Eric Coates

Eric Coates ( Hucknall , Nottinghamshire , August 27 1886 - Chichester December 21 1957 ) was a British violist , conductor and composer . He was in the middle of the twentieth century by some, including Percy Grainger, considered the uncrowned king of light music .

Coates came from a musical family; father (doctor) played flute and mother played piano . He began his sixth year with music when he nuts would put on paper of folk songs and demanded a violin ; He has taught himself the principles of the instrument. As a solo violinist did not show up due to heavy fog, he gave his first concert at age ten (even without training). He then joined a local string ensemble, which also performed one of his first compositions (Ballad). Then he noticed that there was a greater demand for violists, he changed his instrument. Although his father would have preferred that he is "a box" was learning, Coates could go to the Royal Academy of Music (1906), where he was taught by Lionel Tertis (viola) and Frank Corder (composition).

His first success as a composer followed in 1911 and during the Proms runs his Miniature Suite by Henry Wood . Coates was then himself a year in the orchestra ( Queen's Hall Orchestra ) and could also compose from within the orchestra. In addition, Coates worked in numerous variétéorkesten, where he was immersed in the light classical music. In 1919 the two orchestral careers, however, came into conflict with one another: Coates was in the Queen's Hall Orchestra fired because he sent deputies to his altvioolpupiter elsewhere so he could conduct his work. From that moment he chose a career as a composer; He hit his viola hardly cope.

His first major success was the overture to The Merry Makers (1922). Eleven years later, he came up with the London Suite ; The last part there, Knightsbridge, by the British Broadcasting Corporationas a tune for their radio show In Town Tonight. It would not stay there on, to some stitching is used for other programs, such as By the Sleepy Lagoon in the program Desert Islands disc. He himself as a conductor also some recordings made in the 78's era.

In 1953, Coates writes his autobiography Suite in Four Movements. ==Coates [  edit ] == His son Austin Coates became a writer. Eric Coates is not related to the composers Albert Coates and Gloria Coates . ==Oeuvre (selective) [  edit ] ==
 * 1930 By the sleepy lagoon
 * 1933 London Suite
 * 1918 Wood nymphs
 * 1920 At the dance
 * 1922 The Merry Makers
 * 1926 Three bears fantasy
 * 1929 Cinderella fantasy
 * From 1933 to meadow mayfair suite
 * 1935 Man from the sea
 * 1936 London again suite
 * 1937 Saxo-rhapsody
 * 1940 Calling all workers
 * 1944 Three Elizabeths suite
 * 1949 Music everywhere
 * 1954 Dambusters