Abi Parker Musical director at Sawley Church suggested this as part of the Sawley Festival. A Concert for young musicians, to showcase their talents named after Gaze Cooper who composed and taught in Long Eaton and went to church in Sawley. It was a lovely afternoon with many young talented people taking part and performing in the beautiful church. I attended and spoke about Gaze Cooper as a teacher and musician. Thanks go to Abi for this event.

See more about Sawley Festival https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15WfNDiNcM/

October 2012 was the last occasion that Philip Collin played at St Peter’s and so the Walter Gaze-Cooper group was delighted that he accepted an invitation to play solo piano works by the Nottingham born composer.  More than any other pianist, Philip Collin is familiar with much of W G-C’s piano output and it seemed sensible to let Philip choose his own program for the occasion.

The first part of the programme was devoted to the four Nocturns op.56 composed during 1944. Although only approximately 9 minutes each in duration, they painted a relaxed and gentle insight into WG-C’s music. Humoresque op. 23 (taken from the Concert Suite) formed the penultimate composition. Composed in Rondo form in which the opening theme reappears several times between other thematic material. This would form a wonderful encore to any piano recital.

To close the concert, Philip Collin chose to play an excerpt from one of W G-C’s more technically demanding compositions namely the Sonata no. 3.

In summary, the audience were treated to a wonderful insight into the largely unknown and therefore undervalued piano music of Nottingham composer Walter Gaze-Cooper. View the program here.

A recording of Gaze Coopers Oboe Concertino, originally released on the Cameo Classics label, has been re released by Lyrita as British Orchestral Premieres. You can find more details here.

Gaze Cooper’s ‘Little Suite for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings’ was performed at a concert at Bingham Parish Church on Saturday the 16th of June 2018 at 7.30.

“Everyone enjoyed playing the Little Suite. His style is very accessible and although it was not challenging technically, it was fun to play and concisely written”
Sarah Cresswell