Barry Cooper
Encyclopedia
Barry Cooper is an English musicologist, composer
, organ
ist and author
, a Beethoven
scholar, and is editor
of the Beethoven Compendium.
Born in Westcliff-on-Sea
in Essex
, Cooper studied piano
and composition
in his childhood
, leading to scholarship
s to the Gordonstoun School and later at University College, Oxford
, studying organ with John Webster and earning an MA
in 1973 and a DPhil in 1974. His musical compositions include an oratorio
, The Ascension.
But Cooper is best known for his books on Beethoven (including the 'Beethoven Compendium'), as well as a completion and realization of Beethoven's fragmentary Symphony No. 10
. Having extensively studied Beethoven's sketchbooks and written a book about them, Beethoven and the Creative Process, Cooper felt confident enough to identify the sketches for the individual movements of the Symphony and put together those for the first movement into a musically satisfactory whole. The realisation was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Wyn Morris
. It was then revised and received its public premiere in 1988 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
, conducted by Walter Weller
. In a way, this fulfilled Beethoven's promise of his Symphony No. 10 to the Royal Philharmonic Society
, since the premiere was at a concert given by this society. Several recordings are available.
From 1974 to 1990, Cooper taught at the University of Aberdeen
, where he became interested in early printed music in that town, as well as music theory
in 18th century England
. He has also discovered rare 17th century French
harpsichord
music as well as one of the oldest canon
s now known.
Cooper recently released a new edition of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (for the ABRSM) incorporating three additional sonatas not normally included. Cooper also wrote the accompanying critical text to the sonatas, detailing the changes made and the many thousands of corrections to the sonatas.
Since 1990, Cooper has taught, latterly as Professor of Music, at the University of Manchester
. As well as Beethoven's sketches, Cooper teaches courses in Western Music History, editing, bibliography skills and harmony and counterpoint.
Outside of professional life, Cooper is an avid supporter of Altrincham F.C.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
ist and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, a Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
scholar, and is editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Beethoven Compendium.
Born in Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of Southend-on-Sea, a seaside resort in the East of England and unitary authority in Essex. It is situated on the northern bank of the Thames Estuary and about 34 miles east of London.-Geography:...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Cooper studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
in his childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
, leading to scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s to the Gordonstoun School and later at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, studying organ with John Webster and earning an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1973 and a DPhil in 1974. His musical compositions include an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, The Ascension.
But Cooper is best known for his books on Beethoven (including the 'Beethoven Compendium'), as well as a completion and realization of Beethoven's fragmentary Symphony No. 10
Symphony No. 10 (Beethoven/Cooper)
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 10 in E flat major is a hypothetical work, assembled by Barry Cooper from Beethoven's fragmentary sketches. This title is controversial since it cannot be proved that all the sketches assembled were meant for the same piece...
. Having extensively studied Beethoven's sketchbooks and written a book about them, Beethoven and the Creative Process, Cooper felt confident enough to identify the sketches for the individual movements of the Symphony and put together those for the first movement into a musically satisfactory whole. The realisation was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
conducted by Wyn Morris
Wyn Morris
Wyn Morris was a Welsh conductor.Morris was born in Trellech, Monmouthshire, Wales, and did not speak English until he was aged 7. He was especially acknowledged for his interpretations of Gustav Mahler's works, which he recorded almost complete during the 1960s and 1970s...
. It was then revised and received its public premiere in 1988 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
, conducted by Walter Weller
Walter Weller
Walter Weller is an Austrian conductor and violinist.-Biography:Weller was born in Vienna, Austria where he first gained renown as a prodigy on the violin...
. In a way, this fulfilled Beethoven's promise of his Symphony No. 10 to the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
, since the premiere was at a concert given by this society. Several recordings are available.
From 1974 to 1990, Cooper taught at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, where he became interested in early printed music in that town, as well as music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
in 18th century England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He has also discovered rare 17th century French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
music as well as one of the oldest canon
Canon (music)
In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
s now known.
Cooper recently released a new edition of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (for the ABRSM) incorporating three additional sonatas not normally included. Cooper also wrote the accompanying critical text to the sonatas, detailing the changes made and the many thousands of corrections to the sonatas.
Since 1990, Cooper has taught, latterly as Professor of Music, at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. As well as Beethoven's sketches, Cooper teaches courses in Western Music History, editing, bibliography skills and harmony and counterpoint.
Outside of professional life, Cooper is an avid supporter of Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...