Parry’s style
Influences: Parry venerated the music of Bach. He also happily assimilated as much as he wanted of Schumann, Brahms and Wagner’s music while at the same time acknowledging the English cathedral influences of Stainer and SS Wesley.
Melody and harmony: Parry’s sweeping melodies are supported by a robust diatonic harmony from which he also derived a higher, dissonant language of suspensions and poignant appoggiaturas.
Choral architecture: Taking the examples of Bach, Handel and Mendelssohn, Parry developed a unique sense of grand choral architecture which proved ideal for his muscular handling of harmony and counterpoint and his assured understanding of choral forms.
An ‘English’ yearning: Although Parry’s ceremonial music embodies a sense of strength and confidence, on a deeper level his musical language imparts something much more aspirational – a longing for a better world in which music will help to raise humanity to new heights.