A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Parke, John
PARKE, John, born in 1745, studied the oboe under Simpson, and the theory of music under Baumgarten. In 1768 he was engaged as principal oboist at the Opera, and in 1771 succeeded the celebrated Fischer as concerto player at Vauxhall, and became principal oboist at Drury Lane. In 1776 he appeared in the same capacity in the Lenten oratorios conducted by J. C. Smith and John Stanley, and soon afterwards at Ranelagh and Marylebone Gardens. He was appointed one of the King's band of music, and in 1783 chamber musician to the Prince of Wales. He was engaged at the Concert of Ancient Music, and other principal concerts, and at all the provincial festivals, until his retirement in 1815. He died Aug. 2, 1829. He composed many oboe concertos for his own performance, but never published them.
Maria Hester, his daughter (born 1775), was instructed by him in singing and pianoforte playing, and made her first appearance as a singer at Gloucester Festival in 1790, being then very young, and for about seven years afterwards sang at the principal London concerts and oratorios and the provincial festivals. She afterwards became Mrs. Beardmore and retired from the musical profession, but distinguished herself by her attainments in science, languages, and literature. She died in 1822, her husband surviving her only four months. She composed several sets of pianoforte sonatas, some songs, and a set of glees.
William Thomas Parke, his younger brother, born in London in 1762, commenced the study of music under his brother in 1770. He subsequently studied under Dance, Burney (nephew of Dr. Burney), and Baumgarten. In 1775 he was a soprano chorister at Drury Lane, and in 1776 was engaged as viola-player at Vauxhall. In 1779 he appeared at Vauxhall as an oboist, and in 1783 was employed as principal oboist at Covent Garden. He was afterwards engaged at the Ladies' and the Professional Concerts, and in 1800 appointed principal oboist and concerto player at Vauxhall, where he continued until 1821. He extended the compass of the oboe upwards to G in alt, a third higher than former performers had reached. He composed several concertos for his instrument, the overtures to 'Netley Abbey' (1794), and 'Lock and Key' (1796), and numerous songs, glees, etc., for the theatre and Vauxhall. He retired in 1825, and in 1830 published 'Musical Memoirs; comprising an Account of the General State of Music in England from 1784 to 1830,' 2 vols. 8vo, an amusing work, but of very little authority. He died Aug. 26, 1847.