Maria Hester Park, born Reynolds, the English pianist. Friend of Haydn, teacher to the aristocracy including the Duchess of Devonshire and her daughters, and one of the most prolific keyboard composers of her age.
Born in Oxford in 1760; she made her debut age 12 at the Holywell music room, a regular concert series in Oxford, and by the end of her teens had established enough of a name to move to London, headlining concerts at Drury lane and the King’s Theatre and publishing her debut set of six Sonatas for the Harpsichord or Piano Forte and Violin, Opus 1. She was 25.
And then she fell in love! Age 27, with Thomas Park, and that was the end of the performing. BUT it was just the beginning of the composing. He was a London engraver and it was clearly a love match because he devoted himself to her promotion, became her music engraver, and publisher, and wrote her love poems that still survive. So she - thrived! Following that first opus she came out with her second, a collection of solo sonatas, and more followed. Divertimentos. dances, a piano concerto. Sonatas and duets and the marvellously named Glees for voices - many of them dedicated to the aristocracy who she taught. She sustained the whole family that way, not only the husband and their nice house at St James’s but five healthy children.
And she became famous. In 1792 a visitor to the house humbly hoping for an audience was none other than Joseph Haydn. He dedicated one of his sonatas to her and they became friends.
Of her considerable oeuvre, perhaps one third or a quarter survives. You particularly lament the loss of the Sonata with Prince Adolphus Fancy. But what does remain is so beautiful
Maria Hester Park (1760 – 1813)
MUSIC: Piano Sonata in C, Op.7
Betty Ann Miller, piano
Presented by Anna Clyne
Written and produced by Charlotte Wilson for WMHT
