Frank Merrick

Frank Merrick (1886 – 1981) was an English pianist in the early 1900s. He was born in Clifton. Late in his life he was awarded MMus by Bristol University when they first introduced it. He was imprisoned as a conscientious objector in the First World War.

Merrick's peers included Artur Schnabel and Mark Hambourg, and he studied with Theodor Leschetizky. From 1911 to 1929, he taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music and from 1929 at the Royal College of Music. His students included Alan Rawsthorne and Thomas Baron Pitfield He first went to Vienna in 1899 for about 18 months and later for a shorter period in 1903. This prevented him from playing at the Bechstein (now Wigmore) Hall when it first opened. ( [http://www.piperpublications.co.uk/thomaspitfieldco.html] ). He is particularly known for winning the Columbia Gramophone Company competition to write the remaining movements (scherzo and finale) of Schubert's 8th Symphony. This occurred in 1928. His composition was recorded by Columbia and sold, although these recordings are primarily, if not all, on 12-inch records and now very rare. Several later LP recordings of Frank Merrick playing various works by John Field and other British composers were released on the British label Rare Recorded Editions and are also rare. A "Frank Merrick Society" was also formed to release his recordings. His book, entitled "Practising the Piano", first published in 1960, has gone through at least 4 printings, and is published by Barrie and Jenkins.

Now the original manuscripts of his compositions are in the archives of Bristol University. There are quite a lot of items including many Esperanto songs. He dedicated much time to Esperanto, in which he fervently believed and which he learned in Prison.

He spent many hours at the British Library (possibly museum) copying the works of John Field by hand, who at that time was unknown as far as I know.

He made several recordings of the music of Sir Arnold Bax, including the composer's first violin sonata (reissued on compact disc in 2003). Bax's "Pæan" for piano is dedicated to him.( [http://www.play4me.com.au/product/bax_piano_music_volume_3_665381_206833.html] ).

The original entry has been edited by Paul Merrick, his son in 2008.

References

* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Oct03/Arnold_BAX_vnson_hatto.htm MusicWeb review of a Reissue of Henry Holst and Merrick playing Bax and Delius] contains birthdate, other information