Walter Parratt

Training under George Cooper is recorded. Albion Percy Alderson, John Ireland and Ethel Adelaide Parker are recorded as having studied under Walter Parratt. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is music. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are classical music. Employment is recorded with Magdalen College. Positions recorded include Master of the King's Music and Heather Professor of Music. Distinctions recorded are Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Bachelor, Member of the Royal Victorian Order and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

• Name — Walter Parratt • Honorific Prefix — Sir • Honorific Suffix — KCVO • Office — 14th Master of the King's Musick Master of the Queen's Musick (1893–1901) • Monarch — Victoria Edward VII George V • Term Start — 1 June 1893 • Term End — 27 March 1924 • Predecessor — William Cusins • Successor — Edward Elgar • Born — 10 February 1841 • Birthplace — Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England • Died — 27 March 1924 • Place of death — Windsor, Berkshire, England

• Illustration — Playing the organ in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Born in Huddersfield, son of a parish organist, Parratt began to play the pipe organ from an early age, and held posts as an organist while still a child. He was a child prodigy: on one occasion he played Bach's complete The Well-Tempered Clavier by heart, without notice, at age ten. From 1854 to 1861, he was an organist at St Paul's Church in his native town and, as successor to John Stainer, in 1872 at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he remained for ten years. From 1882, he held the post of organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He became Heather Professor of Music at Oxford University in 1908, taking over from Hubert Parry. He became one of the foremost organ teachers of his day, with many important posts in Britain being filled by his students. He was president of the Royal College of Organists from 1905 to 1909. Parratt was also a distinguished chess player, and was able to simultaneously play chess and a complex organ piece—at first sight. He served for a few months as president of the Oxford University Chess Club and for two years was captain of the eight chosen to play against Cambridge. He died at Windsor Castle on 27 March 1924.

• Armitage Bridge Church, 1852–1854 • St. Paul's Church, Huddersfield, 1854–1861 • Private organist to the Earl of Dudley, Witley Court, 1861–1868 • Organist of Wigan Parish Church, 1868–1872 • Magdalen College, Oxford, 1872–1882 • St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle 1882–1924