C.H.H. Parry. Autograph manuscript of a "Garland" of six Shakespearean and other songs, Op.21, 1873

PARRY, SIR CHARLES HUBERT HASTINGS

The autograph manuscript of his song cycle A Garland of Shakespearean and other Old-Fashioned songs, Op.21, signed twice ("C.H.H. Parry"), 1873

a fair-copy manuscript, dedicated notated in dark brown ink on up to five three- or two-stave systems per page, with some additions in red ink and pencil to no.6, with autograph title-page ("A Garland of Shakesperian [sic] and other old-fashioned songs...dedicated (so far as they are worthy) to Alucan Ranald M^cDonell, Bengeo 1873"), the songs titled: "No. 1 Love's Perjuries a Song by William Shakespear"; "No.2. A Spring Song by William Shakespear"; "No.3. A Contrast. by Anon", "No.4. Concerning Love by Samuel Daniel"; "No 5. A Sea Dirge. by William Shakespear"; "No 6. To Mistress Margaret Hussey. a ditty of John Skelton's."; at the end, the manuscript is dated and monogrammed ("CH"),

9 pages, plus blanks, oblong 4to (28 x 38.5cm), 18-stave paper, later pencil note to upper margin of title, the last song dated 'Bengeo' [near Hertford], 4 June 1873, outer leaves becoming detached, dust-staining to outer pages and inner edges, a few small tears  

RARE: auction records for autograph manuscripts by Hubert Parry (1848-1918) comprise a single song in 1995 and three lots in 1979. Most of his autographs are in the Royal College of Music or the British Library. He was a central figure in British musical life: I was glad, Blest Pair of Sirens and, above all, 'Jerusalem', are much-loved icons of British music. This early Garland Op.21 sets three songs by Shakespeare and others by Daniel and Skelton. The Shakespearean texts come from The Passionate Pilgrim (No.17), As You Like It (V/iii) and The Tempest (I/ii).