Skip to content
Cecil Coles: Music from Behind the Lines

Cecil Coles: Music from Behind the Lines

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins

Duration63 Min

In Robert Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen," it is emphasized that age will have no effect on those who are remembered. An example of a forgotten artist is Cecil Coles, who died during the First World War. His daughter helped bring his works and manuscripts to light. Gustav Holst, a close friend of Coles, recalled the happy days in the Alps before the war separated their paths. Coles's music is characterized by a quiet strength and a strange beauty that remains relevant today. Born on October 7, 1888, in Scotland, Coles died of war wounds. He developed his artistic skills in Edinburgh, composing impressive works even as a young student, and later moved to Stuttgart to continue his studies. During the war, he enlisted in the military and continued to compose music between the front lines. The dramatic monologue "Fra Giacomo" was born from the profound human experiences of war. The friendship between Coles and Holst remained strong, even though the war changed the lives of many. Coles' music and his early death left a significant legacy that continues to resonate even after generations.