This composer webpage is in the process of being created. In time we will have further details about the availability of scores and performing material for the majority of works listed here. In the meantime, should you have any particular enquiry about any of the music listed here, then please contact either the publishers whose names are given or Bardic Edition for all other general enquiries.
Cecil Frederick Coles was born at Kirkudbright, Scotland on 7th October 1888 and was educated at George Watson’s School, Edinburgh where in 1907 he won a scholarship to study at the London College of Music. He later joined the Morley College Orchestra where he met Gustav Holst who was teaching music at the newly formed educational college for workers. After attending Edinburgh University he won a scholarship for composition at the Stuttgart Conservatory and it was here that some of his early compositions were first performed. At the end of his studies he was appointed assistant conductor at the Stuttgart Royal Opera where he met many of the day's leading musicians whilst taking a leading part in the city's English community. He became organist and choirmaster at the English church St. Katherine's and it was here that he met his future wife, Phoebe Relton. Returning to England in 1913, work was hard to find and for a time he toured with the Beecham Opera Company eventually settling down in London where he rejoined Morley College as a teacher of elementary harmony and sight-singing. In July 1914 his dramatic cantata “Fra Giacomo” was performed at the Queen‘s Hall. At the outbreak of the First World War he was immediately called up being already in the Queen‘s Victoria Rifles in which he was regimental Band Master. He continued to compose even during action, sending manuscripts back to Holst, whenever possible. During a period of withdrawal, a shell destroyed all the bands instruments (and some of his manuscripts) and on 26th April, 1918 he was killed by a German sniper whilst on active duty retrieving the wounded.
Piano Music
Five little variations on an original theme (BD 0869)
Five sketches (BD 1034)
Gavotte (Revised version of Trianon Gavotte - see below)
Intermezzo (1911)
Nocturne in G minor (1904) [Piano duet]
Rondo in A minor (1909)
Sauteuse, La (Trianon Gavotte)
Sonata in C minor
Sorrowful Dance (1917) [transcription by the composer]
Triste et Gai (BD 0868)
Valse
Variations on an original theme (1908) (BD 0870)
Organ Music
Two Fugues:
1. Fugue on the choral “Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten” (BD 1035)
2. Fugue on “The Old Hundredth” (BD 1035)
Voice and piano
Benediction (1917) (Robert Browning)
Du bist wire eine blüme (Heinrich Heine)
Elegy (Thomas Moore)
Fra Giacomo (1914) [transcription by Jeremy Dibble]
Gladsome fray, The (Cecil Coles)
Glückes genug (1909) (Detler von Liliencron)
Grow old along with me
Homeward bound (1906)
Hör ich das liedchen telingen (Heinrich Heine)
In absence (Arthur Weir)
Invocation (1906) [Scene from Goethe's Faust]
Moissons, Les (Alfred de Musset - English text by Florence Gillham)
Neuer frühling (1909) (Heinrich Heine)
Rabbi Ben Ezra (Robert Browning)
Sea shadows (Fred Anderson)
Sigh not thus (1907) (Thomas Moore)
Tis love that murmurs (Thomas Moore)
Chamber Music
From the Scottish highlands - 2 Violins, Viola, Cello and piano
In the cathedral (1907) - Violin, Viola and Cello
Marquise, La [Morceau Gracieux] (1909) - Violin and piano
Reverie “The sorrows of Werthe” (1907) - Violin and piano
Sonatina (1906) - Violin and piano
String Quartet - 2 Violins, Viola and Cello
Orchestral Music
Sorrowful Dance (for small orchestra) in preparation*
How to obtain scores and parts
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BD XXXX in preparation = score in the process of being published.
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