

In my public Forum talk (5.30pm at the Steven Baxter Recital Room in the Yogn Siew Toh Conservatory, part of the National University of Singapore) I can only scratch the surface of a fascinating life which changed the whole course of music in England - transforming it from being a rich man's hobby to a burning artistic ambition which knows no social or economic boundaries. But while it might seem that this is concerned primarily with English music, the international repercussions of Parry's life and work resonate as far as India, Tibet, South America and, yes, Singapore.
Please come if you can.
Thank you, Marc, for this entertaining talk. Having sung "Jerusalem" countless times (it was the only hymn that roused the entire school), it was meaningful to learn more about its composer, Sir Herbert Parry. His contribution to the British music scene was an eye-opener. In particular, the context of "Jerusalem" and its original purpose during the First World War, women's enfranchisement and time of enormous social change is now understood and appreciated. Your talk was delivered with due wit and colour, much to the delight of the listening Harrow School musicians, currently in Singapore as part of their Asian tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Stephanie Cheah