Frank Merrick

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Frank Merrick (1886 – 1981) was an English pianist in the early 1900s. He was born in Clifton.

He was imprisoned as a conscientious objector in the First World War.

Merrick's peers included Egon Petri and John Ogdon, and he studied with Theodor Leschetizky. From 1911 to 1929, he taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music and from 1929 at the Royal College of Music. His students included Alan Rawsthorne and Thomas Baron Pitfield ([1]). He is particularly known for winning the Columbia Gramophone Company competition to write the remaining movements (scherzo and finale) of Schubert's 8th Symphony. This occurred in 1928. His composition was recorded by Columbia and sold, although these recordings are primarily, if not all, on 12-inch records and now very rare. Several later LP recordings of Frank Merrick playing various works by John Field and other British composers were released on the British label Rare Recorded Editions and are also rare. A "Frank Merrick Society" was also formed to release his recordings.

He made several recordings of the music of Sir Arnold Bax, including the composer's first violin sonata (reissued on compact disc in 2003). Bax's Pæan for piano is dedicated to him ([2]).

[edit] References

• MusicWeb review of a Reissue of Henry Holst and Merrick playing Bax and Delius contains birthdate, other information