Charles Hubert Parry Symphony No.5; Elegy for Brahms, From Death to Life

Charles Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918)

Symphony No. 5 in B minor 26:51

'Symphonic Fantasia 1912'

From Death to Life 16:34

Symphonic Poem in two connected movements

Elegy for Brahms in A minor 13:19

Maestoso espressivo - Largamente - Tempo primo

London Philharmonic Orchestra

  Matthias Bamert

This disc, very well recorded in 1991, brings together three works that have been neglected since they were written. The Elegy to Brahms was not offered for performance by Parry and is his deeply felt tribute to the death of a hero as he put it. The 'From Death to Life' two part symphonic poem from 1914 received only one performance which may reflect the war years situation more than the value of the music. The symphony received a number of performances but has since fallen into complete neglect.

Parry had the misfortune to live at a time when Elgar's star was very much in the ascendency. Elgar undoubtedly caught the mood of the nation in a way that parry did not and there simply was not enough emotional room for both to exist side by side at that time in England. Parry was also rather of an academic turn of mind and perhaps did not instinctively know how to promote himself to best advantage. The title such as 'From Death to Life' written at the start of the Great War was not likely to promote a similar response as Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance title for example. His fifth symphony was written some ten years after his fourth and followed a period of personal decline in health where he was medically advised to take things easier.

Regardless of these events, or lack of them, the boxed set of the symphonies has made it clear that Parry deserves a reassessment as a composer. The music on this disc is essentially from his more mature years and is very well written for the orchestra. His style is melodic with some of the nobility and grandeur of Elgar and is able to sustain interest in the listener. All the pieces have shape and direction and are not difficult to follow. The music is by no means as gloomy as the titling may suggest.

Matthias Bamert proves to be a fine guide to this music and as good a case as possible is made for Parry as a composer of note. This particular disc is now being priced very highly as a result of its scarcity. A much better buy both financially and also arguably on musical grounds would be to buy the whole boxed set of symphonies and other works which is still available at at a more reasonable price.

I would suggest that Parry is well worth getting to know as a symphonist and that the recordings by Bamert on Chandos are unlikely to be challenged or bettered for a very long time.