Department of Music

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Mervyn Cooke

Professor, Faculty of Arts

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Biography

Mervyn was educated at Dover Grammar School for Boys, the Royal Academy of Music, and King's College, Cambridge, where he held an Open Scholarship and subsequently completed a PhD thesis on Asian influences in the music of Benjamin Britten. He was for six years Research Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, before moving to Nottingham to take up a lectureship in Music in 1993. At the University of Nottingham he has served as both Head of the Department of Music and Vice-Dean (Undergraduate) of the Faculty of Arts.

Expertise Summary

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

Teaching Summary

At undergraduate and Master's levels, recent teaching has included modules in film music, music on stage and screen, jazz, fusion and crossover styles, composition, dissertation and research… read more

Research Summary

Mervyn'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… read more

Recent Publications

  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. Pat Metheny: Gli anni ECM, 1975--1984 (Italian translation of 2017 monograph in OUP's series Oxford Studies in Recorded Jazz) (In Press.)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'Walton: Violin Concerto and other orchestral works', liner notes for CD by Charlie Lovell-Jones (violin) and the Sinfonia of London conducted by John Wilson (CHSA 5360)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'An American Dream: works for flute and piano', liner notes to CD by Lisa Friend (flute) and Rohan De Silva (CHAN 20317) (In Press.)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'Composer of the Month: Duke Ellington' BBC Music (April 2025). (In Press.)

At undergraduate and Master's levels, recent teaching has included modules in film music, music on stage and screen, jazz, fusion and crossover styles, composition, dissertation and research techniques.

At postgraduate level, PhD and MPhil theses supervised have included projects devoted to Britten, film music, videogame music, jazz, early twentieth-century music, and composition.

Applications for PG research places are warmly welcomed in any of the following subject areas: Benjamin Britten; early twentieth-century music; film music; jazz; and music on stage and screen (including topics relating to film, theatre, radio, television, opera, and ballet, with a special interest in stage and film treatments of Shakespeare's plays).

Current Research

Mervyn'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 worked for The Britten-Pears Foundation as co-editor (with Donald Mitchell and Philip Reed) of the multi-volume edition of Britten's correspondence, of which the sixth and final instalment was published in 2012. As part of Britten's centenary celebrations in 2013, he organised and performed (as pianist) in premiere recordings of two of Britten's unpublished theatre scores from the 1930s, which were released on the CD Britten to America, an NMC disc nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014. 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 illustrated books on the history of jazz for Thames & Hudson -- The Chronicle of Jazz and Jazz (World of Art) -- 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, German, 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 Dave Grusin, Duke Ellington, George Fenton, Bernard Herrmann, and John Williams. His substantial A History of Film Music was published by CUP in 2008, and his The Hollywood Film Music Reader by OUP in 2010. His most recent books are The Cambridge Companion to Film Music (co-edited with Fiona Ford; CUP, 2016) and an analytical monograph on the ECM recordings of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny (OUP, 2017). His chapters in other books include studies of music in ocean documentaries, Britten's collaborations with his librettists, music in the British war film, and music in the Carry On films. He is also the co-editor (with Christopher R. Wilson) of The Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Music, published by OUP in 2022, and the author of several articles on film-music topics in the 13th volume of The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World (forthcoming 2025).

  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. Pat Metheny: Gli anni ECM, 1975--1984 (Italian translation of 2017 monograph in OUP's series Oxford Studies in Recorded Jazz) (In Press.)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'Walton: Violin Concerto and other orchestral works', liner notes for CD by Charlie Lovell-Jones (violin) and the Sinfonia of London conducted by John Wilson (CHSA 5360)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'An American Dream: works for flute and piano', liner notes to CD by Lisa Friend (flute) and Rohan De Silva (CHAN 20317) (In Press.)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2025. 'Composer of the Month: Duke Ellington' BBC Music (April 2025). (In Press.)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'Out of the Blue: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue at 100' BBC Music (February 2024). 30--35
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'Works for Strings by Enescu, Ysaye and Bacewicz', liner article for CD by Sinfonia of London conducted by John Wilson (CHSA 5325)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'Michael Tippett: A Child of Our Time', liner article for CD by BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Sir Andrew Davis (CHSA 5341)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'British Cello Concerti: works by Bridge, Walton and Cheryl Frances-Hoad', liner article for CD by Laura van der Heijden (cello) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth (CHSAS 5346)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'MacDowell: Piano Concerto No. 1 and other orchestral works', liner notes for CD by the Xiayin Wang (piano) and the BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Wilson (CHAN 20305)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2024. 'Resonance: Trumpet Concertos by Weinberg and Schoenberger', liner notes to CD by Matilda Lloyd (trumpet) and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lee Reynolds (CHSA 5339 -- Resonance)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. The Chronicle of Jazz (Chinese translation) China Pictorial Press Co Ltd, Beijing..
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. Programme notes on works by Beach, Britten and Price for Shriver Concert Series, Baltimore, and Musica Viva Australia
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. 'Mentors and pupils', liner article on works by Ravel, Berkeley and Adam Pounds (Symphony No. 3) for CD by John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London (Chandos CHSA 5234)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. 'Malcolm Arnold: Orchestral Works', liner notes for CD by Rumon Gamba (conductor) and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Chandos CHAN 20152)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. 'Carry on Regardless: The Musical Humour of Eric Rogers'. In: AUDISSINO, EMILIO and WENNEKES, EMILE, eds., The Palgrave Handbook of Music in Comedy Cinema Palgrave Macmillan. 255--273
  • COOKE, M. J., 2023. 'Foreword'. In: ALAN POULTON and DAVID DUNSTAN, eds., A Malcolm Arnold Musical Companion Malcolm Arnold Society. v
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Britten and English Opera: Myths and a (Chequered) History'. In: VICKI P. STROEHER and JUSTIN VICKERS, eds., Benjamin Britten in Context Cambridge University Press. 103--110
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Britten and Film'. In: VICKI P. STROEHER and JUSTIN VICKERS, eds., Benjamin Britten in Context Cambridge University Press. 71--77
  • CHRISTOPHER R. WILSON and MERVYN COOKE, eds., 2022. The Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Music Oxford University Press.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Chamber Works', liner notes to CD by Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective (Chandos CHAN 20242)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Reflections on (and around) the Symphonic Music of Marius Neset', liner article for CD by Marius Neset (saxophone) and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner (Chandos CHSA 5298)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Frank Bridge and Benjamin Britten: Works for Viola and Piano', liner notes to CD by Helene Clement, Dame Sarah Connolley and Alasdair Beatson (Chandos CHAN 20247)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'From Brighton to Brooklyn: Works for Violin and Piano', liner notes to CD by Elena Urioste and Tom Poster (Chandos CHAN 20248)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. 'Order and Progress: Since Brazil gained independence 200 years ago, its composers have enriched both classical and jazz worldwide' BBC Music: 30th Birthday Special Collectors' Issue (September 2022). 46--9
  • COOKE, M. J., 2022. Review of Sophie Redfern, _Bernstein and Robbins: The Early Ballets_ (University of Rochester Press, 2021) Music & Letters. 103(1), 191--3
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. A History of Film Music (Chinese translation; ISBN-13: 9780521010481) Cambridge University Press (China) and Post & Telecommunications Press.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. 'A Musical Zoo', liner notes to CD recording by Ashley Riches (baritone) and Joseph Middleton (piano) (Chandos, CHAN 20184)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. 'British Oboe Quintets', liner notes to CD recording by Nicholas Daniel (oboe/cor anglais) and the Doric String Quartet (Chandos, CHAN 20226)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. Review of Steuart Bedford and Christopher Gillett, _Knowing Britten_ (Bittern Press, 2021) Gramophone: Awards 2021.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. 'Britten: _Les Illuminations_ and other works', liner notes to CD recording by Mari Eriksmoen (soprano) and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner (Chandos, CHSA 5289)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. ‘Pat Metheny: Bright Size Life’, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; National Recording Preservation Board (Recording Registry) Available at: <https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/Bright-Size-Life_Cooke.pdf>
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. 'Composer of the Month: Nino Rota' BBC Music (December). 72--75
  • COOKE, M. J., 2021. 'Malcolm Arnold and the war film'. In: POULTON, ALAN and DUNSTAN, DAVID, eds., The Film Music of Malcolm Arnold Malcolm Arnold Society. 8-10
  • COOKE, M. J., 2020. British Violin Sonatas vol. 3, liner notes to CD recording by Tasmin Little and Piers Lane (Chandos, CHAN 20133)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2020. 'Benjamin Britten: _Peter Grimes_', liner notes to CD recording by Bergen Philharmonic conducted by Ed Gardner (Chandos, CHSA 5250 2)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2020. 'Britten's Dream', programme article on Britten's _A Midsummer Night's Dream_ for 60th anniversary production at The Grange Festival
  • COOKE, M. J., 2020. 'Twentieth-century clarinet concertos', liner notes on works by Copland, Nielsen, and Macmillan for CD recording by Maximiliano Martín and the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (Delphian, DCD 34250)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'A Bridge Too Far? Music in the British War Film, 1945‒1980'. In: BAUMGARTNER, MICHAEL and BOCZKOWSKA, EWELINA, eds., Music, Collective Memory, Trauma, and Nostalgia in European Cinema after the Second World War 86--107
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. George Antheil: Symphonies Nos 3 and 6 and other works, liner notes for CD recording by BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Storgards (Chandos CHAN 10982)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. Review of Dale Chapman, _The Jazz Bubble: Neoclassical Jazz in Neoliberal Culture_ (University of California Press, 2018) Popular Music: Special Issue: Music and Magic. 38, pp. 163--5
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'Building a Library: George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F major' BBC Music. April 2019, 118--21
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'Britten's Grand Opera'. Programme article for Deborah Warner's production of _Billy Budd_ at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'Benjamin Britten: String Quartets, and Henry Purcell: String Fantasias', article for 2-CD set of new recordings by the Doric String Quartet (Chandos CHAN 20124)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'Richard Strauss: Concertante Works', liner notes to CD recording by BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Collins (Chandos CHAN 20034)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. 'Music for the Dream Factory' BBC Proms Guide. 70--73
  • COOKE, M.J., 2019. '"The Same Goddamn Songs the Same Goddamn Way"? Makin' Whoopee with _The Fabulous Baker Boys_'. In: EMILE WENNEKES and EMILIO AUDISSINO, eds., Cinema Changes: Incorporations of Jazz in the Film Soundtrack Brepols. 291--306
  • COOKE, M. J., 2019. Composer of the Month: Aaron Copland BBC Music. 60--63
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. 'Baroque à la Hitchcock: the music of _Dangerous Liaisons_'. In: COOK, JAMES, KOLASSA, ALEXANDER and WHITTAKER, ADAM, eds., Representations of Early Music on Stage and Screen Routledge. pp. 32--50
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. 'Symphonic Visions: Silent Film Music by Ed Hughes', article to accompany DVD release of _Brighton: Symphony of a City_ and other films (Métier MSVDX 103)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. 'A New Symphonism for a New Hollywood: The Musical Language of John Williams's Film Scores'. In: AUDISSINO, EMILIO, ed., John Williams: Music for Films, Television, and the Concert Stage Brepols. pp. 3--26
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. 'Britten and his librettists: the composer as auteur'. In: KENNEDY, KATE, ed., Literary Britten Boydell Press. pp. 10--30
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. Review of John Howland (ed.), _Duke Ellington Studies_ (CUP, 2017) Music & Letters. 99(1), pp. 141--2
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. Aaron Copland: Orchestral Works vol. 3, liner notes on Symphony No. 1, Dance Symphony etc. for CD recording by BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Wilson (Chandos CHSA 5195)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. John Adams: 'Naive and Sentimental Music' and 'Absolute Jest', liner notes for CD recording by Doric String Quartet and Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian (Chandos CHSA 5199)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. Review of Jeremy Dibble and Julian Horton (eds), _British Musical Criticism and Intellectual Thought, 1850--1950_ (Boydell Press, 2018) Gramophone. December 2018, pp. 138--9
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. Aaron Copland: Orchestral Works vol. 4, liner notes on Symphony No. 3, Connotations and other works for CD recording by BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Wilson (Chandos CHSA 5222)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2018. George Antheil: Symphony No. 1 and other works, liner notes to CD recording by BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Storgards
  • COOKE, M. J., 2017. Pat Metheny: The ECM Years, 1975--1984 (Oxford Studies in Recorded Jazz) Oxford University Press.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2017. George Antheil: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 and 'Over the Plains', liner notes to CD recording by BBC Philharmonic conducted by John Storgards (Chandos CHAN 10941)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2017. Review of Cameron Pyke: Britten and Russia (Boydell Press, 2016) Gramophone. March 2017, p. 100
  • COOKE, M. J., 2017. Review of Vicky Stroeher and Justin Vickers (eds), Britten Studies (Boydell Press, 2017) Gramophone: Awards 2017. p. 132
  • COOKE, M. J., 2017. Charles Ives: Symphonies Nos 3 and 4, liner notes to CD by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davies (CHAN 5174)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Kronika jazzu: Czech translation of revised and expanded edition of The Chronicle of Jazz (Thames & Hudson, OUP, 2013) Universum, Prague.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Britten and Korngold: Violin Concertos, liner notes to CD recording by Vilde Frang, James Gaffigan and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (Warner Classics 0825646009213)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Charles Ives: Orchestral Music vol. 2, liner notes to CD recording by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis (Chandos Records, CHSA 5163)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Aaron Copland: Orchestral Suites, liner notes to CD recording by the BBC Philharmonic under John Wilson (Chandos CHSA 5164)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. 'Britten, Berlioz and the Bard', programme article for Glyndebourne Opera programme book
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Benjamin Britten: Works for Strings, liner notes for CD recording by Aldeburgh Strings under Markus Daeunert (Linn Records/Aldeburgh Music CKD 478)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. American Works for Cello and Piano, liner notes to CD recording by Paul Watkins and Huw Watkins (Chandos CHAN 10881)
  • COOKE, M.J. and FORD, FIONA, eds., 2016. The Cambridge Companion to Film Music Cambridge University Press.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. British Violin Sonatas vol. 2, liner notes to CD recording by Tasmin Little and Piers Lane (Chandos, CHAN 10899)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. 'Music and City Symphonies', article for Brighton Festival programme book
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. American Moments: Piano Trios, liner notes on works by Foote, Korngold and Bernstein for Chandos CD (CHAN 10924)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2016. Aaron Copland Orchestral Works vol. 2: Symphonies, liner notes to CD recording by BBC Philharmonic under John Wilson (Chandos CHSA 5171)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2015. Charles Ives: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2, liner notes to CD recording by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis (Chandos CHSA 5152)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2015. 'Water Music: Scoring the Silent World'. In: ROGERS, HOLLY, ed., Music and Sound in Documentary Film Routledge. pp. 104--22
  • COOKE, M. J., 2015. 'Malcolm Arnold: Complete Symphonies', liner notes for CD box set by Richard Hickox and Rumon Gamba (conductors) and the London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Chandos CHAN 10853)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. Jorge Grundman: The Resurrection of Christ (A Mortuis Resurgere), liner notes for CD recording by Brodsky Quartet and Susana Cordon (Chandos Records, CHSA 5138)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. New World Quartets: liner notes on string quartets by Dvorak, Barber, Gershwin, Copland and Brubeck for CD recording by Brodsky Quartet (Chandos CHAN 10801)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. L'Histoire du Jazz: French translation of revised and expanded edition of The Chronicle of Jazz (Thames & Hudson, OUP, 2013) Éditions Gründ.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. 'Newly published music by Benjamin Britten' Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association. 71(2), 349--52
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. Programme notes on works by Britten and others for Aldeburgh Festival and Edinburgh International Festival
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. 'Sax Appeal: The Saxophone Feature' BBC Music. October 2014, pp. 48--52
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. 'Britten at Christmas' BBC Music, Christmas issue. December 2014, pp. 56--60
  • COOKE, M. J., 2014. 'East Meets West: Britten's _Death in Venice_', programme article [2007] reprinted in booklet accompanying DVD of English National Opera production by Deborah Warner (Opus Arte 1130 D)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2013. Be flat or be natural? pitch symbolism in Britten's operas. In: RUPPRECHT, P., ed., Rethinking Britten Oxford University Press. 102-127
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Four programme articles on works by Britten for Britten Centenary concerts given by Philharmonia Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, London
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Cover CD liner notes on Britten's War Requiem and introductory feature on Britten BBC Music.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Britten in Japan', article for programme book accompanying Neue Oper Wien's productions of Britten's church parables, Vienna
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Britten: Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto', CD liner notes for recording by Tasmin Little, Howard Shelley and the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Edward Gardner (Chandos 10764)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Richard Strauss: Josephslegende and other works', CD liner notes for recording by Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi (Chandos 5120)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'British Violin Sonatas vol.1', CD liner notes on works by Britten, Ferguson and Walton for recording by Tasmin Little and Piers Lane (Chandos 10770)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Programme notes on Britten's Church Parables and Voices Today, and on choral works by Santa Ratniece and others, Aldeburgh Festival Programme Book (June)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'American Piano Concertos', CD liner notes on piano concertos by Gershwin, Copland and Barber for recording by Xaiyin Wang and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian (Chandos)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'John Adams: Dr Atomic Symphony and Harmonielehre', CD liner notes for recording by Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian (Chandos CHSA 5129)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Michelangelo in Song', CD liner notes for recording of works by Britten, Wolf and Shostakovich by John Tomlinson and David Owen Norris (Chandos 10785)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Britten: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 and 3', CD liner notes for recording by the Takacs Quartet (Hyperion CDA 68004)
  • COOKE, M.J., 2013. Entry on Geoffrey Burgon for Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Britten at King's', CD liner notes on Saint Nicolas, Rejoice in the Lamb and Hymn to St Cecilia by the Choir of King's College Cambridge directed by Stephen Cleobury
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Britten: War Requiem', CD liner notes for recording by Gabrieli Consort and Players and Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir conducted by Paul McCreesh (Signum Classics/Winged Lion)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'Pagodaland: Britten and the gamelan', article for programme book to the Cheltenham Festival
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. 'The Last Opera: Britten's Death in Venice', programme note for Opera North Britten centenary production
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. The Chronicle of Jazz (revised and expanded second edition) Thames & Hudson (UK)/Oxford University Press (USA).
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Chronik des Jazz (German translation of Thames & Hudson Chronicle of Jazz, revised and expanded edition) Edel.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Benjamin Britten: The Ascent of F6 and On the Frontier (premiere recordings), pianist and recording co-ordinator, with Sam West (narrator) and Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore ('Britten to America' NMC D190)
  • COOKE, M. J., 2013. Sixes and Sevens, for soprano saxophone and piano (first performance), Alistair Parnell (saxophone) and Mervyn Cooke (piano), Djanogly Recital Hall, University of Nottingham, 18 October
  • 2013. 'Britten's Quartets', three programme articles for Britten Centenary Programme Book, Aldeburgh Music?BBC Radio 3, 21--24 November 2013, pp.61--62, 99--104
  • 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
  • REED, P. and COOKE, M. J., eds., 2012. Letters from a Life: The Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten, 1913-1976; volume 6: 1966-1976 Boydell Press/Britten--Pears Foundation.
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. Composer of the Week: Scott Joplin BBC Music Magazine. 50--53
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. CD liner notes on Britten's A Ceremony of Carols and Saint Nicolas, for recording by Polyphony/Stephen Layton on Hyperion label
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. CD liner notes on Britten's Cello Sonata, Cello Symphony and three Cello Suites for 2-disc set recorded by Alban Gerhardt, Hyperion Records
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. 'Britten in Japan', article for programme book accompanying Tokyo University production of Britten's Curlew River and Noh play Sumidagawa in London and Orford
  • COOKE, M. J., 2012. 'Gagaku', article for Edinburgh International Festival for programme accompanying performance by Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency, Tokyo
  • 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
  • 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 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., 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., 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.
  • REED, P. and COOKE, M.J., eds., 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., 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., 2009. Anatomy of a Movie: Duke Ellington and 1950s Film Scoring. In: LOCK, G. and MURRAY, D., 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. '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., 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. 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. A History of Film Music Cambridge University Press.
  • 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. '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. '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., 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. '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. 'The film music of John Addison', liner notes to CD recording by Rumon Gamba and the BBC Concert Orchestra
  • 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. 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. '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., 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., 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. Programme notes for 59th Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts, June 2006
  • 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., ed., 2005. The Cambridge companion to twentieth-century opera Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • 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., 2005. Forty-part motet 'Deus, Deus Meus' 01/01/1900 00:00:00
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Programme notes and articles for Bath Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall and Kent County Youth Orchestra
  • COOKE, M.J., 2005. Premiere of Fantasy on a Hungarian Theme 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. 'The Film Music of Stanley Black', liner notes to CD by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth
  • 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., 2005. 'Malcolm Arnold: A Grand Grand Overture and other concert overtures', liner notes to CD by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 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., 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. '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. '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. 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. '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. '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., 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., 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. Histoire de poche de l'opera anglais. In: , ed., Haendel: Hercules (L'Avant-Scene Opera, 221; Paris, 2004) 75-79
  • 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. Four programme articles for 'Britten and the Far East' concert series, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (January--June 2003)
  • 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. 'Alberto Ginastera: Obras Sinfonicas', liner notes to CD by Berlin Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Gabriel Castagna (Chandos 10152)
  • 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 compositeurs 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. and HORN, D., eds., 2002. The Cambridge companion to jazz Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • 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., 2002. Programme notes for Aldeburgh Festival, Bath Festival, Buxton Festival, Halle Youth Orchestra, Kent County Youth Orchestra and Wigmore Hall
  • 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. 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. 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. '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. '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. 'Classic Jazz and Swing at Snape', Snape Proms 2001 Programme Book, pp. 15--16
  • 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. 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. 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 Benjamin Britten. In: Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart Mohr, J.C.B., Verlag, Paul Siebeck, Tbingen.
  • COOKE,M.J., ed., 1999. The Cambridge Companion to Benjamin Britten Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
  • 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., 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. Jazz Thames and Hudson, London.
  • COOKE,M.J., 1998. Britten and the Far East Boydell and Brewer, Woodbridge.
  • 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. The Chronicle of Jazz Thames and Hudson, London.
  • COOKE, M.J., 1997. Eastern Influences in Britten's 'The Prodigal Son' Melos. 19,20, 37-45
  • COOKE, M.J., 1997. Review of Christopher Mark, Early Benjamin Britten Music Analysis. 16(3), 409-415
  • 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

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