Walter Parratt

Sir Walter Parratt (10 February 184127 March 1924) was an English organist and composer. He served as Master of the Queen's Music, and later as Master of the King's Music, from 1893 to 1924.

Biography

Born in Huddersfield, son of a parish organist, Parratt began to play the pipe organ from an early age, and held posts as an organist while still a child. He was a child prodigy: on one occasion he played Bach's complete The Well-Tempered Clavier by heart, without notice, at age ten.

From 1854 to 1861, he was an organist at St Paul's Church in his native town and, as successor to John Stainer, in 1872 at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he remained for ten years. From 1882, he held the post of organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He became Heather Professor of Music at Oxford University in 1908, taking over from Hubert Parry.

He became one of the foremost organ teachers of his day, with many important posts in Britain being filled by his students. He was president of the Royal College of Organists from 1905 to 1909. He served for a few months as president of the Oxford University Chess Club and for two years was captain of the eight chosen to play against Cambridge.

He died at Windsor Castle on 27 March 1924. and George V.

Appointments Armitage Bridge Church, 1852–1854 St. Paul's Church, Huddersfield, 1854–1861 Private organist to the Earl of Dudley, Witley Court, 1861–1868 Organist of Wigan Parish Church, 1868–1872 Magdalen College, Oxford, 1872–1882 St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle 1882–1924