Antony Cooke
Encyclopedia
Antony Cooke, is an American cellist, composer
, astronomer
, and author
.
, Australia
in 1948 while his father was playing for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
. The family moved to London
when his father was appointed principle cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra
.
Cooke began his musical studies at the age of six, and in London won several awards for his playing, including a Gold Medal in the London Music Festival in 1966 and the "Young Musicians '73" Award. As a young BBC
soloist, Cooke was regularly featured as a recitalist and concerto soloist, under conductors such as Colin Davis
and Harry Blech. He was consequently appointed principle cellist of England's then-premier chamber orchestra, the London Mozart Players
, making Cooke the youngest principle cellist in the country. Cooke also made international solo appearances, including appearances at the Royal Festival Hall
, Queen Elizabeth Hall
, and Bath International Music Festival
.
In London, Cooke obtained Artist Diplomas from both the Royal College of Music
and the Royal Academy of Music
.
Cooke moved in 1974 to the Unites States, where he was appointed professor of cello at the University of Southern Florida. In 1980 Cooke was appointed Associate Professor of Cello at Northwestern University
in Chicago, and was a member of the Regenstein Trio during his time there.
In 1984 Cooke moved to Los Angeles
, California
, and established himself as a member of the Hollywood recording industry and as a published composer
, writing music for film and prime time television.
In addition to his musical career, Cooke is an avid astronomer
, and has published several books on astronomy
.
May 1996), and “rich, sonorous tone…performances involving, thoughtful and polished” (American Record Guide
Nov. 2005).
Cooke's recording of Kodály's Op. 8 Solo Sonata was hailed as “the finest recent performance” by Fanfare
(Nov. 1998). Stereo Review (now Sound and Vision
), called his recording of the Solo Sonata “vibrant and dedicated” (Feb 1998), and the American Record Guide
commended Cooke as a “solid technician of unusual poise…..this CD does indeed demonstrate cello
power” (Sept. 1997). Commentary in American Poems stated it was a "must own" CD. Michale Barone described Cooke's playing as "impassioned and exhillarating...Antony Cooke survives the challenge brilliantly!" in his review of Cooke's 2009 recording of the Kodaly Solo Sonata, for Minnesota Public Radio
Classical Show (25 March 2010).
Mike D. Brownell, however, criticized Cooke's playing in a review of Cooke's record "The Solo Cello" for allmusic.com, claiming that Cooke "gets carried away musically." Says Brownell of Cooke's Solo Sonata recording, "So filled with rubato is Cooke's interpretation that the usually powerful, forward-moving piece nearly comes to a stand-still on several occasions. Chords are played with a tiresome delay at the bottom half that makes Cooke's playing predictable."
(May 2004) remarked that Cooke’s "Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs" (2003) is “a must buy for the city astronomer." Southern Stars (Vol. 43 (1), March 2004) stated that it “should be considered an essential for today’s amateur who has to endure light pollution."
In regards to ‘Visual Astronomy under Dark Skies’ (2005), the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society stated that it was “highly recommended for visual observers who want to push their eyeball observing to the limit” (2005). However, Dr. Stewart Moore criticized Cooke's messy explanations of the basic operation of intensifiers in the "Journal of the British Astronomical Association
" (Vol. 115 Issue 5, p245-246, October 2005), stating that "anyone wanting detailed technical information on the operation of intensifiers will also need to look elsewhere."
at University of South Florida
(1974–80) and
Associate Professor of Cello
at Northwestern University School of Music
(1980–84), Chicago
.
Cooke will release his next book, "Dark Nebulae, Dark Lanes, and Dust Lanes", in March 2012.
Centaur Records
, Inc. http://www.centaurrecords.com
Books:
Springer http://www.springer.com
Compositions:
Neil A. Kjos Music Company http://www.kjos.com
Warner/Chappel Music http://www.warnerchappell.com
Kendor Music http://www.kendormusic.com
Addax Music Co. http://www.Belwin-Mills.music44.com
Affiliations:
Professional Musicians Local 47 http://www.promusic47.org
ASCAP http://www.ascap.com
Recording Musicians Association http://www.rmala.org
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Life and career
Antony Cooke is the son of internationally renowned cellist Nelson Cooke, and was born abroad in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1948 while his father was playing for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
. The family moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when his father was appointed principle cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
.
Cooke began his musical studies at the age of six, and in London won several awards for his playing, including a Gold Medal in the London Music Festival in 1966 and the "Young Musicians '73" Award. As a young BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soloist, Cooke was regularly featured as a recitalist and concerto soloist, under conductors such as Colin Davis
Colin Davis
Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE is an English conductor. His repertoire is broad, but among the composers with whom he is particularly associated are Mozart, Berlioz, Elgar, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Tippett....
and Harry Blech. He was consequently appointed principle cellist of England's then-premier chamber orchestra, the London Mozart Players
London Mozart Players
The London Mozart Players is a British chamber orchestra founded in 1949. The LMP is the longest-established chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom whose performances and recordings focus largely on the core repertoire from the Classical era...
, making Cooke the youngest principle cellist in the country. Cooke also made international solo appearances, including appearances at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
, and Bath International Music Festival
Bath International Music Festival
The Bath International Music Festival, also known as the Bath Music Fest, is held each summer in Bath, South West England. Inaugurated in 1948, the festival includes many genres such as orchestral, contemporary jazz, folk and electronica...
.
In London, Cooke obtained Artist Diplomas from both 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...
and the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
.
Cooke moved in 1974 to the Unites States, where he was appointed professor of cello at the University of Southern Florida. In 1980 Cooke was appointed Associate Professor of Cello at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Chicago, and was a member of the Regenstein Trio during his time there.
In 1984 Cooke moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and established himself as a member of the Hollywood recording industry and as a published composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, writing music for film and prime time television.
In addition to his musical career, Cooke is an avid astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, and has published several books on astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
.
Record Reviews
Cooke has been praised for his “sterling abilities, with technical accomplishments ideally counterpoised by a fertile imagination and volcanic temperament” (FanfareFanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
May 1996), and “rich, sonorous tone…performances involving, thoughtful and polished” (American Record Guide
American Record Guide
The American Record Guide is a classical music magazine. It has reviewed classical music recordings since 1935.Since 1992, with the incorporation of the Musical America editorial functions into ARG, it started covering concerts, musicians, ensembles and orchestras in the US.The magazine prides...
Nov. 2005).
Cooke's recording of Kodály's Op. 8 Solo Sonata was hailed as “the finest recent performance” by Fanfare
Fanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
(Nov. 1998). Stereo Review (now Sound and Vision
Sound and Vision
"Sound and Vision" is a song and single by David Bowie which appeared on the album Low in 1977.The song is notable for juxtaposing an uplifting guitar and synthesizer-led instrumental track with Bowie’s withdrawn lyrics...
), called his recording of the Solo Sonata “vibrant and dedicated” (Feb 1998), and the American Record Guide
American Record Guide
The American Record Guide is a classical music magazine. It has reviewed classical music recordings since 1935.Since 1992, with the incorporation of the Musical America editorial functions into ARG, it started covering concerts, musicians, ensembles and orchestras in the US.The magazine prides...
commended Cooke as a “solid technician of unusual poise…..this CD does indeed demonstrate cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
power” (Sept. 1997). Commentary in American Poems stated it was a "must own" CD. Michale Barone described Cooke's playing as "impassioned and exhillarating...Antony Cooke survives the challenge brilliantly!" in his review of Cooke's 2009 recording of the Kodaly Solo Sonata, for Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
Classical Show (25 March 2010).
Mike D. Brownell, however, criticized Cooke's playing in a review of Cooke's record "The Solo Cello" for allmusic.com, claiming that Cooke "gets carried away musically." Says Brownell of Cooke's Solo Sonata recording, "So filled with rubato is Cooke's interpretation that the usually powerful, forward-moving piece nearly comes to a stand-still on several occasions. Chords are played with a tiresome delay at the bottom half that makes Cooke's playing predictable."
Astronomy Book Reviews
Amongst reviews regarding Cooke’s published astronomical writings, Astronomy NowAstronomy Now
Astronomy Now is a monthly British magazine on astronomy and space. It features a mix of articles ranging from how to observe the night sky to the latest discoveries in the Solar System and in deep space. The first issue of Astronomy Now was published in April 1987 by Intra Press, initially as a...
(May 2004) remarked that Cooke’s "Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs" (2003) is “a must buy for the city astronomer." Southern Stars (Vol. 43 (1), March 2004) stated that it “should be considered an essential for today’s amateur who has to endure light pollution."
In regards to ‘Visual Astronomy under Dark Skies’ (2005), the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society stated that it was “highly recommended for visual observers who want to push their eyeball observing to the limit” (2005). However, Dr. Stewart Moore criticized Cooke's messy explanations of the basic operation of intensifiers in the "Journal of the British Astronomical Association
Journal of the British Astronomical Association
-External links:* *...
" (Vol. 115 Issue 5, p245-246, October 2005), stating that "anyone wanting detailed technical information on the operation of intensifiers will also need to look elsewhere."
Teaching positions
Professor of CelloCello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
at University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
(1974–80) and
Associate Professor of Cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
at Northwestern University School of Music
Northwestern University School of Music
The Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music, or Bienen School of Music, is an undergraduate and graduate institution devoted to musical performance and academics. Located on Northwestern University's campus in Evanston, Illinois, 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, the school was known as the...
(1980–84), Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Recordings
- Music for Cello and Wind Orchestra (Golden Crest 1978)
- Music for Cello and Percussion. Works by David Baker and Niccolò PaganiniNiccolò PaganiniNiccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
(Golden Crest 1983)
- Hungarian Music for Cello and Piano. Works by Ernő DohnányiErno DohnányiErnő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
, Béla BartókBéla BartókBéla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Jenő HubayJeno HubayEugen Huber , better known by his Hungarian name Jenő Hubay , was a Hungarian violinist, composer and music teacher.-Early life:Eugen Huber was born into a German family of musicians in Pest, Hungary...
, Kodaly (Resort Classic; re-released Centaur 1995)
- Splendors of the 20th Century. Works by Ludwig ThuilleLudwig ThuilleLudwig Thuille was a German composer and teacher, numbered for a while among the leading operatic composers of the 'Munich School', whose most famous representative was Richard Strauss.-Biography:...
, Esa-Pekka SalonenEsa-Pekka SalonenEsa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.-Early career:...
and Paul HindemithPaul HindemithPaul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
(Resort Classic; re-released Centaur 1997)
- The Power of the Cello. Works by Khachaturian, Kodály, Elizabeth MaconchyElizabeth MaconchyDame Elizabeth Violet Maconchy Le Fanu DBE was an English composer, most noted for her cycle of thirteen string quartets.-Biography:...
& KesslerJoseph Christoph KesslerJoseph Christoph Kessler , also seen as Kötzler, was a German pianist and composer who was active mostly in the Austrian Empire. His études, nocturnes, variations, preludes and bagatelles were praised by such people as Franz Liszt, Sigismond Thalberg, Ignaz Moscheles and Friedrich Kalkbrenner, and...
(Resort Classic 1997)
- Sergei RachmaninoffSergei RachmaninoffSergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
: Sonata in G minorCello Sonata (Rachmaninoff)Sergei Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19, a sonata for cello and piano, was completed in November 1901 and published a year later. As typical of sonatas in the Romantic period, it has four movements. Rachmaninoff disliked calling it a cello sonata because he thought the two instruments...
, Op. 19; Dmitry Kabalevsky: Sonata, Op. 71 (Resort Classic; re-released Centaur 1999)
- Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
: The Complete Works for Cello and Piano (Centaur 2002)
- Homage to Chopin. Frédéric ChopinFrédéric ChopinFrédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
: Cello SonataCello Sonata (Chopin)Frédéric Chopin wrote his Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65 in 1846. It is one of only nine works of Chopin published during his lifetime that were written for instruments other than piano . Chopin composed four sonatas, the others being all piano sonatas...
& misc. (Centaur 2008)
- Antony Cooke: The Solo Cello. Works by Zoltán KodályZoltán KodályZoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, Aram KhachaturianAram KhachaturianAram Ilyich Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music...
, Alan HovhanessAlan HovhanessAlan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...
and Richard ArnellRichard ArnellRichard Anthony Sayer Arnell was an English composer of classical music. Arnell composed in all the established genres for the concert stage, and his list of works includes six completed symphonies and six string quartets.-Biography:Arnell was born in Hampstead, London...
(Centaur 2010)
- Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
: Three Sonatas for Cello and Piano. (Centaur 2011) * upcoming release
Published books (astronomy)
Cooke's current published works on astronomy include:- Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs: A Guide to Spectacular Viewing (Springer 2003)
- Visual Astronomy Under Dark Skies: A New Approach to Observing Deep Space (Springer 2005)
- Make Time for the Stars: Fitting Astronomy into Your Busy Life (Springer 2009)
Cooke will release his next book, "Dark Nebulae, Dark Lanes, and Dust Lanes", in March 2012.
Published compositions
- Western OvertureOvertureOverture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
(Kendor 1979).
- Herculaneum (Kendor 1979)
- Variation on an English Air (Studio P/R 1985)
- FantasiaFantasia (music)The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
on a Traditional Australian Melody (Studio P/R 1985)
- Outback Work Song (Studio P/R 1986)
- Spirit of the Land (Studio P/R 1986)
- Hungarian Dance (Kjos, adapt/arr. 1990)
- Wings (music for NBC TV series; theme adapt/arr Schubert 1991)
External links
Recordings:Centaur Records
Centaur Records
Centaur Records is one of the oldest and largest independent classical labels in America. The company is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was founded in 1976. Their recordings are available in major markets throughout the world, and their catalog includes classical, historical, pops,...
, Inc. http://www.centaurrecords.com
Books:
Springer http://www.springer.com
Compositions:
Neil A. Kjos Music Company http://www.kjos.com
Warner/Chappel Music http://www.warnerchappell.com
Kendor Music http://www.kendormusic.com
Addax Music Co. http://www.Belwin-Mills.music44.com
Affiliations:
Professional Musicians Local 47 http://www.promusic47.org
ASCAP http://www.ascap.com
Recording Musicians Association http://www.rmala.org