Antony Cooke

Antony Cooke

Antony Cooke

Antony Cooke
Background information
Also known as Tony Cooke
Born (1948-08-03) 3 August 1948
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Classical
Instruments Cello
Years active 39
Labels Centaur Records

Antony Cooke (born 3 August 1948, in Sydney, Australia), is an American cellist, recording artist, former university professor, composer, and author of published books and articles on musicology and astronomy. Mr. Cooke's formal music and musicology training in London and subsequent career as a professional musician and recording artist are complemented by his intensive studies into astronomy.

Life and career

Antony Cooke is the son of internationally renowned[1] cellist Nelson R. Cooke, and was born in Sydney, Australia in 1948 while his father was playing for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.[2] The family moved to London when his father was appointed principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra.[3] Indeed, Nelson Cooke was recognized for his contributions to Australia in particular in 2011, when he was honored by the Governor-General of Australia with The Order of Australia AM, one of the highest awards that an Australian citizen can receive. Antony Cooke shares in his distinguished father's selection of the cello as a principal musical instrument; similarly, Antony Cooke has performed as a principal cellist and soloist in concerts throughout Europe and the United States.

Antony Cooke began his musical studies at the age of six, studying cello, later theory, composition, conducting and musicology, winning several music awards in London, including a Gold Medal in the venerable London Musical Competition Festival[4] in 1966 and the "Young Musicians '73" Award. Mr. Cooke was a protégé of the Helen Just who was both a cellist of the English String Quartet and a professor at the Royal College. Mr. Cooke studied theory and historical musicology under John Wilkinson, composition under Nadia Boulanger protégé John Lambert, and conducting under Sir Colin Davis. In London, Cooke obtained Artist Diplomas from both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. As a young BBC soloist, Cooke was regularly featured as a recitalist and concerto soloist under conductors such as Colin Davis and Harry Blech, including appearances at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Bath International Music Festival. In 1971, he was consequently appointed principal cellist of England's premier chamber orchestra at the time, the London Mozart Players, making Cooke the youngest principal cellist in the country.

Cooke moved to the United States in 1974, where he was appointed professor of cello at the University of South 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.[3]

In 1984, Cooke moved to Los Angeles, California, and soon established himself as a luminary of the Hollywood recording industry and as a published composer, writing music for film and prime time television.[3][5] Mr. Cooke estimates[6] having participated in approximately 1500 movie soundtracks, including many television and record productions, including contributions for the following works: The Amazing Spider-Man (Multiple Films); Avatar; Back to the Future (Multiple Films); Cars; Mrs. Doubtfire; E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; The Fugitive; Jurassic Park (Multiple Films); The Legend of Zorro; Monsters, Inc.; Night at the Museum; Pirates of the Caribbean (Multiple Films); Sleepless in Seattle; Star Trek (Multiple Films); Superman Returns; Titanic; Toy Story; Waterworld; X-Men.

Cooke has authored numerous books and articles on music, astronomy and astrometeorology; (see below).

Record Reviews

Cooke has been praised for his "sterling abilities, with technical accomplishments ideally counterpoised by a fertile imagination and volcanic temperament" (Fanfare May 1996), and "rich, sonorous tone…performances involving, thoughtful and polished" (American Record Guide Nov. 2005). Cooke's recording of Kodály's Solo Cello Sonata, Op. 8 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, in his review of Cooke's 2009 recording of the Kodály Solo Sonata, for Minnesota Public Radio Classical Show (25 March 2010), described Cooke's playing as "impassioned and exhilarating... Antony Cooke survives the challenge brilliantly!"

Of the same recording, the review in American Record Guide was less effusive: "Not my favorite reading, but a good one!" Mike D. Brownell criticized Cooke's playing for allmusic.com, claiming that Cooke "gets carried away musically...." "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."[7] In 2012, Fanfare Magazine presented a feature article that detailed many of Cooke’s recordings; amongst the reviewers comments: "Not since Bion Tsang and Anton Nel replaced Nancy Green and Frederick Moyer as my favorites in the Brahms cello sonatas (see Fanfare 33:6) have I encountered another recording of these works quite as breathtaking as this new one...,"[8] and from the Audio Video Club of America: "I’ve never heard a darker, richer, more passionately conceived cello sound than Cooke cultivates here...."[9] Colleague János Starker offered the following assessments:[10] "Mr. Antony Cooke is an exceptionally gifted cellist and musician. I consider his contributions to the world of music significant."

Musicology

In recent years, Cooke has focused his musical attentions on Charles Ives, initially with the book, "Charles Ives and his Road to the Stars,"[11][12] and following with the large resource volume, "Charles Ives's Musical Universe."[13] Cooke continues to write about Charles Ives and other related subjects; (see below re forthcoming works). Cooke is a founding member of the Charles Ives Trio with pianist Dr. Donna Coleman[14] and violinist Roger Wilkie.[15]

Astronomy Book Reviews

Astronomy Now remarked in May 2004 that Cooke's "Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs" (2003)[16] is "a must buy for the city astronomer." Southern Stars (Vol. 43 (1), March 2004) stated that this book “should be considered an essential for today's amateur who has to endure light pollution". In 2005, the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society commented on "Visual Astronomy under Dark Skies,"[17] stating that it was "highly recommended for visual observers who want to push their eyeball observing to the limit." However, Dr. Stewart Moore criticized Cooke's explanations of the basic operation of intensifiers in the "Journal of the British Astronomical Association",[18] stating that "anyone wanting detailed technical information on the operation of intensifiers will also need to look elsewhere." Of "Astronomy and the Climate Crisis,"[19] Dr. Arthur Upgren, for the American Library Association Choice publication (Vol. 50 (8), April, 2013), wrote: "This book thoroughly covers the ways in which global warming has been studied and conclusions drawn... a valuable addition to the literature; useful for libraries serving schools at the graduate level of study."[20]

Teaching Positions

Recordings

Current Published and Forthcoming Books / Articles

Published Compositions

External links

Comprehensive Links:

Antony Cooke, Profile via LinkedIn.com [39]

Charles Ives Fellowship (Group) via LinkedIn.com [40]

Antony Cooke, Independent Researcher, Scholarly Works via Google Scholar [41]

Antony Cooke, Profile via WorldCat (oclc.org) [42]

Antony Cooke, Works Catalog via WorldCat.org [43]

Recordings:

Centaur Records, Inc.

Books:

Springer

Compositions:

Neil A. Kjos Music Company

Warner/Chappel Music

Kendor Music

Addax Music Co.

Affiliations:

Professional Musicians Local 47

ASCAP

Recording Musicians Association

Notes

  1. ↑ Lee-Wong, Song Mei (26 August 2013). Beyond the Bow: Nelson Cooke's Life in Music. North Charleston, South Carolina, USA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 250. ISBN 978-1484817117.
  2. ↑ Bredenhorst, Karel. "Nelson Cooke – Www.cellist.nl." Cellist-database / Karel Bredenhorst (cello). 4 Aug 2008. Web. 27 Sep 2011. <http://www.cellist.nl/database/showcellist.asp?id=2013>.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "PROdigital Records Artist Profile-Antony Cooke." PROdigital Records Main Page. PROdigital Records. Web. 26 Sep 2011. <http://prodigitalrecords.com/ArtistBioCookeGeneric.html>
  4. ↑ "The Competition Festival Record." The Musical Times and Singing-class Circular, Volume 61, No. 141. 1 April 1920.<https://books.google.com/books?id=vPIEAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA854-IA5&lpg=PA854-IA5&dq=london+musical+competition+festival&source=bl&ots=lAz2ietyRI&sig=4wQP7ztqPm1JCW4Tz77XDV6PBAY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uv9AVfqGE4GusQW3vYFI&ved=0CBsQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=london%20musical%20competition%20festival&f=false>
  5. ↑ "2012 Bios." Music.org. The College Music Society. Web. 27 Sep 2011. <http://www.music.org/html/2012bios/cooke.html>.
  6. ↑ https://www.fmsmf.org/index.html
  7. ↑ Brownell, Mike D., "The Solo Cello-Antony Cooke." AllMusic. Ravi Corporation. Web. <http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-solo-cello-w204006/review>
  8. ↑ http://www.fanfarearchive.com: Nov/Dec. vol. 35, 4
  9. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/290418/documents/Phils_Reviews_Jan_2012
  10. ↑ Correspondence; Starker, János; 15 October 1979. <https://plus.google.com/113494961938375386925/posts/UNvBASamyNH?pid=6143597131520476594&oid=113494961938375386925>
  11. 1 2 https://www.academia.edu/11331754/Charles_Ives_and_his_Road_to_the_Stars
  12. 1 2 http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Ives-Road-Stars-Interpretation/dp/1479187550
  13. 1 2 Cooke, Antony (March 2015). Charles Ives's Musical Universe. Infinity Publishing. p. 582. ISBN 1-4958-0476-3.
  14. ↑ http://bmus.unimelb.edu.au/staff/donnacoleman
  15. ↑ http://www.lbso.org/bios/view/id/49
  16. 1 2 Cooke, Antony. Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs: a Guide to Spectacular Viewing. London: Springer, 2003. Print. <http://www.springer.com/astronomy/popular+astronomy/book/978-1-85233-707-0? changeHeader>
  17. 1 2 Cooke, Antony. Visual Astronomy Under Dark Skies: A New Approach to Observing Deep Space. London: Springer, 2005. Print. <http://www.springer.com/astronomy/popular+astronomy/book/978-1-85233-901-2>
  18. ↑ Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 115, Issue 5, p245-246, October 2005
  19. 1 2 http://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-Climate-Crisis-Astronomers-Universe/dp/1461446074
  20. ↑ http://www.cro3.org/content/50/08
  21. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/henry-mancini-institute
  22. ↑ http://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?record=79023
  23. ↑ http://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?record=66034
  24. ↑ http://www.worldcat.org/title/myron-kartman-violin-antony-cooke-cello-in-a-recital-of-music-for-violin-and-cello/oclc/8793816
  25. ↑ http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/306424
  26. ↑ http://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?record=79071
  27. ↑ http://www.centaurrecords.com/?CRCs=3012%202956%202762%202723%202676
  28. ↑ http://www.tower.com/splendors-20th-century-antony-cd/wapi/106546414
  29. ↑ http://www.tower.com/power-cello-antony-cooke-cd/wapi/106546411
  30. ↑ http://www.tower.com/rachmaninoff-sonata-in-g-minor-kabalevsky-op-antony-cooke-cd/wapi/107941006
  31. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Complete-Works-Cello-Piano/dp/B00018D3ZU
  32. ↑ http://www.tower.com/homage-chopin-antony-cooke-cd/wapi/113078296
  33. ↑ http://www.tower.com/antony-cooke-solo-cello-cd/wapi/114344059#product_details
  34. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Three-Sonatas-Cello-Piano/dp/B0062MDIKO
  35. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bow-Nelson-Cookes-Music/dp/1484817117
  36. ↑ Cooke, Antony. Make Time for the Stars: Fitting Astronomy into Your Busy Life. London: Springer, 2009. Print. <http://www.springer.com/astronomy/astronomy%2C+observations+and+techniques/book/978-0-387-89340-2>
  37. ↑ http://www.springer.com/us/book/9781461411857
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Antony Cooke: Career, Record Reviews, Astronomy Book Reviews, Teaching Positions, Recordings, Published Books (astronomy), Published Compositions, Notes, and a List of Books by Author Antony Cooke." Trade Books for Free, Book Swap, Trade Audiobooks » PaperBack Swap. PaperBackSwap.com. Web. 27 Sep 2011. <http://www.paperbackswap.com/Antony-Cooke/author/>.
  39. ↑ Cooke, Antony. "Antony Cooke". LinkedIn Public Pages.
  40. ↑ Fellowship Group, Charles Ives. "Charles Ives Fellowship". Charles Ives Fellowship Group.
  41. ↑ Cooke, Antony. "Scholarly Works". Google Scholar.
  42. ↑ Cooke, Antony. "Identity". WorldCat.
  43. ↑ Cooke, Antony. "Works Catalog". WorldCat.
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