Album insights
Robert Laurence Binyon wrote "They will not grow old as we that are left grow old:||PARAGRAPH_END||
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them." ||PARAGRAPH_START||Despite being one of the talented composers who perished in World War I, Cecil Coles is often forgotten. Only through the persistent efforts of his daughter, the writer P. Catherine Coles, were his manuscripts and published works brought to light. This album marks the first commercial recording of his compositions.
Coles and Gustav Holst shared joyful times together in the Alps before the war, forming a lasting bond. Holst dedicated his deeply moving work "Ode to Death" to "Cecil Coles and the fallen," specifically mentioning Coles by name.
Coles' music itself deserves attention, despite his relatively small body of work mainly preserved in manuscripts. His compositions exude a quiet strength and peculiar beauty that not only illuminate his era but also offer insights that resonate even today.
Cecil Frederick Gottlieb Coles, born on October 7, 1888, in Tongland, Kirkcudbright, died from injuries near the Somme on April 26, 1918, and was buried in Crouy, northwest of Amiens. His gravestone bears the inscription "He was a genius before anything else and a hero of the first water," words attributed by Holst to his "best comrade."
Coles, the second of five children, lost his mother shortly after the birth of his youngest sibling. His father, Frederick Rhenius Coles, was a landscape painter and archaeologist who later became the caretaker of the Queen Street Museum in Edinburgh.
Coles' early exposure to music is evident in his surviving manuscripts. His first known orchestral work, completed at the age of 16, showcased his emerging talent for orchestral composition. Despite his youth and likely minimal formal training, Coles demonstrated a remarkable proficiency in his early works.
In 1905, Coles enrolled as a music student at the University of Edinburgh. By then, he had composed a concert overture in E minor at age 16, showing a distinctive style. His later Nocturne for two pianos in November 1904 foreshadowed the simplicity and elegance that would define his music.
Initially studying in Edinburgh, Coles seized an opportunity in 1906 by securing a composition scholarship at the London College of Music. Living in London and supporting himself independently, he faced challenges but found support from individuals like Miss Nancy Brooke. His encounters with figures like Gustav Holst at Morley College highlighted his burgeoning talent and enthusiasm for music.
One of his early London works, "Invocation," set a scene from Goethe's "Faust" for soprano and piano, hinting at an orchestrated version. Notably, his musical progression in harmonic complexities was apparent compared to his earlier works. A year later, "In the Cathedral" for string orchestra and piano or harp exemplified his creative fusion, embedding his initials as a motif at the piece's core.
In 1908, Coles moved to Stuttgart with the Bucher Scholarship from the Reid School of Music for further studies. His time in Germany saw the composition of notable works like the Scherzo in A minor, possibly influencing the extension of his scholarship. As he continued composing distinct pieces like "The Comedy of Errors Overture," premiered in 1913 at the Cologne Conservatory, Coles solidified his stature as a promising young composer.
Amidst brewing tensions preceding World War I, Coles and his wife returned to England in 1913, stepping away from Germany as the war loomed. His compositions during this period, such as "Fra Giacomo," revealed deep introspection and a departure from conventional themes. Coles' musical voice encompassed elements of drama, psychology, and profound insights into human nature that resonated during tumultuous times.
At the outbreak of the war, Coles enlisted with the Queen Victoria Rifles and served in France. His dedication to music persisted even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, as he participated in impromptu concerts with fellow soldiers. Works like "Sorrowful Dance," composed amidst wartime hardships, reflected his emotional depth and commitment to his craft.
Tragically, Coles met his untimely end at the age of 29 while assisting the wounded in a forest. His wartime experiences reflected courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to music amidst the turmoil of battle.
Though gone too soon, Coles' legacy endures through his music. His compositions capture a nuanced blend of sentimentality, introspection, and genuine human emotion that transcends generations, touching souls even today.