Penarth : Joseph Parry

Today is the 116th anniversary of the death of renowned Welsh composer, Dr Joseph Parry (1841 – 1903). Now, I will freely admit that I’d never heard of Joseph Parry before I moved to Wales, and it was only the sight of his newly cleaned and restored, gleaming white marble gravestone in St Augustine’s churchyard in Penarth that led me to wonder who he was.

Yr Herald Cymraeg, 24 February 1903

Then, a few days after spotting his grave, I was reading a book a friend gave me a couple of years back, called The Cardiff Book of Days (Mike Hall, The History Press, Stroud, 2011), and found an entry about Parry in there. To enlighten the non-Welsh amongst you, here’s a brief summary from that book:

… composer of the famous song ‘Myfanwy’. Born in Merthyr Tydfil … worked in a mine as a child … emigrated with his family to Danville, Pennsylvania, where he worked in an iron mill ... began to compose music and he was awarded the Bardic title ‘Pencerdd America’ when he was inducted into the Gorsedd at the 1865 Aberystwyth Eisteddfod. A public subscription fund enabled him to study at the Royal Academy of Music and in 1874 he became Professor of Music at Aberystwyth University. He later became Head of Music at the new University College, Cardiff ... he composed many hymn tunes, including ‘Aberystwyth’ and the Welsh language opera, Blodwyn.…

His music was obviously much adored by the Welsh people, as was the man himself to judge by newspaper reports before and after his death. Several papers included almost daily reports of his final illness – this from the Evening Express, 14 February 1903:

DR. JOSEPH PARRY. Lying Seriously Ill at Penarth. PATIENT RALLIES DURING THE NIGHT.  
We regret to state that the condition of Dr. Joseph Parry has taken a serious turn for the worse during the last twenty-four hours. Dr. Parry has occasionally suffered from a long-standing complaint, and a week ago his condition was such that Dr. Hibbert, the family physician, deemed it necessary to call in Dr. Lynn Thomas to perform an operation. This was successful, and a speedy recovery was expected. On Friday, however, Dr. Parry's condition took a turn for the worse. There was a diminution of fever, and the temperature went down to 99, but the pulsation went up, and Dr. Hibbert considered this a bad sign. All the family are in attendance, with the exception of Mr. Mendelssohn Parry, who is in America. At three o'clock this morning we learned that Dr. Parry's condition had not materially changed since Friday evening. At 4.15 this morning the condition of Dr. Parry was reported to be unchanged. Morphia was administered at midnight, and since then at intervals the doctor has regained consciousness, and recognised those around his bedside At five o'clock he rallied, and somewhat improved in condition.

When he died a few days later, there seems to have been a national outpouring of grief. The Evening Express again, this time dated 18 February 1903:

Weekly Mail, 21 February 1903

DR. JOSEPH PARRY.
With sincere regret we chronicle the death of the gifted musician and genial patriot Dr. Joseph Parry. Wherever there is a Welshman, it matters not in what corner of the world, the news will be received with a sense of personal loss. It is all the more sad because comparatively unexpected. Only a few weeks ago the doctor was in his accustomed health, and no one who saw him then would have imagined that the King of Terrors was so soon to lay his icy hand upon that vigorous and stalwart frame. Dr. Parry had lived his long and active life almost without an illness, and it often happens in such cases that a serious complaint ends fatally. Dr. Parry was a hard worker, a multifarious composer, a skilful instructor, a true friend, a delightful companion, and a Welshman to his finger tips. He had brilliant abilities, and the little boy who sweated before the puddling furnace lived to gain high distinctions, to enjoy all the honours the Eisteddfod could bestow, and to write music that will never die as long as a Welshman lives. His was a remarkable career, and one that will “fire the hearts of new endeavourers” amongst his countrymen for generations to come.

Weekly Mail, 28 February 1903

If you want to pay homage to this great Welshman, Joseph Parry’s grave is easy to find on the south side of St Augustine’s churchyard – the white marble stands out amongst the sea of grey headstones. The monument is impressive and topped, appropriately enough, by a lyre. According to the Friends of St Augustine’s website, where you can read more about Parry’s life and achievements, two of the instrument’s seven strings ‘are broken to represent the fact that two of his sons perished before him’.