Robert W. Parker
Encyclopedia
Robert W. Parker is an American composer
, organist
, and percussionist based in Southern California. He is best known for his sacred music and compositions for concert band
. He also writes incidental music
for the theater.
He began his career as a professional musician in his teens, playing organ for a small church meeting that met in a YMCA.[1] He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Yale College
(1982), a master’s degree from the Yale School of Music
(1985), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University
(1996).[2]
Parker’s "Sicut Incipiat" (“thus, let it begin”), a commencement march for concert band, was the first work to be commissioned by the Robert J. Flanagan Yale Bands Commissioning Endowment, established in 2007. The composition was added to Yale’s repertoire of commencement music beginning with the university’s 307th commencement ceremony in May 2008.[2][3] Parker’s music has become part of another school’s tradition: He composed the tune for “Ancora Imparo,” the alma mater
of Illinois Central College
.[4]
Parker has written sacred music for a number of Southern California churches, notably St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, where several of his orchestral works have premiered, and Oneonta Congregational Church in South Pasadena, with which he is affiliated as a composer and performer.[1][3] He composed the anthem
for the 2000 ordination
of the Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno
, sixth Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles.[1]
Minute-long compositions by Parker have been featured in the 2006 Pacific Rim and 2007 Munich Mix concerts that Vox Novus
held as part of its ongoing 60x60
electroacoustic
project.[5] His theatrical compositions include music for the theater arts program at the California Institute of Technology
and for the critically acclaimed Rude Guerrilla Theater Company in Santa Ana, California.[4]
Parker is a teacher at (and an alumnus of) Flintridge Preparatory School
in La Cañada Flintridge, California.[4]
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, and percussionist based in Southern California. He is best known for his sacred music and compositions for concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
. He also writes incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
for the theater.
He began his career as a professional musician in his teens, playing organ for a small church meeting that met in a YMCA.[1] He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
(1982), a master’s degree from the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
(1985), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
(1996).[2]
Parker’s "Sicut Incipiat" (“thus, let it begin”), a commencement march for concert band, was the first work to be commissioned by the Robert J. Flanagan Yale Bands Commissioning Endowment, established in 2007. The composition was added to Yale’s repertoire of commencement music beginning with the university’s 307th commencement ceremony in May 2008.[2][3] Parker’s music has become part of another school’s tradition: He composed the tune for “Ancora Imparo,” the alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of Illinois Central College
Illinois Central College
Illinois Central College, often called ICC, is a large Illinois community college with its largest campus in East Peoria, Illinois, off Illinois State Route 116 near U.S. Route 150 and the McClugage Bridge...
.[4]
Parker has written sacred music for a number of Southern California churches, notably St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, where several of his orchestral works have premiered, and Oneonta Congregational Church in South Pasadena, with which he is affiliated as a composer and performer.[1][3] He composed the anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
for the 2000 ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
of the Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno
J. Jon Bruno
J. Jon Bruno is the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles.-Early life and education:Joseph Jon Bruno was born in Los Angeles November 17, 1946 to Dorothy and Joseph J. Bruno...
, sixth Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles.[1]
Minute-long compositions by Parker have been featured in the 2006 Pacific Rim and 2007 Munich Mix concerts that Vox Novus
Vox Novus
Vox Novus is an organization promoting contemporary composers. Founded by Robert Voisey in 2000 This organization was created for the purposes of expanding the presence of contemporary music in the public's vision, empowering composers and contemporary musicians to create, produce, and promote...
held as part of its ongoing 60x60
60x60
60x60 is a collection of 60 electroacoustic or acousmatic works from 60 different composers/artists, each work 60 seconds or less in duration. 60x60 project showcases sixty new works, each sixty seconds or less, by sixty composers in a continuous sixty minute concert, for a one-hour cross-section...
electroacoustic
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
project.[5] His theatrical compositions include music for the theater arts program at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
and for the critically acclaimed Rude Guerrilla Theater Company in Santa Ana, California.[4]
Parker is a teacher at (and an alumnus of) Flintridge Preparatory School
Flintridge Preparatory School
Flintridge Preparatory School, familiarly known as Flintridge Prep or simply Prep, is a day school for grades 7-12. Founded in 1933, it is located in La Cañada Flintridge, California.-Facilities:...
in La Cañada Flintridge, California.[4]
Compositions
- “Elizabeth’s Farewell” (2008)
- “Sicut Incipiat” (2008)
- “Fanfare and Cortège” (2007)
- “Psalm 57: For Ground Zero” (2006)
- Mass of Peace (2005)
- “A Promise of Comfort: For London, July 7, 2005” (2005)
- “Behold My Servant: Commemorating the Installation of Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno” (2000)