Parry Symphony No.2

[Alan Howe]

Written in 1882-83 and revised in 1887 and 1895, this is an absolutely splendid symphony. The premiere was conducted by Stanford in Cambridge in 1883 and then, after its first and substantial revision, the work was conducted by the great Hans Richter in London in 1887.

The work marks a major advance over Parry's 1st Symphony in its confidence of expression and its bold writing for the brass, the horns in particular, which come over vividly in Bamert's recording on Chandos. The accompanying booklet notes the foreshadowing of works such as Elgar's In the South and Strauss' Don Juan in the opening movement. It is interesting how Parry seems to be synthesizing an essentially Brahmsian/Dvorakian idiom with hints of Wagner - and anticipating the 'nobilmente' passages of Elgar.

Overall, this is a sadly neglected symphony - surely one which would go down a storm at the Proms.

[eschiss1]

That said, I know of only two modern recordings (maybe only two recordings at all), Bamert's and Penny's. The 3rd, 4th and 5th symphonies have been more fortunate in receiving more than 2 recordings apiece.

[Alan Howe]

One recording of No.4 is, of course, of the original (and greatly inferior) version.