John Parry (Bardd Alaw)
Encyclopedia
John Parry commonly known by his bardic name
"Bardd Alaw", was a Welsh
harp
ist and composer.
, in northern Wales, the son of a stonemason. He taught himself to play the fife on an instrument that he made himself from a piece of cane, and a dance-master who lived nearby taught him the rudiments of the clarinet, which he used to accompany singers in church.
In 1793, Parry joined the Denbighshire militia's volunteers' band, becoming its conductor in 1797. He became a master of the harp, the clarinet and the flageolet
and learned to play many other instruments. In 1807, he left the band and settled in London, where his son, the entertainer John Orlando Parry
, was born. At a concert at Covent Garden
, in the same year, he performed on two flageolets set together in frame. It is thought that this inspired the flageolet-maker William Bainbridge
to invent his double-flageolet. Parry subsequently became this instrument's most famous player, teacher and proponent. By 1809, he began to compose and publish vocal compositions, especially ballads, and simple pieces for the harp and piano, as well as duets for flute and other wind instruments. He also became a facile orchestrator. The same year, he was appointed musical director at Vauxhall Gardens
and composed much of the music performed there.
Parry soon published a collection of Welsh melodies, for which the Cambrian Society presented him with a silver medal. He later composed two volumes of Ancient British Airs, with poetry by Mrs. Hemans. Between 1813 and 1818, he composed several songs for public occasions and songs for two musical farces, Fair Cheating and High Notions, writing both the words and music. The name "Bardd Alaw" (professor of music and master of song) was given him at the Welshpool
eisteddfod, or Congress of Welsh Bards, at Wrexham in 1821, of which he was musical director. In the same year, he launched Cymdeithas y Canorion, to encourage singing to harp accompaniment. His associates included Lady Llanover, at whose house he was a guest, Felicia Hemans
, with whom he collaborated, and Maria Jane Williams
, who worked with him on The Welsh Harper. He organized many cymrodorions (Welsh folk festivals).
Also in 1821, he produced, at the English Opera, a successful piece called Two Wives, or a Hint to Husbands. In 1822, he conducted at the congress of the Welsh bards held at Brecon and the meetings of the Welsh bards, held in London, which continued for many years under his direction as registrar of music to the Royal Cambrian Institution. He also wrote parts of several operas and other pieces; adapted the music to an opera of Ivanhoe, performed at Covent Garden Theatre; and composed over three hundred songs, duets, and other pieces, especially for the harp, piano, flageolet, violin and flute, including almost every genre of music. Among other works, he published two volumes of Welsh melodies, with English words; two volumes of Scottish songs; two volumes of catches and glees; two of minstrel songs, for the flute, entitled Corydon and Sapphonia, for the violin. His works also include several volumes of military music; books of instruction for several instruments; two sets of Welsh airs; and The Æolian Harmonies, consisting of selections from the works of the most eminent composers, arranged for wind instruments.
On 24 May 1826, a benefit concert was held by the Society of Cymmrodorion
on Parry's behalf. During the 1830s and 1840s he was a regular adjudicator at eisteddfodau.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
"Bardd Alaw", was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist and composer.
Biography
Parry was born in DenbighDenbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
, in northern Wales, the son of a stonemason. He taught himself to play the fife on an instrument that he made himself from a piece of cane, and a dance-master who lived nearby taught him the rudiments of the clarinet, which he used to accompany singers in church.
In 1793, Parry joined the Denbighshire militia's volunteers' band, becoming its conductor in 1797. He became a master of the harp, the clarinet and the flageolet
Flageolet
The flageolet is a woodwind musical instrument and a member of the fipple flute family. Its invention is ascribed to the 16th century Sieur Juvigny in 1581. There are two basic forms of the instrument: the French, having four finger holes on the front and two thumb holes on the back; and the...
and learned to play many other instruments. In 1807, he left the band and settled in London, where his son, the entertainer John Orlando Parry
John Orlando Parry
John Orlando Parry was an English actor, pianist, artist, comedian and singer.-Early career:Parry, the only son of Welsh musician John Parry , was born in London and, at an early age, was taught by his father to sing and to play the harp and the piano. He also studied the harp under Robert Bochsa...
, was born. At a concert at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, in the same year, he performed on two flageolets set together in frame. It is thought that this inspired the flageolet-maker William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge was a Commodore in the United States Navy, notable for his victory over HMS Java during the War of 1812.-Early life:...
to invent his double-flageolet. Parry subsequently became this instrument's most famous player, teacher and proponent. By 1809, he began to compose and publish vocal compositions, especially ballads, and simple pieces for the harp and piano, as well as duets for flute and other wind instruments. He also became a facile orchestrator. The same year, he was appointed musical director at Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens was a pleasure garden, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London, England from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. Originally known as New Spring Gardens, the site was believed to have opened before the Restoration of 1660 with the first mention being...
and composed much of the music performed there.
Parry soon published a collection of Welsh melodies, for which the Cambrian Society presented him with a silver medal. He later composed two volumes of Ancient British Airs, with poetry by Mrs. Hemans. Between 1813 and 1818, he composed several songs for public occasions and songs for two musical farces, Fair Cheating and High Notions, writing both the words and music. The name "Bardd Alaw" (professor of music and master of song) was given him at the Welshpool
Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
eisteddfod, or Congress of Welsh Bards, at Wrexham in 1821, of which he was musical director. In the same year, he launched Cymdeithas y Canorion, to encourage singing to harp accompaniment. His associates included Lady Llanover, at whose house he was a guest, Felicia Hemans
Felicia Hemans
-Ancestry:Felicia Heman's paternal grandfather was George Browne of Passage, co. Cork, Ireland; her maternal grandparents were Elizabeth Haydock Wagner of Lancashire and Benedict Paul Wagner , wine importer at 9 Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool. Family legend gave the Wagners a Venetian origin;...
, with whom he collaborated, and Maria Jane Williams
Maria Jane Williams
Maria Jane Williams was an 18th century Welsh musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House, Glynneath in Glamorgan, south Wales.-Life:Maria Jane Williams was born in 1794, or 1795, at Aberpergwm House, Glynneath...
, who worked with him on The Welsh Harper. He organized many cymrodorions (Welsh folk festivals).
Also in 1821, he produced, at the English Opera, a successful piece called Two Wives, or a Hint to Husbands. In 1822, he conducted at the congress of the Welsh bards held at Brecon and the meetings of the Welsh bards, held in London, which continued for many years under his direction as registrar of music to the Royal Cambrian Institution. He also wrote parts of several operas and other pieces; adapted the music to an opera of Ivanhoe, performed at Covent Garden Theatre; and composed over three hundred songs, duets, and other pieces, especially for the harp, piano, flageolet, violin and flute, including almost every genre of music. Among other works, he published two volumes of Welsh melodies, with English words; two volumes of Scottish songs; two volumes of catches and glees; two of minstrel songs, for the flute, entitled Corydon and Sapphonia, for the violin. His works also include several volumes of military music; books of instruction for several instruments; two sets of Welsh airs; and The Æolian Harmonies, consisting of selections from the works of the most eminent composers, arranged for wind instruments.
On 24 May 1826, a benefit concert was held by the Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
on Parry's behalf. During the 1830s and 1840s he was a regular adjudicator at eisteddfodau.
Written
- The Ancient Britons’ Martial Music (1804)
- Welsh Melodies (1809)
- An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Harp (1834)
- An Account of the Royal Musical Festival Held in Westminster Abbey in 1834 (1834)