Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

May 21, 1924

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Robert Parris was an American composer of classical music, born on October 11, 1934, in Sumter, South Carolina. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a pianist and singer. Parris began playing the piano at the age of six and showed an early talent for music. Parris attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied composition with Mark Fax and piano with Raymond Jackson. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1956 and went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 1958, where he studied with Vittorio Giannini. After completing his studies, Parris began his career as a composer and pianist. He taught at several universities, including Howard University, the University of Maryland, and the University of the District of Columbia. He also served as the music director of several churches in the Washington, D.C. area. Parris's music is characterized by its use of traditional forms and structures, combined with modern harmonies and rhythms. He was influenced by the music of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as by the jazz and blues music of his youth. One of Parris's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in 1963. The symphony is in three movements and features a solo trumpet in the second movement. The work is notable for its use of jazz and blues harmonies and rhythms, combined with classical forms and structures. Another notable work by Parris is his Piano Concerto, which was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in 1972. The concerto is in three movements and features a virtuosic piano part. The work is characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and jazz harmonies. Parris also wrote several works for choir, including his Mass for the City, which was premiered by the Cathedral Choral Society in 1980. The work is a setting of the Catholic Mass text and features a choir, soloists, and orchestra. The work is notable for its use of modern harmonies and rhythms, combined with traditional choral writing. In addition to his work as a composer, Parris was also a respected pianist. He performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Europe. He was particularly known for his performances of the music of Bach and Beethoven. Parris received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972 and a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1980. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Parris died on December 7, 1999, in Washington, D.C. He was remembered as a talented composer and pianist, whose music combined the traditions of classical music with the rhythms and harmonies of jazz and blues. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is remembered as an important figure in the world of American classical music.

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