Maurice Cole (1902 – 1990), was an English pianist, teacher and adjudicator. He was born in London and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and privately with Arthur De Greef in London and Brussels.
Cole was the first pianist to broadcast a recital on the BBC and went on to perform, amongst many other compositions, both books of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier on the BBC Third Programme. He was professor at the Guildhall School of Music from 1953, was appointed Professor of Pianoforte at the School on two occasions and was a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. He was married with Doris Allen.
During the Second World War, he was a member of ENSA and entertained the forces, both in London and abroad. He partnered with the pianist composer Helen Pyke for piano duets before her death in 1954. In 1958, he went on an extensive performance tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and other countries.
Cole recorded extensively in the 1920s and 1930s for release on 78 rpm for Vocalion, for Hyperion during the late 1940s, and for Classics Club Records during the late 1950s (later reissued by Saga Records). He was also one of the first pianists to broadcast from the Marconi House Studio in 1922 and also broadcast from Savoy Hill.
Known recordings
78 rpm
Edvard Grieg, Papillons, Franz Schubert, Moment Musical, Felix Mendelssohn, Bees Wedding, Frédéric Chopin, Prelude, ACO G 15387 (acoustic recording) Balfour Gardiner, Humoreske, Cyril Scott, Danse Negre, ACO G 15351 (acoustic recording) Sergei Rachmaninoff, Polichinelle, Moritz Moszkowski, En Automne, ACO G 15087 (acoustic recording, Recorded: c. 1924) Cécile Chaminade, Danse Creole/Pierrette, ACO, G15331 Leo Delibes (arr. Dohnanyi), Naila Waltz, ACO G 16111 Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 1, Broadcast Twelve 5076, Recorded: c. 1929 Frédéric Chopin, Ballade in A-flat, Broadcast Twelve 5034 John Ireland, The Island Spell/Rachmaninoff, Prelude in C-sharp minor, ACO G15523 Sergei Rachmaninoff, Prelude in C-sharp minor/Franz Liszt, Liebesträume, Broadcast Twelve 5008 Cécile Chaminade, Automne, Edvard Grieg, Little bird, Christian Sinding, Rustle of spring, Broadcast Twelve 5009 Edvard Grieg, Concerto in A minor, Broadcast F 4011, F 4012, F 4013 (electrical recording) Franz Liszt, Hungarian Fantasia, Broadcast Twelve 5087, 5088 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor, Broadcast Twelve 5118, 5119, 5120, 5121 Gabriel Fauré, Impromptu, Acetate disc recording (located Sakuraphon)
33 rpm
J. S. Bach "Concerto in the Italian Style / Overture in the French Manner", Saga Records J.S. Bach – Das Wohltemperirte Klavier, Book I and II (The Well-Tempered Clavier) Saga Records Beethoven Variations Opp. 34 & 35, Rondo in G Op. 51/2, Saga Records Brahms selected piano pieces, Classics Club Franck Prélude, Choral et Fugue, Classics Club
Known performances
Christchurch Town Hall
6 January 1941
St. Peter's Hall
28 November 1942, Recital by Maurice Cole (piano), Harold Fairhurst (violin) and Margaret Bissett (alto), in aid of the Linen Guild of the Royal Victoria and West Hants Hospital
Bournemouth Chamber Music Society
4 February 1950, Frederick Fuller (baritone), Maurice Cole (piano) Paganini-Liszt, Study no. 2 in E-flat Stanford, An Irish Idyll (six miniatures) Schubert, "Der Musensohn" (The Son of the Muses) Bax, Hill Tune Khatchaturian, Toccata Beethoven, Sonata in A-flat major, Op. 110 Schubert, "Heidenröslein" (Wild Rose) Schubert, "Am Meer" (By the Sea) Schubert, "Fischerweise" (Fisherman's Song) Schubert, "Nachtstück" (Night Piece) Scarlatti, Sonata in A major Scarlatti, Sonata in B minor Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D major
BBC Henry Wood Promenade
Monday 7 September 1959, Basil Cameron, John Hollingsworth, Constance Shacklock (contralto), Nicanor Zabaleta (harp), Maurice Cole (piano) Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 Handel, "Ombra mai fu", recitative and aria from Xerxes Bach, Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor Handel, Concerto in B-flat for Harp and Small Orchestra Handel, Suite from The Water Music (arr. Harty) Rodrigo, Concierto serenata for harp and orchestra Bax, Tintagel
Published works
Violin concerto / Alberto Ginastera ; reduction for violin and piano by Maurice Cole. Boosey & Hawkes, 1967. 1 score + 1 part.
Criticism
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
"One can perhaps scarcely expect subtlety for eight shillings. What we get is sensible work and passable orchestral tone, with the pianoforte’s part a good way the best of the bargain. Would it be better worth while to improve the orchestral tone, and charge a little more for the records – if that could be arranged?".