Frank Merrick Born 3.4.1886 - Died 19.12.1981.
His parents were both musical. His father also named Frank was a Doctor of Music and was Frank jnr's initial teacher. From 1898 to 1901 he was in Vienna studying with Theodor Leschetizky. His first concert was for charity in Bristol in 1895. He made his London concert debut in 1903. Early on he toured as an accompanist with Clara Butt. In 1911 he became a professor at the Royal Manchester College of Music. During WW1 he was imprisoned for being a conscientious objector. During this period he taught himself Esperanto. From 1929 he held the same post at the RCM in London. In 1956 he joined the music faculty of Trinity College, London. He married twice 1
Following his 1903 London concert at Bechstein now Wigmore Hall he was described by one critic as the finest British pianist since D'Albert and Lamond. It goes on to say 'he has a priceless gift of thought in addition to his technical prowess. There are several very good reviews from this concert.
Orchestral
Symphony in D minor 1912
Piano Concerto in B flat 1901
Piano Concerto in E minor 1936
Concerto in A minor for two pianos and orchestra 1901
Scherzo and finale - completion of Schubert's unfinished symphony (this was for a Columbia Gramophone competition and was recorded)
'Celtic Suite for small orchestra 1920
'A Dream Pageant' for string orchestra or string quintet
Ballad overture in E minor
Chamber
Piano Quartet in G minor
Piano Trio in F sharp minor 1910
Chaconne in G minor for violin and piano
Chaconne de Tomaso Vitali for violin and piano
Descriptive piece of a country church from a distance for violin and piano
Gavotte and Sarabande for oboe, harp or piano
Suite in C: overture, gavotte, minuet, rondo. for two B flat clarinets, three violins, viola cello and bass.
Sonatina for clarinet or viola d'amore and pianoforte
Variations on a rustic theme for B flat clarinet or viola d'amore and piano
Maud's minuet for violin and piano
Jig for five violins
Sonata for viola and piano or cello and piano
Suite in Eighteenth C. style for unaccompanied cello
Theme and variations for basoon and piano
Variations on a Russian folk song 'Fly Little Hare' for two B flat cornets and two trombones or strings
Twenty five variations in F minor scored for piano with notes indicating military band with options for instruments.
Piano
Sonata in A minor 1902
Air and variations mostly in A major in manuscript
Air and variations mostly in B flat in manuscript
Air with variations dedicated to his mother 1904
Barcarolle in G minor dedicated to his father
Gavotte in A Op.2 pub. by E Chriton, Bristol
Minuet
Rhapsody in C minor Op.8 pub. by Augener
Tarantella in B minor Op.7 pub. by Augener
Cadenzas for Beethoven's G major piano concerto
Symphony in D minor arr. by Merrick for two pianos
'Ocean Lullaby' 1910 pub. by Stainer & Bell
'Hares on Mountains' - three part invention on Somerset folk-song pub. by Novello
'Hebridean Seascape' arr. by Ronald Stevenson from slow movement of 2nd. piano concerto
'The Bonnie Bluebell variations on a Somerset folk song pub. by Novello
Irish Dance
Theme and variations - manuscript
Untitled piece scored for two pianos manuscript
Untitled piece scored as a piano duet manuscript
Song
'A Nocturnal Sketch by Thomas Hood for three unaccompanied female voices
'Al Eta Pra-Omklino' for children or female voice and piano
'Antikva Gaela Dorn-Moto' song for unaccompanied voice
Antikva Hina Popolkanto'
'Awake the Lute' for two voices and piano
'The Black Rider'
'Brunulo' for male voice and piano
'Chorus and Echoes' four part song words by Shelley pub. by Stainer & Bell
'Fumoj' for voice and piano
'In Praise of Music' four part song words by R Edwards pub. by Stainer & Bell
'Kanto De Vagabondo' for male voice and piano
'Konko' for contralto and piano
'Krak, Krak, Krakad' for voice and piano
'La Cisterno' for female voice and piano
'La Flugiloj' for male voice and piano
'La Hirondoj' for children's or female voices with piano and recorder
'La Kvar sezonoj' (The four seasons) for voice, piano, clarinet and strings
'Lulkanto' for voice, harp, lute, guitar or piano.
'Lullaby'
'Memnon' for voice and piano
'La Nigra Rajdanto' for voice and piano
'Nego' for voice and piano
'Octobro' (October) for voice and piano
'Oh! Snatch'd away in beauty's bloom' words by Byron
'Parliamentry Language' for two voices and piano
'Pluvo' for voice and piano
'Rajdante Lernejon' for female voice and piano
'Rondelo, al Forlasitaj Kordoj' for bass voice and violin
Snow
'Somera Nokto' (Summer Night) for voice and piano
'Sur La Saimaa' for voice and piano
'Tago Mezo' for contralto and piano
'Tajpado' for voice and piano
The Well
'Veko Asfodela' for voice and piano
Carols
Epiphany words by Horace King pub. by OUP
Lift up lightly the golden bar for four voices words by Horace King
Choral
'La Vojo' chorus with piano
'Naiva Poemeto' for chorus
Psalmo 104a chorus with two oboes, two horns and bass trombone.
Psalmo 23 for chorus
'We praise thee O God' chorus and piano
Music for John Redwood Anderson's 'The Pursuit of Diarmuid Graunia' harp prelude and seven choruses.
This is a far from complete list.
The piano concerto in A minor for two pianos and orchestra. I know nothing about this work. Has anyone looked at it?
1.
Evelyn Hope Squire -1936
Sybil Phoebe Case 1911-1989 Married Frank Merrick in 1937
Children
Phoebe Merrick 1939-
Paul Merrick 1941-
Celia Merrick 1946
I'm afraid I don't know very much about Merrick the composer rather than the pianist. Most of his extant manuscripts (including piano reductions of the concerto and an incomplete Symphony in D minor) are at the University of Bristol, housed in the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth (http://bristol.ac.uk/music/CHOMBEC/bms/merrick-catalogue.pdf (http://bristol.ac.uk/music/CHOMBEC/bms/merrick-catalogue.pdf)). The catalogue is headed, rather ominously, This list is what remains of his library in 1997. Much of it was dispersed a few years ago. ::)
I have, on tape, recordings of Merrick's Piano Concerto #1 in Bb and Piano Concerto #2 (key signature unknown to me). Both are in a late romantic idiom. Know nothing of a two piano concerto.
Jerry
I've never come across the concertos by Merrick, but they sound intriguing. I've just found a reference to Rare Recorded Editions LPs -
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat major (1905)
Frank Merrick (piano)/Oliver Broome/Orchestra
( + Tomlinson: An English Suite)
RARE RECORDED EDITIONS SRRE 156 (LP) (c. 1975)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in E minor (1936)
Frank Merrick (piano)/John Foster/Beckenham Orchestra
RARE RECORDED EDITIONS SRRE 128 (LP) (c. 1975)
Although they are not broadcasts, given the rarity of the repertoire might these performances be possible candidates for BMB? ???
Frank Merrick is hero in my eyes for first recordings(I think!) of Field concerti; though of course a pioneer in Field studies, his playing is atrocious; but at least 80 when he recorded; lots of the "Divine passagework"(Liszt re Field) and florid stuff is fluffed; but the opening movement of PC no. 4 , played at a stentorian pace, is very moving because it really suits this sad, grand music, especially the opening tutti; I have some, not all, of these Rare recorded edtn Lps but not the Merrick PCs; there is also some Hummel, etc.
Steve
hrm. he may have been beaten to the pinch[?] in particular Field concertos by other people by a few years, but it does seem he was among the earlier people to record them, at least...
I hope someone has the Merrick Concerti. I remember finding out about them about 25 years ago in an old copy of the Gramophone Classical Catalogue (in the 'special issues' section at the back) - If I'd known then how rare they would turn out to be I would've snapped up copies! I seem to remember 8 concertos were mentioned and for some reason - I can only imagine that it was written in the same place - I recall that in one of them that trumpet has just one note, one solitary note in the slow movement. Can anyone confirm this or knows the whereabouts of any of these Merrick Concerto recordings?
Rob
Who was involved with "Rare Recorded Editions" in those days, anyone know? They might have some idea where the scores are to the recordings that are now the documents for the concerto in E minor recording from 1968-ish... or could start to lay a trail, or something. That, or Merrick's estate? Or is all that well-trod path that's turned up nothing...
It might be an idea to contact the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth at Bristol University and ask if they know what was dispersed from Merrick's library before 1997 (see post number 2 above) and where it might now possibly be. ???
I have tapes of both Merrick Concertos which came from the RRE discs. I would be happy to share them when I get back to Minnesota in another month or so.
Jerry
I am pleased that Albion utilized my reference to Frank Merrick's Piano Concertos. I just wish he had mentioned the source. Here it is: British and Commonwealth Concertos - A Discography of CDs and LPs http://www.musicweb-international.com/British_Symphonies_on_CD/British_symphonies_on_CD_page1.htm. It is part of a series of Discographies that appears on the MusicWebInternational website. The general URL for the series is: http://www.musicweb-international.com/herman_discogs.htm. Please take a look if you haven't done so already. I am always looking for more "eyes" to spot omissions or errors.
Welcome Mykulh! I quite enjoyed the Merrick concertos, by the way. Good mainstream Rachmaninovesque stuff.
Quote from: Mykulh on Friday 11 March 2011, 04:01
I am pleased that Albion utilized my reference to Frank Merrick's Piano Concertos. I just wish he had mentioned the source.
Hi Michael - you've got your very own thread here - http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,967.0.html (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,967.0.html) :)
There is a recording, with a scrappy orchestra, of the Merrrick First piano concerto; it is the RRE LP mentioned earlier; he was 89 when he recorded this!; the pianism is not perfect but is much better than on the Field RRE Lps. I am forever indebted to Merrick for his preparation of the Field editionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfk4U3HSfn0&list=FLPAXlImLTFAkclTJrTOwWSQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video.
this link is to the Merrick performance of his own first concerto, uploaded on U-tube.
Steve
Hi guys, I have found my great grandmothers personal music/drawing/signature book. Inside of it was a handwritten music piece signed Frank Merrick JR it's gonna be around 1905-1920. Does anyone know where or who would be the right person to speak to about it, to get information. Many thanks Anoushka
The important thing is that you make a copy of this piece of music, even if it is a fragment. Sadly our major music colleges and also Bristol University cannot be trusted to keep the archives left to them. I would suggest you try contacting Bristol Uni. as previously suggested and perhaps let us know what reply if any, that you receive.
I endorse what Giles says. It is very important that a copy or copies be made of this piece as soon as possible, and lodged with (I would suggest) the British Library and the Fleisher Collection (Fleisher can be relied on to look after things).
I have revisited my original posting made in March 2011 and added to it - see above.
It is very difficult researching Merrick for three reasons:
Firstly Bristol University disposed of some of his archive without recording what.
Merrick titled some works in Esperanto including many songs. I may have duplicated some.
Merrick did not appear to have a system for recording his compositions, few opus numbers for example.
I have ascertained from Bristol University that they have MS scores and parts of Merrick's 2 piano concertos. The work titled "Concerto in A minor for 2 pianos" is a 2-piano score. There is no indication that it was intended to be a concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra. It is an early work and is catalogued in an archive box containing early/student pieces. Merrick died in 1981 so all these works will still be in copyright and permission would need to be sought from a member of his family (to whom the University can direct any interested party) to perform or record them.