Melville Cook
Encyclopedia
Melville Cook (18 June 1912 – 22 May 1993) was a British organist, conductor, composer and teacher.
. He was a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral
(1923-1928) and articled pupil there under Herbert Sumsion
(1929-1932). He also studied with Herbert Brewer
and Edward Bairstow
. He held the ARCO
(1931) and the FRCO with the Harding Prize (1931). He studied at Durham University
receiving the B.Mus. in 1934 and D.Mus. in 1940.
He was assistant organist of Gloucester Cathedral (1932-1937) and was also organist of All Saints' Church, Cheltenham (1935-1937). In 1937 or 1938, aged 25, he became the youngest choirmaster and organist to be appointed at Leeds Parish Church
. (See also Choir of Leeds Parish Church
). During the war he served with the Royal Artillery
in the Orkney Islands, East Africa, India and the Far East, and it was during this period that he met his wife Marion in Scotland.
By 1946 he had returned to Leeds
, a period which saw him perform on national radio both as a solo organist and choirmaster. It is widely acknowledged that his work as director of the Parish Church Choir and as organist at the Leeds Triennial Festivals in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s was of inestimable benefit to both. In particular, he broadened the musical repertoire of Leeds Parish Church, introducing much more unaccompanied music from the Golden Age of English Music. As a Choirmaster in Leeds, he is remembered with much affection and immense respect by parishioners and former choir members alike. He became conductor of The Halifax Choral Society
in 1948, and founded the Leeds Guild of Singers in 1950. In December 1956 he took up the post of Organist and Master of the Choristers
at Hereford Cathedral
where he was principal conductor at the Hereford Three Choirs Festival
in 1958, 1961 and 1964. Dr Cook's long association with Halifax Choral Society was further enhanced when he attended the final concert conducted by his immediate successor, Dr Donald Hunt, in 1987 - a memorable performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius
and was greeted personally by many members of the capacity audience.
In 1966 he emigrated to Canada to become director of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and organist and choirmaster at All Saints' Anglican Church, Winnipeg. He was the organist and choirmaster (1967-1986) at the Metropolitan United Church
, Toronto, where he organized organ recitals, chamber concerts, choral performances, and presented a number of oratorios with the Metropolitan Festival Choir and Orchestra. He taught organ (1974-1977) at McMaster University
in Hamilton. Melville Cook retired to Cheltenham in 1986 and remained there until his death in 1993. A very well-attended Memorial Service for Dr Cook was held at Leeds Parish Church in the Autumn of 1993.
Biography
Alfred Melville Cook was born in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. He was a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
(1923-1928) and articled pupil there under Herbert Sumsion
Herbert Sumsion
Herbert Whitton Sumsion was an English musician who was organist of Gloucester Cathedral from 1928 to 1967...
(1929-1932). He also studied with Herbert Brewer
Herbert Brewer
Sir Arthur Herbert Brewer was an English composer and organist. As organist of Gloucester Cathedral from 1896 until his death, he contributed a good deal to the Three Choirs Festival for 30 years....
and Edward Bairstow
Edward Bairstow
Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow was born in Huddersfield on 22 August 1874 and died in York on 1 May 1946. He was an English organist and composer in the Anglican church music tradition....
. He held the ARCO
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
(1931) and the FRCO with the Harding Prize (1931). He studied at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
receiving the B.Mus. in 1934 and D.Mus. in 1940.
He was assistant organist of Gloucester Cathedral (1932-1937) and was also organist of All Saints' Church, Cheltenham (1935-1937). In 1937 or 1938, aged 25, he became the youngest choirmaster and organist to be appointed at Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church, or the Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, in Leeds, West Yorkshire is a large Church of England parish church of major architectural and liturgical significance. It has been designated a grade I listed building by English Heritage...
. (See also Choir of Leeds Parish Church
Choir of Leeds Parish Church
The Choir of Leeds Parish Church was founded by Vicar Richard Fawcett probably as early as 1815, and was certainly in existence by 1818 . The Choir of Leeds Parish Church - Boys and Men - was, from its origins, a charge on the Church Rate; and, in what was then a largely Non-conformist town, a...
). During the war he served with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in the Orkney Islands, East Africa, India and the Far East, and it was during this period that he met his wife Marion in Scotland.
By 1946 he had returned to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, a period which saw him perform on national radio both as a solo organist and choirmaster. It is widely acknowledged that his work as director of the Parish Church Choir and as organist at the Leeds Triennial Festivals in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s was of inestimable benefit to both. In particular, he broadened the musical repertoire of Leeds Parish Church, introducing much more unaccompanied music from the Golden Age of English Music. As a Choirmaster in Leeds, he is remembered with much affection and immense respect by parishioners and former choir members alike. He became conductor of The Halifax Choral Society
The Halifax Choral Society
Halifax Choral Society is an internationally-famous choir based in the town of Halifax in the English county of West Yorkshire. It is notable for being the oldest amateur choral society in Britain , founded in 1817 with an unbroken record of performance.The idea for the Halifax Choral Society was...
in 1948, and founded the Leeds Guild of Singers in 1950. In December 1956 he took up the post of Organist and Master of the Choristers
Organist and Master of the Choristers
An Organist and Master of the Choristers is a title given to a Director of Music at a Cathedral, particularly an Anglican Cathedral in England. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. He is both the organist and the choirmaster....
at Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
where he was principal conductor at the Hereford Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
in 1958, 1961 and 1964. Dr Cook's long association with Halifax Choral Society was further enhanced when he attended the final concert conducted by his immediate successor, Dr Donald Hunt, in 1987 - a memorable performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius
The Dream of Gerontius
The Dream of Gerontius, popularly called just Gerontius, is a work for voices and orchestra in two parts composed by Edward Elgar in 1900, to text from the poem by John Henry Newman. It relates the journey of a pious man's soul from his deathbed to his judgment before God and settling into Purgatory...
and was greeted personally by many members of the capacity audience.
In 1966 he emigrated to Canada to become director of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and organist and choirmaster at All Saints' Anglican Church, Winnipeg. He was the organist and choirmaster (1967-1986) at the Metropolitan United Church
Metropolitan United Church
Metropolitan United Church is a large neo-Gothic church in downtown Toronto, Canada. It is one of the largest and most prominent churches of the United Church of Canada. It is located on Queen Street East at the corner of Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.-History:The congregation,...
, Toronto, where he organized organ recitals, chamber concerts, choral performances, and presented a number of oratorios with the Metropolitan Festival Choir and Orchestra. He taught organ (1974-1977) at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton. Melville Cook retired to Cheltenham in 1986 and remained there until his death in 1993. A very well-attended Memorial Service for Dr Cook was held at Leeds Parish Church in the Autumn of 1993.
Compositions
- I Love All Beauteous Things (Stainer & Bell 1935)
- West Sussex Drinking Song (TTBB chorus a cappella, Curwen 1956)
- Antiphon of Darkness and Light (Novello 1973)
- The Character of a Happy Life (Leslie 1990)
Arrangements
- The Secret Flower. Harmonized by Martin Shaw, Accompaniment and Descant by Melville Cook
Recordings
- Leeds Parish Church (RCA VICS 1624)
- Hereford Cathedral (RCA LVLI 5019, RCA VPS 1065)
- Great Cathedral Organ Series. Record Number 11: Hereford Cathedral. Melville Cook, Organist. His Masters Voice/EMI: HMV Q CLP3565 0 CSD3565. Recorded 1968. John Bull (Ed. Glyn): Pavana Sinfoniae. S. S. Wesley: Larghetto in F sharp minor. Joseph Jongen: Sonata Eroica, Op. 94. Jean Langlais: Incantation pour un jour saint. Flor Peeters: Aria, Op. 51. Maurice Duruflé: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op. 7.
- Selections from EMI Great Cathedral Organ Series, Volume Two. Hereford Cathedral. Melville Cook, Organist. PHI CD 161. Maurice Duruflé: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Opus 7. S. S. Wesley: Larghetto in F sharp minor. Joseph Jongen: Sonata Eroica, Op. 94.
- Selections from EMI Great Cathedral Organ Series, Volume Four. Hereford Cathedral. Melville Cook, Organist. PHI CD 163. Melville Cook (Hereford Cathedral). Flor Peeters: Aria.
- Toronto: Metropolitan Silver Band and the Danforth Citadel Band (Cathedral Brass, 1973, Metropolitan Silver Band STM-0473)
- Stabat Mater by Joseph Haydn. Metropolitan Festival Choir and Orchestra, Janet Stubbs, mezzo soprano, tenor Ronald Murdock (1988?, Stereodyne/Audio Ideas)
Literature
- The Organists and Organs of Hereford Cathedral: Watkins Shaw and Roy Massey. Hereford: Hereford Cathedral Organ Committee, 2005. First published in 1976.