Frank Merrick
Encyclopedia
Frank Merrick was an English pianist in the early 1900s. He was born in Clifton
, now part of Bristol.
Merrick's peers included Artur Schnabel
and Mark Hambourg
, and he studied with Theodor Leschetizky. From 1911 to 1929, he taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music
and from 1929 at the Royal College of Music
. His students included Alan Rawsthorne
and Thomas Baron Pitfield He first went to Vienna in 1899 for about 18 months and later for a shorter period in 1903. This prevented him from playing at the Bechstein (now Wigmore) Hall when it first opened. (http://www.piperpublications.co.uk/thomaspitfieldco.html). He is particularly known for winning the Columbia Gramophone Company competition to write the remaining movements (scherzo and finale) of Schubert's 8th Symphony
. This occurred in 1928. His composition was recorded by Columbia and sold, although these recordings are primarily, if not all, on 12-inch records and now very rare. Several later LP recordings of Frank Merrick playing various works by John Field and other British composers were released on the British label Rare Recorded Editions and are also rare. A "Frank Merrick Society" was also formed to release his recordings. His book, entitled "Practising the Piano", first published in 1960, has gone through at least 4 printings, and is published by Barrie and Jenkins. His many puplis include the composer Michael Garrett
.
The original manuscripts of his compositions were donated to CHOMBEC
(Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth) and the archives of Bristol University. There are quite a lot of items including many Esperanto songs, of which he composed, by his own account, over 30.
During the First World War he had been imprisoned as a conscientious objector
, and while there, he learned Esperanto with the help of fellow-prisoner Montagu Butler. He dedicated much time to the language and spoke it well; in 1965 he made a recording of some of the Esperanto songs with the well-known mezzo-soprano Sybil Michelow.
He spent many hours at the British Museum copying by hand the works of John Field, who at that time was little known; the result was his edition of Field's piano concertos which became vol. 17 of Musica Britannica.
He made several recordings of the music of Sir Arnold Bax
, including the composer's first violin sonata (reissued on compact disc in 2003). Bax's Pæan for piano is dedicated to him.
(http://www.play4me.com.au/product/bax_piano_music_volume_3_665381_206833.html). With Michael Round he made a recording of the Sonata for two pianos and other works by Bax.
Late in his life he was awarded MMus by Bristol University when they first introduced the degree. Around 1967 he returned to the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his first public recital, as a child, largely reprising the programme he had played at his début. Even later, in 1976, he visited the London Esperanto Club to be interviewed, in Esperanto, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The original entry was edited by Paul Merrick, his son, in 2008.
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
, now part of Bristol.
Merrick's peers included Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
and Mark Hambourg
Mark Hambourg
Mark Hambourg was a distinguished Russian-British concert pianist, among the most famous of his age.- Life :Mark Hambourg was the eldest son of the pianist Michael Hambourg , and was brother of the cellist Boris Hambourg and the violinist Jan Hambourg , and of the musical organiser Clement...
, and he studied with Theodor Leschetizky. From 1911 to 1929, he taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music
Royal Manchester College of Music
The Royal Manchester College of Music was founded in 1893 by Sir Charles Hallé who assumed the role as Principal. For a long period of time Hallé had argued for Manchester's need for a conservatoire to properly train the local talent. The Ducie Street building, just off Oxford Road, was purchased...
and from 1929 at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. His students included Alan Rawsthorne
Alan Rawsthorne
Alan Rawsthorne was a British composer. He was born in Haslingden, Lancashire, and is buried in Thaxted churchyard in Essex.-Career:...
and Thomas Baron Pitfield He first went to Vienna in 1899 for about 18 months and later for a shorter period in 1903. This prevented him from playing at the Bechstein (now Wigmore) Hall when it first opened. (http://www.piperpublications.co.uk/thomaspitfieldco.html). He is particularly known for winning the Columbia Gramophone Company competition to write the remaining movements (scherzo and finale) of Schubert's 8th Symphony
Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)
Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor , commonly known as the "Unfinished Symphony" , D.759, was started in 1822 but left with only two movements known to be complete, even though Schubert would live for another six years. A scherzo, nearly completed in piano score but with only two pages...
. This occurred in 1928. His composition was recorded by Columbia and sold, although these recordings are primarily, if not all, on 12-inch records and now very rare. Several later LP recordings of Frank Merrick playing various works by John Field and other British composers were released on the British label Rare Recorded Editions and are also rare. A "Frank Merrick Society" was also formed to release his recordings. His book, entitled "Practising the Piano", first published in 1960, has gone through at least 4 printings, and is published by Barrie and Jenkins. His many puplis include the composer Michael Garrett
Michael Garrett (composer)
Michael Garrett is a British composer. He was born in Leicestershire, England in 1944. He has been composing and performing for more than fifty years. His many works extend across a wide range of styles. He has written many symphonic, chamber and instrumental works as well as vocal music and has...
.
The original manuscripts of his compositions were donated to CHOMBEC
CHOMBEC
CHOMBEC is the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth. It is a part of the music department at the University of Bristol . It was founded in 2006 by Professor Stephen Banfield. The current Director is Professor John Pickard...
(Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth) and the archives of Bristol University. There are quite a lot of items including many Esperanto songs, of which he composed, by his own account, over 30.
During the First World War he had been imprisoned as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, and while there, he learned Esperanto with the help of fellow-prisoner Montagu Butler. He dedicated much time to the language and spoke it well; in 1965 he made a recording of some of the Esperanto songs with the well-known mezzo-soprano Sybil Michelow.
He spent many hours at the British Museum copying by hand the works of John Field, who at that time was little known; the result was his edition of Field's piano concertos which became vol. 17 of Musica Britannica.
He made several recordings of the music of Sir Arnold Bax
Arnold Bax
Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, KCVO was an English composer and poet. His musical style blended elements of romanticism and impressionism, often with influences from Irish literature and landscape. His orchestral scores are noted for their complexity and colourful instrumentation...
, including the composer's first violin sonata (reissued on compact disc in 2003). Bax's Pæan for piano is dedicated to him.
(http://www.play4me.com.au/product/bax_piano_music_volume_3_665381_206833.html). With Michael Round he made a recording of the Sonata for two pianos and other works by Bax.
Late in his life he was awarded MMus by Bristol University when they first introduced the degree. Around 1967 he returned to the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his first public recital, as a child, largely reprising the programme he had played at his début. Even later, in 1976, he visited the London Esperanto Club to be interviewed, in Esperanto, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The original entry was edited by Paul Merrick, his son, in 2008.