Joseph Parry Paintings

Joseph Parry was a Welsh composer and musician born on May 21, 1841, in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. He is best known for his compositions in the choral tradition, which include hymns, oratorios, and cantatas. Parry's family emigrated to the United States when he was a young boy, settling in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the iron industry. Despite his early work life, he showed a profound interest in music and began his formal musical education in the United States.

Parry returned to the United Kingdom to further his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he excelled. After his time in London, Parry became the first Welshman to achieve a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Cambridge. His career as a composer and educator included a significant period in Wales, where he contributed to the cultural and musical life of the nation. He became a professor at the University of Wales and was involved in the Welsh folk music revival.

Among his most beloved works is the hymn tune 'Myfanwy', which is still popular in Wales and among Welsh communities worldwide. He also composed operas, piano music, and orchestral pieces, but it is his vocal works that have left a lasting imprint on Welsh music. Parry's compositions often evoke the spirit of Welsh nationalism and romanticism.

Joseph Parry died on February 17, 1903, in Penarth, Wales. His legacy is celebrated in Wales and by Welsh societies around the world for his contribution to music and the Welsh national identity. Parry's work has been performed in concerts and eisteddfodau (Welsh cultural festivals) and continues to be an essential part of Wales's musical heritage.