Frank Merrick (1886-1981)

 

Frank Merrick is remembered first and foremost as a remarkable pianist. At the age of eleven he was taken to play for the great Polish pianist Paderewski, who suggested he go to Vienna to study with Theodor Leschetizky. While in Vienna he met Johann Strauss II and showed him a waltz he'd composed. After 70 or more lessons with Leschetizky he returned to London and made his debut, in 1902 with the Halle Orchestra under Hans Richter.

During the First World War he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector.  It seems that upon being called up he did not refuse as a conscientious objector straight away, but when ordered to remove his civilian clothing in order to don the uniform of the Lancashire Fusiliers, he refused.  He was subsequently arrested and arraigned before a military court.  This resulted in court martial and imprisonment at Wormwood Scrubs and Wandsworth Prison.

As a composer he is best known for winning, in 1928, the Columbia Gramophone Company competition to write the remaining movements (scherzo and finale) of Schubert's 8th Symphony.  His efforts with his own symphony were completed shortly before the war.

Symphony in D minor (1912)

This work was unlikely performed very often but we do know it was featured in a Bournemouth 'Dan Godfrey' concert in 1927. Merrick not only conducted his symphony but also performed as a soloist in  Schumann's Introduction and Allegro for piano and orchestra.

The programme notes for the Symphony were written by Merrick himself. (click to enlarge)

The opening bars are indeed a dramatic statement.

And the little 2nd subject motif is short but clearly audible.

SAMPLE: 1st mov - start

The development follows where the second subject motto is developed into a longer phrase.

SAMPLE: 1st mov - middle

The ending moves to a sunnier D major

SAMPLE: 1st mov - ending