Horatio William Parker (Sept. 15, 1863 - December 18, 1919 )was an American composer, teacher, and organist, who came to be a part of the Second New England School, also commonly known as the Boston Six, along with Amy Beach, George Whitefield Chadwick, Arthur Foote, Edward MacDowell, and John Knowles Paine. Parker was born in Massachusetts, and received his first musical instruction from his mother and later on studied in Boston with George Whitefield Chadwick, Stephen A. Emery, and John Orth. He also studied in Munich with Josef Rheinberger at the Royal Music School. When he returned to the States, he was appointed Professor of Music at the Cathedral School of St. Paul in Garden City, Long Island, and later on the organist at Trinity Church in New York City, and Trinity Church of Boston. He became Professor of  Music at Yale University in 1893, and was appointed Dean of Music in 1904, and held that for the rest of his life. When he taught at Yale, one of his students was Charles Ives (whose piece 114 Songs we looked at some time ago).

As a composer, Parker wrote much for his instrument, the organ, but also wrote many cantatas, oratorios, orchestral works, two operas, and chamber music as well. Written in 1904,  Suite for Piano Trio in A opens with a glimmering arpeggios in the piano before the violin comes in on the melody, which the cello then later repeats. The lines are beautifully long and searching. In the second movement, Tempo di Menuetto is an energetic waltz in minor. A slow movement, Romance, follows, with lush themes in the violin and cello, and there's a cheeky, lighthearted middle section. The final movement, Allegro, is a rather cheerful march filled with dotted rhythms throughout, however there is a more lyrical middle section. This work is a sparkling, joyful composition that would be both a crowd pleaser, and a great joy to play for the musicians!

Here are some recordings of this wonderful piece for you to enjoy!

Rawlins Piano Trio
Toledo Trio