Charles Lynch (pianist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Edgeworth Cagney Lynch (22 October 1906 – 15 September 1984) was an Irish pianist who premiered works by several important 20th century composers.
, Ireland
. His father was a British army
colonel and his mother came from a well-known Cork business dynasty, the Suttons. Novelist Maria Edgeworth
was a direct ancestor. While Lynch was still a young boy, the family moved to Greenock
in western Scotland
and it was there, at the Tontine Hotel, that the young pianist gave his first public recital at the age of nine. When he was fifteen, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
, London
, where he studied under York Bowen
and, later, Egon Petri
.
of Rachmaninoff's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, having been coached beforehand by the composer. Sir Arnold Bax's Fourth Piano Sonata (1932) is dedicated to the 26-year-old Lynch, whom Bax later described as "Ireland's most imaginative pianist". In addition to concert recitals he broadcast regularly with the BBC
and in 1937 acted as assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham at Covent Garden
. Lynch was the Ballet Rambert's pianist for many years, having helped Marie Rambert
form the company.
, where he became the country's premier concert pianist. During this phase of his career he premiered a number of works by leading Irish composers, including Brian Boydell
's Sonata for Cello and Piano (1945) and Sean Ó Riada
's Nomos No. 4 (1959). Lynch also performed in the world première of English composer Ernest John Moeran
's Cello Sonata in A minor, given in Dublin in May 1947. He was joined by the composer's wife, cellist Peers Coetmore
.
In February 1971 at Trinity College, Dublin
, he played the entire set of Liszt
's transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies
over four successive Saturday evenings. The Irish Times
critic, Charles Acton
, paid tribute to Lynch's achievement:
Lynch continued to give public recitals throughout Ireland until shortly before his death at the age of 77. He also lectured in music at University College, Cork and gave masterclasses at the Cork School of Music. In 1982, Lynch received a doctorate in music from the National University of Ireland
.
Lynch's technique was remarkable for the stillness with which he sat, making the most difficult of music seem almost technically unremarkable. His recorded legacy is small, but includes music by Samuel Barber
, Moeran's Violin Sonata (with Geraldine O'Grady, violin) as well as music by Irish composers such as Aloys Fleischmann
.
and was buried behind Bax's grave in the cemetery of Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
, Cork
City.
Background and early life
Charles Lynch was born in Parkgariff, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His father was a British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
colonel and his mother came from a well-known Cork business dynasty, the Suttons. Novelist Maria Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adults' and children's literature. She was one of the first realist writers in children's literature and was a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe...
was a direct ancestor. While Lynch was still a young boy, the family moved to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
in western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and it was there, at the Tontine Hotel, that the young pianist gave his first public recital at the age of nine. When he was fifteen, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he studied under York Bowen
York Bowen
Edwin York Bowen was an English composer and pianist. Bowen’s musical career spanned more than fifty years during which time he wrote over 160 works. As well as being a pianist and composer, Bowen was a talented conductor, organist, violist and horn player...
and, later, Egon Petri
Egon Petri
Egon Petri was a classical pianist.-Biography:Petri's family was Dutch and he was born a Dutch citizen, but he was born in Hanover in Germany and was brought up in Dresden. His father was a professional violinist who taught his son that instrument. Petri played in the Dresden Court Orchestra and...
.
Career in England
Lynch became a popular recitalist in London during the 1920s and 1930s. He gave the first performance in EnglandEngland
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...
of Rachmaninoff's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, having been coached beforehand by the composer. Sir Arnold Bax's Fourth Piano Sonata (1932) is dedicated to the 26-year-old Lynch, whom Bax later described as "Ireland's most imaginative pianist". In addition to concert recitals he broadcast regularly with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and in 1937 acted as assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Lynch was the Ballet Rambert's pianist for many years, having helped Marie Rambert
Marie Rambert
Dame Marie Rambert DBE was a Polish-Jewish dancer and dance pedagogue who exerted a great influence on British ballet, both as a dancer and teacher.- Early years and background :...
form the company.
Return to Ireland
A pacifist, Lynch returned to Ireland following the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he became the country's premier concert pianist. During this phase of his career he premiered a number of works by leading Irish composers, including Brian Boydell
Brian Boydell
Brian Boydell was an Irish composer whose works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, and songs. He was professor of music at Trinity College, Dublin for 20 years, founder of the Dowland Consort, conductor of the Dublin Orchestral Players, and a prolific broadcaster and writer on musical...
's Sonata for Cello and Piano (1945) and Sean Ó Riada
Seán Ó Riada
Seán Ó Riada , was a composer and perhaps the single most influential figure in the revival of Irish traditional music during the 1960s...
's Nomos No. 4 (1959). Lynch also performed in the world première of English composer Ernest John Moeran
Ernest John Moeran
Ernest John Moeran was an English composer who had strong associations with Ireland .-Early life:...
's Cello Sonata in A minor, given in Dublin in May 1947. He was joined by the composer's wife, cellist Peers Coetmore
Peers Coetmore
Peers Coetmore was an English cellist. She spent her early years in Spilsby in Lincolnshire.She was born Kathleen Peers Coetmore Jones. She won the Royal Academy of Music's Piatti Prize for cellists in 1924....
.
In February 1971 at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, he played the entire set of Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
's transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies
Beethoven Symphonies (Liszt)
Beethoven Symphonies , S.464, is a set of nine transcriptions for solo piano by Franz Liszt of Ludwig van Beethoven's symphonies.-History:Liszt began the work in 1838, but at that time only completed the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Symphonies, of which the Fifth and Sixth were published by Breitkopf &...
over four successive Saturday evenings. The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
critic, Charles Acton
Charles Acton (critic)
Charles Acton was the music critic at The Irish Times for thirty one years until his retirement in 1987. He was one of only two critics based outside Great Britain to be a member of The Critics' Circle.-Early life:...
, paid tribute to Lynch's achievement:
"It is doubtful if Liszt himself ever played them as a series. Since his day, individual virtuosi have played individual symphonies but it is possible that Charles Lynch is the first person who has played all of them as a public series - and all in four weeks. On that score we may be in the presence of a historical event. We are certainly in the presence of a quite tremendous physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual feat."
Lynch continued to give public recitals throughout Ireland until shortly before his death at the age of 77. He also lectured in music at University College, Cork and gave masterclasses at the Cork School of Music. In 1982, Lynch received a doctorate in music from the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
.
Lynch's technique was remarkable for the stillness with which he sat, making the most difficult of music seem almost technically unremarkable. His recorded legacy is small, but includes music by Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
, Moeran's Violin Sonata (with Geraldine O'Grady, violin) as well as music by Irish composers such as Aloys Fleischmann
Aloys Fleischmann
Aloys Fleischmann was an Irish composer and musicologist. In addition he wrote several books and articles on Irish music.-Life:...
.
Final years
Towards the end of his life he lived in very reduced circumstances. He died in Cork at St. Finbarr's HospitalSt. Finbarr's Hospital
St. Finbarr's Hospital is a hospital on the South Douglas Road, Cork city, Republic of Ireland. It is the main public hospital for birth, babies, and blood donation in Cork city....
and was buried behind Bax's grave in the cemetery of Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Cork city, Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.It was featured on the Irish postcard before the Irish entry of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, Russia....
, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
City.
Recordings
- Moeran: Sonata for violin and piano in E minor (with Geraldine O'Grady, violin), EMI Classics 5851542
- Bax: Sonata for violin and piano no. 3 (with May Harrison, violin), Symposium 1075
- Piano Vol. 1 (features Fleischmann: Sreath do Phiano, Victory: Prelude and Toccata), New Irish Recording Company NIR001, 1971
- Sixty years of Music (features Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and pieces by Scarlatti, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky), Sound News Productions SM 55 (promoted by the Cork Dance Company), 1975