Joseph Parry
Joseph Parry (1841–1903) was a Welsh composer and musician, best known for the song Myfanwy and the hymn tune Aberystwyth.
Born in Merthyr Tydfil, he worked in the mines and ironworks before studying in London and taking music degrees at Cambridge, the first Welshman to do so. He later taught at Aberystwyth and Cardiff. A prolific writer of hymns, songs, cantatas, oratorios and operas, he composed the first opera in the Welsh language. Myfanwy remains a staple of male-voice choir repertoire, and Aberystwyth is widely sung to Charles Wesley’s words ‘Jesu, Lover of My Soul’.
Compositions by Joseph Parry appear on
Songs and Praises
Favourite hymns from the Australian Hymn Book, Vol. 3. Choir and organ fill Trinity College Chapel, Melbourne, with the thrilling sound that hymn lovers know so well.
Heritage
The Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir celebrate Victoria’s architectural heritage in song, recorded in the unaltered acoustics of National Trust colonial buildings.