John Somers-Cocks
(1907-1995)

John Somers-Cocks was born in London in 1907 and studied at Trinity College of Music and the Royal College of Music (1926-32). he studied organ with Dr. Thalben-Ball; piano with Arthur Alexander and composition with Ralph Vaughan-Williams. He became the organist and choirmaster at Westonbirt School (1935-9); Director of Music at Epsom College (1949-54); and was appointed Professor of harmony and composition at the Royal College of Music from 1967-1977.

Alphabetical List of Works

Bells of Magdalen Tower, The (John Betjeman) - for Mezzo Soprano or Tenor Voice and Piano
Christmas Lullaby for Flute and Piano (1994)
De Profundis - for Baritone solo and small orchestra (1978)
Eager Spring (Gordon Bottomley) - for High Voice and Piano (1980)
Echo (Christina Rossetti) - for High Voice and Piano (1981)
Eternity (Joan Boycott) - for High Voice and Piano
Every One Sang (Siegfried Sassoon) - for High Voice and Piano (1984)
Five Short Pieces - for Piano Solo (1979)
Four Preludes – for piano solo (1941)
Four Psalms [Psalm XVI; Psalm XXV; Psalm LXXIX; Psalm XCVI] - for 2-part Female Voices and piano or small orchestra (1959)
Hear My Prayer, O Lord - Motet for SATB a cappella (1968)
Hippenscombe Valley - Fantasy for Orchestra (1940)
House of Rest (John Betjeman) - for Mezzo Soprano or Tenor Voice and Piano
Legend of St. Christopher (Ernest Alcock) - Operetta in 6 Scenes for 8 Male Voices, 1 Treble Voice, SATB Choir and Small Orchestra (1980)
Love in a Valley (John Betjeman) - for Mezzo Soprano or Tenor Voice and Piano
New Year’s Eve, 1913 (Gordon Bottomley) - for High Voice and Piano (1934)
Piano Sonata – for piano solo (1941?)
Prelude and Fugue - Organ Solo (1993)
Quartet - for Oboe and String Trio (1981)
Sailing Homeward (Chan-Fang Shëng [4th Century] translated Arthur Waley) - for High Voice and Piano
Silence (Joan Boycott) - for High Voice and Piano
Sonata for Organ No. 1 - Organ Solo (1940)
Sonata for Organ No. 2 - Organ Solo (1991)
Sonata for Organ No. 3 - Organ Solo (1992)
Sonata for viola – for viola and piano (1932) Sonatina - for Oboe and Piano (1938)
Song of the Redeemed, The - for Choir and Orchestra [manuscript lost]
String Quartet - for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello (1976)
Sweet Music (Edmund Bolton c. 1575-1633) - for High Voice and Piano
Three Preludes - for Piano Solo (1932)
Three Sketches - for Oboe and Piano (1932)
Violoncello Sonata - for Violoncello and Piano (1989)
When I Am Dead, My Dearest (Christina Rossetti) - for High Voice and Piano (1991)
Youth and Age on Beaulieu River, Hants (John Betjeman) - for Mezzo Soprano or Tenor Voice and Piano