Geoffrey Parsons Among Friends

Richard Davis

Sydney: ABC Books, December 2006.

ISBN 9780733319877, 287 pages.

Reviewed by Jeanell Carrigan

Geoffrey Parsons is remembered by many who heard him perform or who were fortunate to have known him as a brilliant musician - technically dexterous, sensitive and possessing exceptional musical skills. He is also remembered as a person of the highest integrity, of strong moral and human fibre who had a great sense of humour and enjoyed life to the full. Parsons was a man of faith who lived his life as a Christian, committed to the Church of England. He was a man generous of spirit who shared his knowledge and musical craft as well as himself and his possessions with many. He was also a man who met an untimely and painful death with fortitude and courage and maintained an enormous sense of responsibility in not forsaking his career even when his health had deteriorated to a point when it was hardly possible for him to continue.

Those of us - and I count myself among those unfortunate many - who did not come to hear or know Parsons and benefit from that experience when he was alive should be very grateful for the biography written by Richard Davis.

Davis’ book is the result of extensive research and relates Parsons’ life story in his own words and in the words of the many musicians who worked with Parsons including former students as well as family and friends. The list of those who wished to contribute personal knowledge is long, and resources such as personal letters, transcriptions of interviews, recordings, memories and anecdotes, have been included in an effort to present as complete a picture as possible of Parsons’ character as well as his life and work. The biography traces his life from birth until his death. It focuses mainly on the many unique partnerships Parsons formed throughout his brilliant career as well as on the creation and perfection of his skill as an accompanist. It does not only describe the many high points but also those aspects of his career which could arguably be considered low points, as well as the many amusing and more human moments.

The role of the accompanist once so negatively viewed by both the musical world and the general public, attained new heights as a profession of great value and prestige with Parsons’ handling of the role. Parsons, who has been rightly named as one of the world’s greatest accompanists, worked with the greatest vocal stars of the twentieth century in a career that encompassed fifty years. His discography includes 130 commercial recordings of performances with many of the great musicians and a vast amount of literature. Davis’ journey through Parsons’ life describes his many rehearsals and subsequent performances in a manner so real that we feel we experience them at first hand.

Davis has a knack of understanding the musical context even though it appears from reading the book that he himself is not a musician. He describes Parsons’ accompanying skills in terms that every reader can relate to without technical jargon that would only be understood by others in the same trade. This notwithstanding, I feel every aspiring accompanist should read this book almost as a compulsory exercise. Parsons serves the accompanying world as the ultimate role model.

The biography finishes with Parsons’ death which is described in so poignant a manner that it is possible to empathise at first hand with the grief that those near and dear would have experienced.

The reader is left with the impression that Geoffrey Parsons’ life was an important one, a life story that must essentially be told and in the case of this biography, is told admirably. It is essential reading and a great contribution to music and musicians.