D C Parker was an able amateur musician, and a professional writer on music, both as critic (1919-1934) on the ‘Evening Times’ of Glasgow, and as the biographer of Georges Bizet, and a contributor to many musical periodicals. His main enthusiasms were for the music of Wagner, Elgar, the French composers of the late 19th century, and for opera in general. His correspondence extends from his early contacts with Massenet and Saint Saëns, through to modern conductors such as Colin Davis. His autobiography (MS.21561) contains a great deal of reminiscence about music in Glasgow and in Scotland in general.