by Keith Lewis-Jones
Dr Joseph Parry
Plaque sited at 4 Chapel Row,CF48 1BN
Joseph Parry was born on 24 May 1841 in the front, side room of 4 Chapel Row, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil. At the age of seventeen he began to take music lessons and made rapid progress. He sent four compositions to the Swansea Eisteddfod in 1863 signing them ‘Bachgen Bach o Ferthyr, erioed, erioed’ (A Merthyr boy forever and ever).
In 1868 he entered the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied for three years.
It is estimated that his songs numbered about 300, including the well-loved ‘Myfanwy’, in addition to some 300 anthems, chorales, glees, choruses, operas and orchestral works. He is probably best known internationally for his hymn tune ‘Aberystwyth’ – ‘Jesu, lover of my soul’.
I have his biography,written by Jack Jones. Its called “Off To Philadelphia In The Morning”