MR ROBERT PARKER PASSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 31, 20 February 1937, Page 5

MR ROBERT PARKER PASSES

-Press Assoclfttion.)

Famous Organist and Doyen of Music in N.Z.

(B» Telegreph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. The death has occurred of Mr Roberfc JParker, C.M.G., organist at St. Paul's pro-Cathedral for over 60 years and doyen of music in New Zealand. He ' "as in his 91st. year. Mr Robert Parker, has held the respect and affection of the Wellington public for Well over half a century, and though he considered that he had retired as a public figure, even at the age of 91 be was an active force in musip in Wellington as a master pedagogue and as an organist and choirmaBter of St Paul's Pro-Cathedral. Not only was he esteemed for his sound musicianship3 his musical erudition and fine executive capacity, but he'had personal qualities embodying many very special virtues, which ensured him an honoured place for all time in the hearts and minds of his contemporaries, and have surrounded him in the autumn • of his days with hosts of friends. Mr Parker was born in London in 1847, and received a sound musical tiaiuing in the metropolis at the hands of the late M. S. Hoyte and Scotson Clarke. He studied the violin, organ, pianoforte, as well as choral work under these teachers, but eventually centred in the pianoforte and organ, whilst his knowledge of choral work enabled him to take a lead almost immediately upon his arrival in New Zealand. He gained a scholarship which ensured him the opportunity for further study at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he became organist. Subsequently he became professional assistant to Dr W. H. Monk, of King's College, London. It was owing to A threatened decline in health that Mr Parker ©lected to come to New Zealand in 1869. He first settled !n Christchurch, where he waB appointed organist and ehoirmaster at St. Michael's Church, In 1878 he waa appointed organist and ehoirmaster at St. Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, and that post he retained until his death, which toust stand as a record in New Zealand. He became the acknowledged conductor whenever -a choral festival wds arranged, and out of one of those events arose the ^Wellington Musical Union, a society devoted to the presentation of choral worbs. Contemporaneously Mr Parker carried on the duties of conductor of the Wellington Orchestral Society and the Wellington Liedertafel.