Finale from "Blest Pair of Sirens" (O may we sing again)

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet (27 February 1848 - 7 October 1918) was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. He was director of the Royal College of Music from 1895 until his death and was also professor of music at the University of Oxford from 1900 to 1908. He also wrote several books about music and music history. Some contemporaries rated him as the finest English composer since Henry Purcell, but his academic duties prevented him from devoting all his energies to composition. Parry was a great lover of the music of Bach, and many of his works demonstrate this interest and mastery.

Parry's glorious "Blest pair of Sirens" (At a Solemn Musick) was published by Novello in 1892. It is based on an Ode by John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674). He
is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667).

This arrangement was done by George J. Bennett, Mus.Doc. (5 May 1863 –1930) who was organist of Lincoln Cathedral from 1895 until his death in 1930. It is the 9th in a series of transcriptions done by Bennett, and was published by Novello.


George John Bennett studied at the Royal Academy of Music under G.A. Macfarren and C. Steggall, and also abroad, in Berlin as a composition student of Rheinberger.

This "movement" is the last section of the entire work, and the "introduction" is part of a "joining section" from the original work. In it, you'll hear the influence of Bach and Handel, as the piece shares strong elements of a Bach "breve fugue." The climax is glorious and ultimately "English" in the triumphant final measures.

You can find quite a few complete performances of the "real" piece on youtube, if you are interested.

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Parry, Lincoln Cathedral, & a painting of John Milton. I could find no photos of Bennett, which is odd, considering his importance.

This is my 1601st upload. MANY THANKS to those who take time to listen!