Parry, John (c. 1710–1782)

Welsh harpist. He appeared at Dublin in 1736, and in London and Cambridge in 1746. Handel admired him and Gray wrote his poem ‘The Bard’ on him. He published collections of Welsh and other British national melodies.

Parry, John (1776–1851)

Welsh clarinettist, bandmaster and composer. He settled in London in 1807, and in 1809 was engaged to write songs for Vauxhall Gardens. Later he became a theatre composer and music critic to the Morning Post (1834–48). In the 1820s he conducted Welsh festivals at Wrexham and Brecon.

Works stage pieces Harlequin Hoax (libretto by T Dibdin, 1814), Oberon's Oath (1816), Ivanhoe (1820), The Sham Prince (1836); songs and ballads; arrangements of Welsh songs.