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Mervyn Cooke

Professor, Faculty of Arts

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Expertise Summary

Life and music of Benjamin Britten; jazz; film music; twentieth-century opera; traditional music of Japan and Indonesia; music of Frank Martin; Astor Piazzolla and tango nuevo; composition; performance (keyboard); conducting

Research Summary

Professor Cooke's primary research interests are the music of Benjamin Britten, film music, and jazz. He is the author of a handbook on Britten's War Requiem (CUP, 1996) and the monograph Britten and… read more

Recent Publications

  • COOKE, M.J., 2012. A History of Film Music: Czech translation of CUP monograph (2008) Casablanca, Prague.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. Review of Richard Dyer, Nino Rota: Music, Film and Feeling Music, Sound, and the Moving Image. 5(2), 185--190
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. CD liner notes on Britten's Cello Symphony and other works, for recording by Paul Watkins and BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Edward Gardner (Chandos 10658)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. 'English Anthems', liner notes for EMI recording by the choir of King's College Cambridge [1993], reprinted in booklet accompanying 5-CD set 'Best of British' (EMI 028982), pp. 16--19

Current Research

Professor Cooke's primary research interests are the music of Benjamin Britten, film music, and jazz. He is the author of a handbook on Britten's War Requiem (CUP, 1996) and the monograph Britten and the Far East (The Boydell Press, 1998), and editor of The Cambridge Companion to Benjamin Britten (CUP, 1999); he also co-edited (with Philip Reed) an Opera Handbook on Billy Budd (CUP, 1993) and works for The Britten-Pears Foundation as co-editor (with Donald Mitchell and Philip Reed) of the ongoing edition of Britten's correspondence, of which the fifth volume was published in 2010. He edited The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century Opera (CUP, 2005), to which he contributed a chapter on opera and film. He has authored two books on the history of jazz for Thames & Hudson -- The Chronicle of Jazz, 1997 (of which an expanded and updated second edition is due to be published in 2012), and Jazz (World of Art), 1998 -- and co-edited with David Horn The Cambridge Companion to Jazz (2003). His books on jazz and film music have variously been translated into French, Spanish, Czech, Polish, Chinese and Korean. He is the author of the New Grove article on film music, and has written book chapters on the film music of Bernard Herrmann and Duke Ellington. His substantial History of Film Music was published by CUP in September 2008, and his Hollywood Film Music Reader by OUP in 2010. He is currently co-editing the sixth and final volume of Britten's correspondence, due to be published in the composer's centenary year (2013), and writing an analytical monograph for OUP on the ECM recordings of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.

  • COOKE, M.J., 2012. A History of Film Music: Czech translation of CUP monograph (2008) Casablanca, Prague.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. Review of Richard Dyer, Nino Rota: Music, Film and Feeling Music, Sound, and the Moving Image. 5(2), 185--190
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. 'English Anthems', liner notes for EMI recording by the choir of King's College Cambridge [1993], reprinted in booklet accompanying 5-CD set 'Best of British' (EMI 028982), pp. 16--19
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. CD liner notes on Steve Reich's The Desert Music and Three Movements for recording by Tonkuenstler Orchester Niederoesterreich under Kristjan Jaervi (Chandos CHSA 5091)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. CD liner notes on Britten's Cello Symphony and other works, for recording by Paul Watkins and BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Edward Gardner (Chandos 10658)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. CD liner notes on Britten's Double Concerto, Violin Concerto and Lachrymae for recording by Anthony Marwood, Lawrence Power and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Ilan Volkov, Hyperion CDA67801
  • COOKE, M. J., 2011. CD liner notes on Latin American orchestral works by Piazzolla, Gomez Carrillo, Castro, Valcarcel, Mignone, Holguin and Williams for recording by Wuerrtembergische Philharmonie under Gabriel Castagna (Chandos 10675)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2010. Review of Anthony Davis: Amistad, CD recording by Lyric Opera of Chicago Journal of the Society for American Music. 5 i,
  • COOKE, M. J., ed., 2010. The Hollywood Film Music Reader New York: Oxford University Press.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2010. CD liner notes on Britten's works for baritone and piano, recorded by Gerald Finley and Julius Drake, Hyperion Records
  • COOKE, M. J., 2010. 'Jak powstala amerykanska muzyka filmowa' ['Making Film Music "American"']. In: TOPOLSKI, JAN, ed., Nowa muzyka amerykanska [New American Music] Krakow: Ha!art/Sacrum Profanum. 160--183
  • COOKE, M.J. AND PHILIP REED, ed., 2010. Letters from a Life: The Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten, 1913--1976; volume 5: 1958--1965 Boydell Press/Britten--Pears Foundation.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2009. 'Anatomy of a Movie: Duke Ellington and 1950s Film Scoring'. In: LOCK, GRAHAM and MURRAY, DAVID, eds., Thriving on a Riff: Jazz and Blues Influences in African American Literature and Film Oxford University Press. 240-259
  • COOKE, M. J., 2009. CD liner notes on Malcolm Arnold's ballet scores, recorded by BBC Philharmonic and Rumon Gamba (conductor), Chandos Records
  • COOKE, M. J., 2009. 'Leonard Bernstein, Mass: A Theater Piece, liner notes for CD recording by Tonkunstlerorchester Niederosterreich under Kristjan Jarvi (Chandos CHSA 5070 2)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2009. 'El "canto profetico" de Britten', article on Billy Budd for Programa Temporada de Opera de la ABAO, no. 58, Bilbao
  • COOKE M J, 2009. Chorale-Variations on 'Kjaerlighet fra Gud', for solo organ Cantando Musikkforlag A/S, Stavanger, Norway.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2008. French and Dutch translations of article on Britten's Death in Venice, for production at La Monnaie, Brussels
  • COOKE, M.J., 2008. A History of Film Music Cambridge University Press.
  • COOKE, M J, 2008. 'Franz Schmidt: Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln', liner notes to CD recording by Tonkunstlerorchester Vienna/Jarvi (Chandos Records)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2008. ‘Reflections on and around Britten’s War Requiem at Yale’ Colloquium 5 (Yale University Institute of Sacred Music). 2008(5), 73--81
  • COOKE, M.J. WITH PHILIP REED AND DONALD MITCHELL, ed., 2008. Letters from a Life: The Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten. Volume 4, 1952-1957 The Boydell Press.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2008. 'Britten's Venetian Soundscape', in Programa Temporada d'Opera, to accompany production of Britten's Death in Venice at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona in May 2008.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2008. 'Piano works by Joseph Marx', liner notes to CD recording by Tonya Lemoh (Chandos Records)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2008. Chorus and incidental music to Euripides' Hippolytus for production at New College Oxford to commemorate the centenary of Gilbert Murray's appointment as Regius Professor of Greek (5, 6 and 7 June)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2007. Jazz [Korean translation of book first published in English by Thames & Hudson, 1998] Sigong Books, Seoul, South Korea.
  • COOKE M.J., 2007. 'The film music of John Addison', liner notes to CD recording by Rumon Gamba and the BBC Concert Orchestra
  • COOKE, M. J., 2007. 'Britten's Death in Venice', article for programme book to 60th Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts
  • COOKE, M. J., 2007. Clarinet Sonata (first performance): Simon MacRae (clarinet) and Mervyn Cooke (piano), Djanogly Recital Hall, 19 October
  • COOKE M.J., 2007. 'Astor Piazzolla: Sinfonia Buenos Aires and other orchestral works', liner notes to CD by Gabriel Castagna and the Wurrtemberg Philharmonic Orchestra
  • COOKE, M.J., 2007. 'East Meets West: The Musical Idiom of Death in Venice', programme book to accompany the English National Opera production of Britten's opera at the London Coliseum, May 2007
  • COOKE, M J, 2007. First performance of 'Fanfare for Youth', for brass band, by the Princeton Brass Band conducted by Stephen Arthur Allen, Yvonne Theater, Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey USA (2 December)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2007. Review of David Yaffe, Fascinating Rhythm: Reading Jazz in American Writing Music & Letters. 88(3), 535--8
  • COOKE, M J, 2007. 'Turning the Tonal Screw', programme article for English National Opera/Kirov production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw, London Coliseum, December 2007
  • COOKE, M.J., 2006. Programme notes for 59th Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts, June 2006
  • COOKE, M.J., 2006. Two featured interviews on Benjamin Britten for BBC Radio 3 'Composer of the Week', broadcast on 7 and 8 December
  • COOKE, M.J., 2006. 'Britten's Canticles', article in programme book to performance of complete cycle by Ian Bostridge et al., Carnegie Hall, New York City, 8 March 2006
  • COOKE, M.J., 2006. CD recording of 40-part motet 'Deus, Deus Meus' by Thomas Tallis Society Choir Dilute Ltd. (DIL06001).
  • COOKE, M.J., 2006. Review of Penny M. Von Eschen, Satchmo Blows up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War, in Music & Letters
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Forty-part motet 'Deus, Deus Meus' 01/01/1900 00:00:00
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Opera and Film. In: COOKE, M.J., ed., The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century Opera Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. 267-90
  • COOKE, M.J., ed., 2005. The Cambridge companion to twentieth-century opera Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Programme notes and articles for Bath Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall and Kent County Youth Orchestra
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. 'Malcolm Arnold: A Grand Grand Overture and other concert overtures', liner notes to CD by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. 'The Film Music of Stanley Black', liner notes to CD by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Premiere of <em>Fantasy on a Hungarian Theme</em> for two pianos, performed by Katy Hamilton and Mervyn Cooke, Djanogly Recital Hall, University of Nottingham (4 May) 01/01/1900 00:00:00
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Review of Philip Rupprecht, Britten's Musical Language, Journal of The American Musicological Society. 58(1), 243-7
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. Articles on Ernest Bullock and William Harris. In: MATTHEW, H.C.G. and HARRISON, B.H., eds., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford : Oxford University Press.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. First performance of My Maiden Isabel, for unaccompanied women's voices, by Cantamus under Pamela Cook, Djanogly Recital Hall, University of Nottingham, 16 June 2004 01/01/1900 00:00:00
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. 'Escenas Argentinas: symphonic works by Piazzolla, Buchardo, Aguirre, Giudice, Guastavino and Gianneo', liner notes to CD by Orquesta Sinfonica de Entre Rios conducted by Gabriel Castagna (Chandos 10185)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. 'Leonard Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 (Kaddish) and other works', liner notes to CD by Jamie Bernstein (speaker) and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Leonard Slatkin (Chandos 10172)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. 'Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream', article for Programa Temporada d'Opera 2004--2005, to accompany production of the opera at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona (September 2004)
  • COOKE, M.J., MITCHELL, D. and REED, P., eds., 2004. Letters from a life: the selected letters of Benjamin Britten 1913-1976. Vol. 3, 1946-1951 London: Faber.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. After swing: modern jazz and its impact. In: COOK, N. and POPLE, A., eds., The Cambridge history of twentieth-century music Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 395-417
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. 'The English Oboe', liner notes to CD of concerti by Vaughan Williams, Holst, Goossens, Elgar and Jacob, performed by Ruth Bolister and the Elgar Chamber Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell (ASV Digital 1173)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. Histoire de poche de l'opera anglais. In: , ed., Haendel: Hercules (L'Avant-Scene Opera, 221; Paris, 2004) 75-79
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. Review of Allan Moore (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Blues and Gospel Music Music and Letters. 85(2), 339-342
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. Programme notes for Bath Festival, Kent County Youth Orchestra and Wigmore Hall
  • COOKE, M.J., 2004. 'John Ireland: Chamber Music', liner notes to ASV Sanctuary CD featuring performances by Julian Lloyd Webber, Daniel Hope and John McCabe
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. Four programme articles for 'Britten and the Far East' concert series, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (January--June 2003)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. 'Alberto Ginastera: Obras Sinfonicas', liner notes to CD by Berlin Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Gabriel Castagna (Chandos 10152)
  • COOKE,M.J., 2003. Jazz among the classics, and the case of Duke Ellington. In: The Cambridge Companion to Jazz Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 153-173
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. 'Astor Piazzolla: Symphonic Works', liner notes for CD by the Wuerrtemberg Philharmonic Orchestra conduced by Gabriel Castagna (Chandos 10049/5006)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. Programme notes for Aldeburgh Festival, Bath Festival, BBC Philharmonic, Kent County Youth Orchestra and Wigmore Hall (BBC lunchtime concerts)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. Premiere recording of Britten: Suite from The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57, edited by Donald Mitchell and Mervyn Cooke, by BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin (Chandos 10111) 01/01/1900 00:00:00
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. 'Astor Piazzolla: The Song of the Angel', liner notes to CD by James Crabb (accordion) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (Chandos 10163)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. 'Bernard Herrmann'. In: Les compsiteurs de musique (Les metiers du cinema): French translation of Film Music (Rotovision Screencraft) Compagnie du livre.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2003. 'Anthems from King's', liner notes to CD by Choir of King's College directed by Sir David Willcocks (EMI Classics for Pleasure)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2002. Programme notes for Aldeburgh Festival, Bath Festival, Buxton Festival, Halle Youth Orchestra, Kent County Youth Orchestra and Wigmore Hall
  • COOKE,M.J., 2002. Turning the Tonal Screw: Britten and Serialism. In: AA314, Studies in Music 1750-2000: Offprints 2 Open University Press, Buckingham. 154-168
  • COOKE, M.J. and HORN, D., eds., 2002. The Cambridge companion to jazz Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • COOKE, M.J., 2002. 'Myths and Melodrama' and 'Britten and Viennese Song', programme book to the Britten--Strauss Festival, Aldeburgh (October 2002), pp. 12--13 and 18--20
  • COOKE,M.J., 2001. 'Britten and Takemitsu', programme book to The Britten Festival 2001, Aldeburgh Productions, 25--28 October 2001
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. 'Malcolm Arnold: Oboe Concerto and Symphonies 7, 8 and 9', liner notes to 2-CD set by BBC Philharmonic (Chandos 9967(2))
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. Interviews for BBC Radio 4 on the film music of Sir Malcolm Arnold ('Front Row', 4 September) and on Britten's War Requiem ('Requiem', 25 October)
  • COOKE,M.J., 2001. Film music and articles on twentieth-century British Composers. In: SADIE, S. and TYRRELL, J., eds., The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians MacMillan Publishers Ltd, London. 797-810 etc
  • COOKE,M.J., 2001. Articles on David Fanshawe and George Fenton. In: FINSCHER, L., ed., Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Personenteil 2nd. 6. B?renreiter, Kassel, Germany. 714-715; 953
  • COOKE,M.J., 2001. Review of Arnold Whittall, 'Musical Composition in the Twentieth Century' Music and Letters. 82(3), 472-477
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. 'Rite of Passage: Stylization and Renewal in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia', programme book to the English National Opera production at the London Coliseum, October 2001
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. 'Classic Jazz and Swing at Snape', Snape Proms 2001 Programme Book, pp. 15--16
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. 'Britten and the String Quartet: Contexts and Connections', programme book to the autumn string-quartet series, Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. 'Britten's Sacred and Profane and other choral works', liner notes to recording by Polyphony and Stephen Layton (Hyperion CDA 67140)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2001. Notes for Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra on occasion of first French performance of Donald Mitchell and Mervyn Cooke (eds), Britten: Suite from 'The Prince of the Pagodas' (6 February 2001)
  • COOKE,M.J., 2000. Review of John Caldwell, The Oxford History of English Music, ii: c.1715 to the Present Day Music and Letters. 81(4), 614-616
  • COOKE,M.J., 2000. Bernard Herrmann. In: RUSSELL, M. and YOUNG, J., eds., Film Music RotoVision, Crans-Pres-Celigny, Switzerland. 18-31
  • COOKE,M.J., 1999. Article on William Alwyn. In: FINSCHER, L., ed., Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Personenteil 2nd. 1. Barenreiter, Kassel. 558-559
  • COOKE,M.J., 1999. Introduction; Britten and Shakespeare: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'; Distant Horizons: From Pagodaland to the Church Parables. In: COOKE, M.J., ed., The Cambridge Companion to Benjamin Britten Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 1-8; 129-146; 167-187
  • COOKE,M.J., ed., 1999. The Cambridge Companion to Benjamin Britten Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
  • COOKE, M.J., 1999. Article on Benjamin Britten. In: Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart Mohr, J.C.B., Verlag, Paul Siebeck, Tbingen.
  • COOKE, M.J., 1998. The East in the West: Evocations of the Gamelan in Western Music. In: The Exotic in Western Music 258-280
  • COOKE,M.J., 1998. Review of Paul Oliver: Conversation with the Blues Music and Letters. 79(4), 638-639
  • COOKE,M.J., 1998. Britten and the Far East Boydell and Brewer, Woodbridge.
  • COOKE,M.J., 1998. Jazz Thames and Hudson, London.
  • COOKE,M.J., 1998. New Horizons in the Twentieth Century. In: ROWLAND, D., ed., The Cambridge Companion to the Piano Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 192-208
  • COOKE, M.J., 1997. Eastern Influences in Britten's 'The Prodigal Son' Melos. 19,20, 37-45
  • COOKE,M.J., 1997. The Chronicle of Jazz Thames and Hudson, London.
  • COOKE, M.J., 1997. Review of Christopher Mark, Early Benjamin Britten Music Analysis. 16(3), 409-415
  • COOKE, M.J., 1997. Review of Stephen Banfield (ed.), The Blackwell History of Music in Britain, vol. 6: The Twentieth Century Music and Letters. 78(1), 115-118
  • COOKE,M.J., 1997. Review of Peter J. Hodgson, Benjamin Britten: A Guide to Research Music and Letters. 78(4), 629-631
  • COOKE,M.J., 1997. Review of Paul Banks (ed.), The Making of `Peter Grimes' Music and Letters. 78(3), 464-466
  • COOKE,M.J., 1996. Britten: War Requiem Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
  • COOKE,M.J., 1995. From No to Nebuchadnezzar. In: REED, P., ed., On Mahler and Britten: essays in honour of Donald Mitchell Boydell and Brewer, Woodbridge. 135-145
  • COOKE,M.J., ed., 1995. Cradles of the New: writings on music 1951-91 Faber and Faber Ltd, London.
  • COOKE, M.J., Articles on Geoffrey Burgon and Nicholas Sackman in Die Musik in Geschicte und Gegenwart, Personentail supplement, Baerenreiter Verlag, Kassel, Germany
  • COOKE, M.J., Review of Richard Dyer, Nino Rota: Music, Film and Feeling Music, Sound, and the Moving Image.
  • COOKE, M.J., 'Piano works by Joseph Marx', liner notes to CD recording by xxxxx (Chandos Records)
  • COOKE, M.J., Review of Richard Dyer, Nino Rota: Music, Film and Feeling Music, Sound, and the Moving Image.

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