A thread for all things Arnold Cooke (1906–2005). Taking bets on how many posts it will take to die ;D
Anyway, Cooke wrote in what seems to have been the lingua franca of European classical music in the mid-century - a kind of Romantic-tinged neoclassicism. The forms are tightly controlled, but unlike Stravinsky, they are not brief, often quite broad canvases (Holmboe may be one of the more well-known proponents of this style) allowing for a more emotional impact rather than Stravinsky's ice bath. This style was highly influenced by Hindemith, whom Cooke studied with, and as a result his music is not stereotypically English sounding - and is all the better for it. Anybody familiar with adventure film scores of the 50s-70s will recognise strains of this style.
Notable CDs:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51v8zLYeRJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Cooke-orchestra-Devil-Suite-Symphony/dp/B000OCZ1O4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-1) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IbeiT2VkL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Havergal-Brian-Symphonies-Arnold-Symphony/dp/B0014FLGRQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-8) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rEI4r2ZLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Three-String-Sonatas-Arnold-Cooke/dp/B002NVA54A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-2)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415WEWTP5EL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Clarinet-Quintets-Andrew-Shulman/dp/B00008IHWS/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015604&sr=1-19) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M9AFRZQCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Rawsthorne-Jacob-Cooke-Clarinet-Concertos/dp/B00005Y0NC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-4) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516X9j1NXsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/English-Music-Clarinet-Thea-King/dp/B000002ZES/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-5)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QDmNY7XQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Music-Horn-Hindemith-his-Students/dp/B0013K8JE0/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015604&sr=1-13) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61wrEPyJNwL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Over-Water-recorder-string-orchestra/dp/B000ROAR0C/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-6) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21N7127C50L._SL500_AA130_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Nocturnes-Century-Music-voice-piano/dp/B00000JD8U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-10)
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/dd/dd/06e38bacd7a0db32bfcb6110.L._AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Jean-Danton-Soprano-Songs-Innocence/dp/B0000049RH/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015604&sr=1-15) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51w1KtBNEiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/English-Flute-Redgate-Michael-Dussek/dp/B0012IXILC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269015414&sr=1-11)
As you can see, most of what is available are simply scraps on multi-composer compilations, which makes experiencing an overview of the composer difficult. I have only heard three of these CDs so far. On the plus side, the music he is coupled with tends to be very good as well - so, for example, I found the Hyperion clarinet quintets disc very enjoyable due to the high quality of all the music programmed.
The three major CDs I place at the top due to their quality and the large amount of Cooke's music featured on them. The disc with the 3rd on may be a shared programme, but it is almost worth the price just for that one piece, which is just riproaring fun. The Brian pieces make a more than pleasant "bonus", both being first-rate compositions and well-recorded (rare for this composer).
The Cooke-exclusive Lyrita disc is a no-brainer introduction to the composer. The concerto for string orchestra is stunning, with a surprisingly direct opening movement which is almost poppish in its wonderfully simple and yet rousing modifications of the theme. It's a good example of both Cooke's intentionally limited palette for the sake of clarity, but also his life-affirming style which tends to leave you smiling. The 1st symphony is superb, but as it is less familiar to me than the 3rd - which I have been listening to many times over the past 6 months or so - I don't rank it quite up with that work just yet. The "filler" on this disc is a suite from an opera which is a phantasmagorical series of orchestral dances, and a great counter-balance to the weight of the "serious" 1st symphony programmed in the middle of the disc.
The Hyperion discs I put on the second tier, because while they do not have much Cooke included, the programmes are very attractive and they are all re-releases on the label's budget series. I can fully recommend the clarinet quintets disc, and intend to buy the other two asap. As for the other porpourri of discs? A mystery to me. A potentially expensive mystery...
The decider: do you like Hindemith, Arnold, Walton and similar composers? Do you wonder what something of a stylistic hybrid of these might sound like? Try him!
Well, here's one response anyway! This thread has encouraged me to listen to my two Arnold Cooke CDs (the Lyritas). The style reminds me of Lennox Berkeley (a composer I admire), Bliss, Rawsthorne as well as Hindemith. There is a whif of the 'Cheltenham symphony' about some of the music (ie mid 20th century symphonies performed at the annual Cheltenham Festival, which tended to be worthy, well-constructed and ultimately unmemorable - this is of course a gross generalisation and there were very important exceptions, like Stanley Bate's Third Symphony - a terrific work). Having said this I really enjoyed Cooke's Third Symphony - the slow movement in particular - the moving end of which briefly brings to mind Copland. My other favourite piece was the very enjoyable 'Jabez and the Devil', which I immediately wanted to play again. The Lyrita Brian release was delayed as they couldn't find a suitable coupling - eventually they chose Cooke's Third Symphony, which has nothing in common with Havergal Brian, although Brian thought very highly of Cooke's music. I will certainly be returning to Symphony No 3 and the Jabez Suite.
Yay! It was the slow movement of the third that sold me too. It was as if suddenly neoclassical music had gained an emotionality to it that I hadn't heard before.
A vote for the wonderful Lyrita recordings! I came to enjoy Cooke through the 3rd, which accompanied the Brian Symphonies that were the main reason for buying the disc. But the Cooke convinced me to explore further and get the other Lyrita disc. I quite enjoy the well written Concerto in D for Strings.
I will have to explore some of the chamber works and the clarinet concerto.
Quote from: Lethe on March 21, 2010, 09:31:10 AM
Yay! It was the slow movement of the third that sold me too. It was as if suddenly neoclassical music had gained an emotionality to it that I hadn't heard before.
Yes, that is a really good way of putting it - my response exactly.
Listened to the Cooke selection from this disc today (Clarinet Quintet with Thea King).
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415WEWTP5EL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
I very nice piece, doesn't sound like it was written in 1962, but beautifully crafted with endearing snatches of melody throughout.
:)
Forum member J (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=354) very kindly sent me two broadcast recordings of Cooke's cello and violin concertos. These have never been issued in any form, so it was an extremely kind gesture to allow me to hear what would otherwise be literaly impossible to. I figure this demands sharing for anybody in future with an interest in the composer, so here it is (a choice of host and two cobbled together custom covers - I lack a working copy of Photoshop so Paint had to suffice :P).
http://rapidshare.com/files/378867126/c00kelo55y.rar.html
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0J6NUW3J
The sound quality from these tapes of course leaves much to be desired, it doesn't sound worse than many historical recordings, but none the less, that I am comparing performances from the 70s or thereabouts to historical recordings should indicate the sound quality we're dealing with here. The cello concerto sounds good throughout once you attune your ears. Minimal hiss, and a little tape flutter at one point. The violin concerto is worse and with hiss throughout, so the primary attraction here is the cello concerto, which is a lovely piece of music and fully of the quality of other commercial recordings of his music released so far. Very of its time, and would we hear such enthusiastic applause for a premiere performance of a piece of music nowadays? It must be a rarity.
Symphony 3 = yes please
Quote from: Lethe Dmitriyevich Pettersson on March 19, 2010, 08:53:36 AM
The concerto for string orchestra is stunning [...]. The 1st symphony is superb
Missed this thread earlier, as it won't show up even with the help of the search button (try `Arnold Cooke'). I would have responded more eagerly, as I totally agree with all you write. Indeed, Cooke's First Symphony from 1947 is the best newcomer I've heard in many years - other contenders including the Third and Fourth by Stanley Bate and Fourth Symphony of Ruth Gipps.
Cooke's First is a fine masterwork, one of the most convincing first symphonies that I know. Cooke's neoclassical style, yet always lyrical as well, reminds me more of Lennox Berkeley than of his teacher Hindemith.
It would be great to have a cycle of his six symphonies (with only two recorded so far), his many concertos (with again only two availabe, a clarinet and a recorder concerto) and so much more.
If I had a say, I would plead with Dutton for complete symphonic cycles of Arnold Cooke, Ruth Gipps, William Wordsworth, and Stanley Bate. :)
Quote from: Christo on September 23, 2011, 11:16:53 AM
Missed this thread earlier, as it won't show up even with the help of the search button (try `Arnold Cooke'). I would have responded more eagerly, as I totally agree with all you write. Indeed, Cooke's First Symphony from 1947 is the best newcomer I've heard in many years - other contenders including the Third and Fourth by Stanley Bate and Fourth Symphony of Ruth Gipps.
Cooke's First is a fine masterwork, one of the most convincing first symphonies that I know. Cooke's neoclassical style, yet always lyrical as well, reminds me more of Lennox Berkeley than of his teacher Hindemith.
It would be great to have a cycle of his six symphonies (with only two recorded so far), his many concertos (with again only two availabe, a clarinet and a recorder concerto) and so much more.
If I had a say, I would plead with Dutton for complete symphonic cycles of Arnold Cooke, Ruth Gipps, William Wordsworth, and Stanley Bate. :)
Johan, first of all so nice to speak with you again :)
As I think will be pretty obvious from my posts on here I could not agree with you more about the complete symphonic cycles you are suggesting ;D ;D
I am not sure if you know yet but I have discovered that I still possess taped versions of Cooke's Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 which I hope to make available to others in due course and that all of the Wordsworth symphonies except for Nos. 2 and 3(which are on the Lyrita cd) and No.6(which has never been performed) are available for download on the Unsung Composers Forum.
Any relation to Deryck Cooke?
(Spot the learned contributor. ;D)
Arnold was born in Gomersal, West Yorkshire. His family were well-off carpet manufacturers and he was educated at Repton (public school, ie private if you you don't understand Britain's unique education system ;D).
Deryck came from Leicester and was born into a poor working-class family....
So...No, Eugene ;D ;D
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 23, 2011, 06:19:57 PM
Arnold was born in Gomersal, West Yorkshire. His family were well-off carpet manufacturers and he was educated at Repton (public school, ie private if you you don't understand Britain's unique education system ;D).
Deryck came from Leicester and was born into a poor working-class family....
So...No, Eugene ;D ;D
I do understand Britain's unique education system, via my father, though I sometimes wish I didn't! :P
And though the Cookes turned out unrelated, it's interesting to note how the least posh one became the renowned musicologist.
Quote from: Christo on September 23, 2011, 11:16:53 AM
Missed this thread earlier, as it won't show up even with the help of the search button (try `Arnold Cooke'). I would have responded more eagerly, as I totally agree with all you write. Indeed, Cooke's First Symphony from 1947 is the best newcomer I've heard in many years - other contenders including the Third and Fourth by Stanley Bate and Fourth Symphony of Ruth Gipps.
Cooke's First is a fine masterwork, one of the most convincing first symphonies that I know. Cooke's neoclassical style, yet always lyrical as well, reminds me more of Lennox Berkeley than of his teacher Hindemith.
It would be great to have a cycle of his six symphonies (with only two recorded so far), his many concertos (with again only two availabe, a clarinet and a recorder concerto) and so much more.
If I had a say, I would plead with Dutton for complete symphonic cycles of Arnold Cooke, Ruth Gipps, William Wordsworth, and Stanley Bate. :)
Totally agree with you about the Ruth Gipps Symphony No 4 - her masterpiece I expect (although I like the Symphony No 2 on Classico - a very endearing score). I'd also like to see Dutton take up the cause of Wilfrid Josephs. I heard that they were intending to record 'Moeran's Second Symphony' :o
Nice to hear from you Johan :)
Quote from: vandermolen on September 24, 2011, 01:02:45 PM
Totally agree with you about the Ruth Gipps Symphony No 4 - her masterpiece I expect (although I like the Symphony No 2 on Classico - a very endearing score). I'd also like to see Dutton take up the cause of Wilfrid Josephs. I heard that they were intending to record 'Moeran's Second Symphony' :o
Nice to hear from you Johan :)
Presumably this refers to Moeran's unfinished Symphony in E flat major, the manuscript of which went to Australia after his death. Someone must have reconstructed/finished the piece. This seems to be becoming quite a common practice these days-the 'new' Pettersson 1st Symphony springs to mind.
Nice thread. I really should listen to Cooke, as I have his Third on a certain Lyrita CD... But as the saying goes - Too many Brians spoil the Cooke.
Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 24, 2011, 02:41:28 PM
Nice thread. I really should listen to Cooke, as I have his Third on a certain Lyrita CD... But as the saying goes - Too many Brians spoil the Cooke.
Well now, Johan...you know what to do about that ;D
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 24, 2011, 02:45:49 PM
Well now, Johan...you know what to do about that ;D
And I still have Bernard Stevens to attend to! [these past few days have been a bit hectic...]
Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 24, 2011, 02:53:40 PM
And I still have Bernard Stevens to attend to! [these past few days have been a bit hectic...]
Take your time...no rush ;D
Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 24, 2011, 02:41:28 PM
Nice thread. I really should listen to Cooke, as I have his Third on a certain Lyrita CD... But as the saying goes - Too many Brians spoil the Cooke.
Very funny - I wonder if we are heading inexorably towards the formation of a group of self-appointed, so-called 'Arnold Cooke experts'.
;D
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 24, 2011, 02:36:25 PM
Presumably this refers to Moeran's unfinished Symphony in E flat major, the manuscript of which went to Australia after his death. Someone must have reconstructed/finished the piece.
Never heard that story before. It would be nice to hear the piece - though we actually
have a Second by Moeran.
He preferred to call it a Sinfonietta (1940), but hearing them one after another - as in e.g. the Naxos version of the BSO under David Lloyd-Jones - reveals them to be two of a kind.
Quote from: vandermolen on September 25, 2011, 01:43:19 AM
Very funny - I wonder if we are heading inexorably towards the formation of a group of self-appointed, so-called 'Arnold Cooke experts'.
;D
The Braga Santos experts are ready for wider use. 8)
Quote from: Christo on September 25, 2011, 01:56:32 AM
Never heard that story before. It would be nice to hear the piece - though we actually have a Second by Moeran.
He preferred to call it a Sinfonietta (1940), but hearing them one after another - as in e.g. the Naxos version of the BSO under David Lloyd-Jones - reveals them to be two of a kind.
Yes - the Sinfonietta is really a Second Symphony. I think that Colin is right. My understanding was that Moeran's 'Second Symphony' was in fragments and according to Geoffrey Self's biography, not very good. But, then again, similar things were said about Elgar's 'Third Symphony'.
Quote from: vandermolen on September 25, 2011, 01:43:19 AM
Very funny - I wonder if we are heading inexorably towards the formation of a group of self-appointed, so-called 'Arnold Cooke experts'.
;D
Quote from: Christo on September 25, 2011, 02:10:37 AM
The Braga Santos experts are ready for wider use. 8)
Yes, that would be ACE. ;)
;D ;D ;D
.....now off to Annoy you on the HB thread ;D
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 26, 2011, 07:54:41 AM
;D ;D ;D
.....now off to Annoy you on the HB thread ;D
Great to see you back, here! I still wonder what urged you to do so: was it the shock of hearing the Gothic - or that of seeing all those Brianites in one place. ;D
Hi, Johan! Colin was busy on a heavy tome, which kept him glued to his desk (more or less, in between visits to different countries). ;D But it's good he has returned to GMG - the board's staunched advocate of (unknown) orchestral music.
Now we just need some advocates of unknown chamber music - it seems to get lost in the solo piano/orchestra/opera crowd... ;)
Listening to Cooke's Third Symphony - the opening movement is very reminiscent of Rawsthorne (a composer I admire)- the eloquence of the second movement is both moving, at the end, and memorable. The short finale is a fine summing up - Berkeley (L.) also came to mind. Altogether a fine work. His dates are impressive (1906-2005) - even longer than Havergal Brian's on the same CD!
Well, I AM going to listen to it. But there is so much unknown music I am digesting at the moment, I must pick the right moment...
The all-Cooke Lyrita disc is so good (playing it now), it almost makes up for the near-total lack of recordings of the composer's orchestral music.
The concerto for orchestra continues to impress me. The first movement involves rather theatrical contrasts between the main theme and the quieter concerto grosso-style sections that sound so "right" throughout the movement. I am used to "lesser" composers unable to produce cohesive wholes, but there is a dagger-sharp line going right through this movement, leading to an almost casual but inevitable simple modification of the theme into an ending. The central movement's theme is tweaked in ways involving constant reference back to the start, just as in the opening theme for the first movement, but with wonderful nocturnal mood. The finale unifies the work with a casual ease via a swelling theme, once again repeating in the same playful and extremely economical manner that Cooke established in the previous movements, each reappearance offers a momentary a release to the tension of Cooke's simple but taut development affording the work a perculiarly ecstatic, dancing quality. The piece is only around 15 minutes long, and so spare in its material, but there's all kinds of neat stuff going on.
Sorry to be so pedantic ;D...but you are referring to the Concerto for String Orchestra of 1948 rather than the Concerto for Orchestra of 1986-Cooke's last major orchestral work. The latter was given a first performance by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987 but has never been recorded.
Quote from: Christo on September 27, 2011, 11:07:45 AM
Great to see you back, here! I still wonder what urged you to do so: was it the shock of hearing the Gothic - or that of seeing all those Brianites in one place. ;D
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19312.0.html
:)
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 27, 2011, 02:58:35 PM
Sorry to be so pedantic ;D...but you are referring to the Concerto for String Orchestra of 1948 rather than the Concerto for Orchestra of 1986-Cooke's last major orchestral work. The latter was given a first performance by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987 but has never been recorded.
Oh, the string orchestra one, indeedie.
Quote from: vandermolen on September 24, 2011, 01:02:45 PM
Totally agree with you about the Ruth Gipps Symphony No 4 - her masterpiece I expect (although I like the Symphony No 2 on Classico - a very endearing score). I'd also like to see Dutton take up the cause of Wilfrid Josephs. I heard that they were intending to record 'Moeran's Second Symphony' :o
Nice to hear from you Johan :)
:-) Playing Ruth Gipps' Second, in one movement, from 1945. I really love the piece. It is quite impressive for an 23 year old. I don't know how exactly the symphony hangs together formally, but the ideas come and go and especially the way tension is built up and alterated with moments of sheer lyricism and pure beauty, makes it great in my ears.
The alteration between these poles show the symphonist that she really is. Some of the lyrical ideas, often coming after a more dramatic passage, are so moving that I clung the piece to my heart at first hearing. In this, she resembles Braga Santos. She must have been a remarkable personality.
Quote from: Dundonnell on September 23, 2011, 11:34:41 AM
Johan, first of all so nice to speak with you again :)
The pleasure is absolutely mine! :-) I've been playing William Wordsworth's Second and Third again, these days. I gift from your visit to Utrecht. Great to learn about the heavy tome you produced during your two years of silence, in this forum. I wrote a few things as well in the meantime, but they dwindle in comparison. :-)
Somehow, they fit in a similar category: Wordsworth, Gipps, Cooke, Bate. Playing Gipps' lovely Second at the time.
(http://i.prs.to/t_200/classicoclasscd274.jpg)
Special Notice for the Cooke fans:
I have now uploaded radio broadcasts of Cooke's
Symphony No.4(1974): BBC Symphony Orchestra(Sir John Pritchard)
Symphony No.5(1979): BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra(Bernard Keefe)
Violin Concerto(1958): Yfrah Neaman(violin) and the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra(Vernon Handley)
Oboe Concerto(1954): Janet Craxton(oboe) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra(George Malcolm)
Quote from: Dundonnell on October 22, 2011, 04:03:51 AM
Special Notice for the Cooke fans: I have now uploaded radio broadcasts of Cooke's
Symphony No.4(1974): BBC Symphony Orchestra(Sir John Pritchard)
Symphony No.5(1979): BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra(Bernard Keefe)
Violin Concerto(1958): Yfrah Neaman(violin) and the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra(Vernon Handley)
Oboe Concerto(1954): Janet Craxton(oboe) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra(George Malcolm)
Many thanks indeed!! Have been playing the Fifth from 1979 for an hour or so, in amazement. No change of style to be heard since the First from 1947! Cooke found his style in the 1940s and apparently didn't change it ever after. Again, I'm falling in love with it at first (and second) hearing. Neoclassicism at its best.
So far the 5th symphony has grabbed me more than the 4th. It has a typically noble, restrained slow movement full of Cooke's usual attractive solo passages. And that opening to the first movement - really impressive, my favourite of the ones I've heard so far (1, 3, 4, 5).
Time to revive this thread I think. Have been listening to symphonies 1,3 and Jabez today - all fine works. The slow movement of No.3 remains my favourite Cooke moment for now - especially the closing section but I am enjoying all these works. There is an underlying integrity to his music which I find very appealing. I think that Johan's (Christo) Lennox Berkeley connection is spot on - I find the appeal of the two composers very similar - an elegant and eloquent neo-classicism with an underlying emotional appeal, which is all the more poignant when it breaks through. Looking forward to zillions of replies 8).
There's at least one gasp left for this thread.
I would like to have his piano chamber pieces recorded and issued.
Lyrita will release these two premiere recordings of symphonies No. 4 and 5 in one or two weeks: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arnold-Cooke-Symphonies-Nos-E-Flat/dp/B019CK9ZPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454272551&sr=8-1&keywords=arnold+cooke
Quote from: Christo on January 31, 2016, 11:37:16 AM
Lyrita will release these two premiere recordings of symphonies No. 4 and 5 in one or two weeks: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arnold-Cooke-Symphonies-Nos-E-Flat/dp/B019CK9ZPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454272551&sr=8-1&keywords=arnold+cooke
Have ordered this already. 8)
Well, the Pleyel Ensemble has rewarded us with several chamber piece CD's over the past few years.
My question is: has anyone hear ever heard a radio broadcast or live performance of a string quartet by him?
What was your impression?
These seem to be completely unavailable.
To answer your question four years later, Toccata Classics is releasing a disc of the String Quartets 2 and 4 in September.
Great news! I was expecting that release to complete the whole cycle.
The front cover of the new release:
(https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/33/4439433-3412864.jpg?ae=3936110150)