Elias Parish Alvars

Parish successfully studied with Boscha and Dizi but he may well have been ahead of his time. As a composer and performer he was technically advanced and found innovative ways in which he could use the double-action of the harp, his instrument of choice. From 1834 he lived in Vienna even though he wanted to make his home in London; the musical establishment in England was not ready for the solo harp. Parish's eighty plus compositions for the harp include one of the most demanding harp pieces ever scored as well as a number of concertos, concertinas, a symphony, other pieces for the harp and an unfinished methodology. The last position which Parish held was chamber musician to the emperor in Vienna. © Keith Johnson /TiVo