Christopher Parkening
Encyclopedia
Christopher Parkening is an American classical guitar
ist.
Parkening was born in Los Angeles, California
, and pursued music in part because of his cousin Jack Marshall, a studio musician in the 1960s. Marshall first introduced Parkening to the recordings of Andrés Segovia
when he was 11, and encouraged Parkening to begin studying the classical guitar
. By the time he was 19, he had won a number of competitions and was touring and recording extensively.
Parkening is recognized as heir to the legacy of Segovia, who said, "Christopher Parkening is a great artist—-he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world."
Parkening went into retirement at a young age and stopped public performances to live a quiet life, and pursue his lifelong dream of relaxation by flyfishing. Parkening rarely even played the guitar, and would not have come out of retirement if it was not for his religious conversion to Christianity. He believed that he could glorify God with his music, taking a page from the great composer J.S. Bach who said, "the ultimate aim and end of all music is none else but the glory of God." Shocking his fans, Parkening, in order to make clear that he was convinced that his faith was true and his life was changed, refused to play anything but Christian music. Instead of coming out with a classical album, he released Simple Gifts, featuring new arrangements for the classical guitar of many traditional Christian hymns. Parkening's faith has continued strong, and the story of it plays a prominent place in his autobiography published in 2006, Grace Like a River.
Parkening has amassed a great discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award
. A notable recording is Parkening Plays Vivaldi featuring a selection of Baroque
concertos, as well as the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock
's Capriol Suite with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
.
Christopher Parkening lives with his wife, Theresa, and son Luke in Southern California
. Each summer he teaches master classes in Bozeman, Montana
.
He is a committed Christian
and regards performance as an expression of his faith. Parkening is also a world class fly fishing
and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the "Wimbledon of fly fishing") in the Florida Keys.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist.
Parkening was born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and pursued music in part because of his cousin Jack Marshall, a studio musician in the 1960s. Marshall first introduced Parkening to the recordings of Andrés Segovia
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Torres Segovia, 1st Marquis of Salobreña , known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain...
when he was 11, and encouraged Parkening to begin studying the classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
. By the time he was 19, he had won a number of competitions and was touring and recording extensively.
Parkening is recognized as heir to the legacy of Segovia, who said, "Christopher Parkening is a great artist—-he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world."
Parkening went into retirement at a young age and stopped public performances to live a quiet life, and pursue his lifelong dream of relaxation by flyfishing. Parkening rarely even played the guitar, and would not have come out of retirement if it was not for his religious conversion to Christianity. He believed that he could glorify God with his music, taking a page from the great composer J.S. Bach who said, "the ultimate aim and end of all music is none else but the glory of God." Shocking his fans, Parkening, in order to make clear that he was convinced that his faith was true and his life was changed, refused to play anything but Christian music. Instead of coming out with a classical album, he released Simple Gifts, featuring new arrangements for the classical guitar of many traditional Christian hymns. Parkening's faith has continued strong, and the story of it plays a prominent place in his autobiography published in 2006, Grace Like a River.
Parkening has amassed a great discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. A notable recording is Parkening Plays Vivaldi featuring a selection of Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
concertos, as well as the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock
Peter Warlock
Peter Warlock was a pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine , an Anglo-Welsh composer and music critic. He used the pseudonym when composing, and is now better known by this name....
's Capriol Suite with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is an English chamber orchestra, based in London.Sir Neville Marriner founded the ensemble as The Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields in London as a small, conductorless string group. The ensemble's name comes from Trafalgar Square's St Martin-in-the-Fields...
.
Christopher Parkening lives with his wife, Theresa, and son Luke in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Each summer he teaches master classes in Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
.
He is a committed Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and regards performance as an expression of his faith. Parkening is also a world class fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the "Wimbledon of fly fishing") in the Florida Keys.
LP
- The Christopher Parkening Album, Angel S-36069
- In the Classic Style—Bach, Angel S-36019
- In the Spanish Style—Albéniz, Angel S-36020
- Parkening Plays Bach, Angel S-36041
- Romanza, Angel S-36021
CD
- Christopher Parkening—A Bach Celebration with Ron Ravenscroft and the Los Angeles Chamber OrchestraLos Angeles Chamber OrchestraThe Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is a 40-member American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, considered by music critic Jim Svejda as "America's finest chamber orchestra".-History:...
(1990), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RNL - Christopher Parkening Plays Bach (1990), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RNJ
- Christopher Parkening with David Brandon—Virtuoso Duets (1990), Angel ASIN-B000002RQ9
- In the Spanish Style/Christopher Parkening (1990), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RNK
- Pleasures of Their Company with Kathleen BattleKathleen BattleKathleen Battle , is an African-American operatic soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances with major orchestras during the early and mid 1970s. She made her opera debut in...
(1990), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RNM - Simple Gifts (1990), Angel ASIN-B000002SJJ
- A Tribute to Segovia (1991), Capitol ASIN-B000002RQ8
- Artistry of Christopher Parkening (1993), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RTK
- The Great Recordings—By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso (1993), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RTR
- Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Walton: 5 Bagatelles with Andrew LittonAndrew LittonAndrew Litton is an American orchestral conductor. Litton is a graduate of The Fieldston School, and holds both undergraduate and Masters degrees in music from Juilliard....
and the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
(1993), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RT5 - Christopher Parkening Plays Vivaldi Guitar Concertos & Warlock Capriol Suite (1994), EMI Classics ASIN-B000002RU3
- Angel's Glory with Kathleen BattleKathleen BattleKathleen Battle , is an African-American operatic soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances with major orchestras during the early and mid 1970s. She made her opera debut in...
(1996), Angel ASIN-B0000029TS - Celebrates Segovia (1998), EMI Classics ASIN-B00000AGKF
- Elmer Bernstein—Concerto for Guitar—E. Bernstein—Albeniz—Marshall (2000), EMI Classics ASIN-B00004ZDLL
- Grace Like A River (2006), Angel ASIN-B000F2CAN8
- Christopher Parkening Collection (2 CDs), Musical Heritage Society ASIN-B000B5GPA8