Maria Hester Park
Encyclopedia
Maria Hester Park (September 29, 1760 – June 7, 1813) was a British
composer
, pianist
, and singer. She was also a noted piano teacher who taught many students in the nobility, including the Duchess of Devonshire
and her daughters.
and the harpsichord
. Her first public appearance was at the age of twenty-two as Maria Hester Reynolds in the Hanover Square
concert series with a concerto on the harpsichord. She played a Clementi
duet with Jane Mary Guest
on April 29, 1783, a concerto at Willis's Rooms
in March 1784 and a performance as Mrs Park ("late Reynolds") in May 1791. After her marriage in London in April of 1787 to Thomas Park
, an engraver turned antiquarian and man of letters, she ended her career as a performer, although she earned even more fame as composer and teacher. Her marriage appears to have been happy; several of her husband's love poems to her still exist. She corresponded with Joseph Haydn
, who, on October 22, 1794, sent her a sonata
of his composition (Hob. XVI:51) and a thank you letter in exchange for two of her pieces. She died in Hampstead
, London
at the age of 53, after many years of ill health. She left four daughters.
heroines.". She has been described as "one of the most prolific of the 18th century women composers." Her works are varied, competent, and professionally arranged. Her sonatas, according to The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers, are "varied and spirited." Her Sonata in C is stylistically close to Mozart, pleasant to the ear without being overly challenging either to the performer or the listener. Mozartean features apparent in her Sonata in F include a constant bass line of straight eighth notes that form the outlines of chord
s, and a distinct melody
with ornamentation
. There are also many basic scale
patterns and simple arpeggio
s, and the majority of her pieces are clean, lacking the melodrama
of later romantic
works. Her surviving music spans a quarter of a century.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and singer. She was also a noted piano teacher who taught many students in the nobility, including the Duchess of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
and her daughters.
Biography
Before her marriage, Maria Hester Park gave four well-received performances, mostly in the Oxford area, on both the pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
. Her first public appearance was at the age of twenty-two as Maria Hester Reynolds in the Hanover Square
Hanover Square Rooms
The Hanover Square Rooms or the Queen's Concert Rooms were assembly rooms established, principally for musical performances, on the corner of Hanover Square, London, by Sir John Gallini in partnership with Johann Christian Bach and Carl Friedrich Abel in 1774. For exactly one century this was the...
concert series with a concerto on the harpsichord. She played a Clementi
Muzio Clementi
Muzio Clementi was a celebrated composer, pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer. Born in Italy, he spent most of his life in England. He is best known for his piano sonatas, and his collection of piano studies, Gradus ad Parnassum...
duet with Jane Mary Guest
Jane Mary Guest
Jane Mary Guest, also known as Jenny Guest and later as Jane Mary Miles, was an English composer and pianist. A pupil of Johann Christian Bach, and initially composing in the galante style, she composed keyboard sonatas, other keyboard works and vocal works with keyboard...
on April 29, 1783, a concerto at Willis's Rooms
Almack's
Almack's Assembly Rooms was a social club in London from 1765 to 1871 and one of the first to admit both men and women. It was one of a limited number of upper class mixed-sex public social venues in the British capital in an era when the most important venues for the hectic social season were the...
in March 1784 and a performance as Mrs Park ("late Reynolds") in May 1791. After her marriage in London in April of 1787 to Thomas Park
Thomas Park (antiquarian)
Thomas Park was an English antiquary and bibliographer, also known as a literary editor.-Life:He was the son of parents who lived at East Acton, Middlesex...
, an engraver turned antiquarian and man of letters, she ended her career as a performer, although she earned even more fame as composer and teacher. Her marriage appears to have been happy; several of her husband's love poems to her still exist. She corresponded with Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, who, on October 22, 1794, sent her a sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
of his composition (Hob. XVI:51) and a thank you letter in exchange for two of her pieces. She died in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the age of 53, after many years of ill health. She left four daughters.
Park's music
It has been said of Maria Hester Park that she was "hugely popular in the elegant drawing rooms of eighteenth century England" and that she "made her living composing the sort of music performed by Jane AustenJane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
heroines.". She has been described as "one of the most prolific of the 18th century women composers." Her works are varied, competent, and professionally arranged. Her sonatas, according to The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers, are "varied and spirited." Her Sonata in C is stylistically close to Mozart, pleasant to the ear without being overly challenging either to the performer or the listener. Mozartean features apparent in her Sonata in F include a constant bass line of straight eighth notes that form the outlines of chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
s, and a distinct melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
with ornamentation
Ornament (music)
In music, ornaments or embellishments are musical flourishes that are not necessary to carry the overall line of the melody , but serve instead to decorate or "ornament" that line. Many ornaments are performed as "fast notes" around a central note...
. There are also many basic scale
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
patterns and simple arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
s, and the majority of her pieces are clean, lacking the melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
of later romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
works. Her surviving music spans a quarter of a century.
Works
- Op. 1, Sonatas, harpsichord/pianoforte, violin accompaniment, 1785, dedicated to Countess of Uxbridge.
- Op. 2, 3 Sonatas, harpsichord/pianoforte, c.1790.
- Op. 3, A Set of Glees with the Dirge in Cymbeline, ?1790.
- Op. 4, 2 Sonatas (No. 1 in F, No. 2 in F major), harpsichord/pianoforte, 1790.
- Op. 6, Concerto in E flat major, harpsichord/pianoforte, strings, ?1795.
- Op. 7, Sonata in C major, pianoforte, ?1796.
- Op. 13, 2 Sonatas, pianoforte, violin accompaniment, ?1801.
- - Waltz, pianoforte, ?1801
- - Divertimento, pianoforte, violin accompaniment, ?1811.
Discography
- Music by Maria Hester Park, Marie Bigot, and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel; Release Date - 08/12/2000; Label - Centaur Records; Catalog - 2320; Performer- Betty Ann Miller
- 18th Century Women Composers: Music For Solo Harpsichord, Volume 1 (Maria Hester Park, Elisabetta de Gambarini, Marianna von Auenbrugg, Marianne (Anna Katharina) von Martínez); Release Date - 08/22/1995; Label - Gasparo Records; Catalog - 272; Performer - Barbara Harbach
- 18th Century Women Composers: Music for Solo Harpsichord, Volume 2 (Maria Hester Park, Elisabetta de Gambarini, Marianna von Auenbrugg, Marianne (Anna Katharina) von Martínez); Release Date - 08/22/1995; Label - Gasparo Records; Catalog - 272; Performer - Barbara Harbach