Ian Parrott

Professor Ian Parrott (born 1916), who retired from the Gregynog Chair of Music at Aberystwyth in 1983, is a prolific Anglo-Welsh composer and writer on music. His distinctions include the first prize of the Royal Philharmonic Society for his symphonic poem 'Luxor', and commissions by the BBC and Yale University, and for many leading British musicians. In 1958 his Cor Anglais concerto was first performed at Cheltenham Festival and in 1963 his cello concerto was given by William Pleeth and the Halle Orchestra - both concertos were conducted by Sir John Barbirolli.

Early life

Ian Parrott was born in Streatham, London, in 1916. He studied at the Royal College of Music, was a music scholar at New College, Oxford, from 1934 to 1937, and was awarded his doctorate in 1940. War service with the Royal Corps of Signals took him to Egypt. He was a lecturer at Birmingham University from 1946 to 1950.

Career

After about 1950, Parrott's compositions became deeply influenced by his interest in the Welsh landscape and culture. In 1955 he became a founder member of the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music. Amongst his writings are a book on the Davies sisters of Gregynog - "The Spiritual Pilgrims" - and his book on Elgar for the "Master Musicians" Series. A leading authority on Elgar, he became a Vice-President of the Elgar Society in 1973; he is also a vice-president of the Peter Warlock Society.

He wrote a study of the piano music of Cyril Scott and in 1994 he published "The Crying Curlew" for Peter Warlock's centenary. His autobiography "Parrottcisms" appeared in 2003.

He has composed five symphonies, four operas and many chamber works.

Awards

Amongst many awards in a distinguished career, Professor Parrott received the John Edwards Memorial Award from the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music in 1977. In 1994 he became the first recipient of the Glyndŵr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales.

Bibliography

* Michael Kennedy (musicologist) (Editor): "The Oxford Dictionary of Music" (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1994) ISBN 0-19-869162-9
* Ian Parrott: "Elgar (Master Musicians Series) "(Dent, London, 1971) ISBN 0-460-03109-0
* Ian Parrott: "Parrottcisms" (British Music Society, Upminster, 2003) ISBN 1-870536-24-X
* Ian Parrott: "The Spiritual Pilgrims" (C. Davies, Llandybie, 1969)
* Ian Parrott: "The Crying Curlew: Peter Warlock, family & influences" (Gomer, Llandysul, 1994) ISBN 1-85902-121-2