Arnold Cooke (1906-2005) studied with E.J. Dent at Cambridge and spent three years with Paul Hindemith, a prominent German composer, in Berlin.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Arnold Cooke rejected the idea of writing in the 'latest style' just to be modern, stating he was never 'in the race for modernity'.
Compositional Technique
Arnold Cooke's musical language is often built on melodic and harmonic perfect fourths and fifths, within highly structured and expertly composed music.
Performer Biography
The Pleyel Ensemble, which performs on this album, is named after Ignaz Pleyel, a Classical composer and businessman who helped popularize chamber music as a publisher and piano manufacturer.
Recording & Production
This CD is dedicated to Gloria Bills, mother of cellist Heather Bills and mother-in-law of pianist Harvey Davies, who passed away during the recording of the Piano Quintet.
Critical Reception
Despite his impressive output, Arnold Cooke's lack of wider recognition was noted by critics, with one describing him as a 'complete craftsman' for whom the English musical life provided no proper place.
Recording & Production
All three works on this album — Cooke's Piano Trio, Quartet, and Quintet — are World Première recordings.
You might also enjoy...
Viola Fantasia
Holst: Quintet in A Minor, Op. 3 & Wind Quintet in A-Flat Major - Jacob: Sextet in B-Flat Major, Op. 6
Segun Akinola's Kensington Palace: Untold Lives
Ireland: Sextet; Phantasie Trio; Trios Nos. 2 & 3
Bennett: Piano Sextet, Chamber Trio & String Quartet
