstanding composer who could demonstrate a stylistically confident craft.

In 1892 Parke composed the anthem Auburndale. This later found its way into the hymnal published in 1916: The Messiah Miracle: A History The Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburndale 1871–1971.

In 1911 Parker submitted his opera Mona to a competition at the Metropolitan Opera and won first prize. Mona premiered on March 14, 1912. The main role played Louise Homer. He also won a competition in Los Angeles with his opera Fairyland.

Works

Oratorios and cantatas

  • King Trojan. 1885.
  • The goblins
  • 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 the Handel and Haydn Society (1915)

Operas

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

Orchestral works

  • Concert Overture in E, Op. 4 (1884)
  • Regulus, Overture héroïque, Op. 5 (1884)
  • Venetian Overture in B flat , 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 choir (1911)
  • Fairyland Suite, Op. 77d (1915)
  • Cahal Mor of the Wine-Red Hand, Op. 40 (1893)
  • Crepuscule, Op. 64 (1912)
  • The Red Cross Spirit Speaks (J. Finley), Op. 83 (1917)
  • AD 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 works

  • Speed ​​march for 2 organists (1881)
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 17 (1890): 1st Concert Piece No 1 - 2nd Impromptu - 3rd Romanza - 4th ...
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 20 (1891): 1. Melody and Intermezzo - 2. Wedding-Song - 3.… - 4. Fantasy
  • 4 Compositions, Op. 28 (1891): 1st ... - 2nd Concert Piece No 2 - 3rd Pastorella - 4th ...
  • 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)

Works for chamber orchestra

  • String quartet in F, Op, 11 (1885)
  • Suite Op. 35, for piano trio (1893)
  • String Quintet in D, Op. 38 (1894)
  • Suite in e, Op. 41 for violin and piano (1894)

Piano works

  • Presentation march for four 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)

literature

  • Alfred Baumgartner: Propylaea World of Music - The Composers - A lexicon in five volumes . tape 4 . Propylaen Verlag, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-549-07830-7 , pp. 257 .

Web links

Commons : Horatio Parker  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Parker, Horatio William. New International Encyclopedia, accessed October 6, 2016 .
  2. ^ Members: Horatio William Parker. American Academy of Arts and Letters, accessed April 18, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Parker, Horatio
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Parker, Horatio William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American composer
DATE OF BIRTH September 15, 1863
PLACE OF BIRTH Auburndale , Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH December 18, 1919
Place of death Cedarhurst , New York