Cyril Scott
Boydell & Brewer have published a beautiful book entitled The Cyril Scott Companion — Unity in Diversity, edited by Desmond Scott, Lewis Foreman and Leslie De'Ath.
Cyril Scott (1879-1970) was an English composer, writer and poet. He was a prolific composer-pianist writing over 400 works including four symphonies, three operas and concerti for piano, violin, cello, oboe and harpsichord. Often performing his own compositions he became a pioneer of British piano music, and his music was admired by composers as diverse as Debussy, Strauss, Stravinsky and Percy Grainger, the last a lifelong friend. A true polymath, Scott was also the author of forty-one books, including two autobiographies and one unpublished memoir, on subjects ranging from music, alternative medicine and humour to occultism, theosophy and Christianity. In addition, he wrote poems and plays and painted watercolours.
This Companion explores the life and work of Cyril Scott and provides a comprehensive analysis and appraisal of all the available music and includes a complete catalogue of his musical works, along with a discography. Several works completely unknown to the musical world, both music and literary (such as the memoir 'Near the End of Life'), are here newly catalogued and discussed. Altogether, the volume gives a broad picture of Scott's entire output in literary, dramatic and philosophical genres.
The book also includes interesting images of Scott, his home, family and professional circle at various stages of his life and recordings of his works to date. Photography and photo restoration by Amanta Scott.
The Cyril Scott Companion was nominated for the 2019 C.B. Oldman Award.
Reviews
"Superb...well worth the read for scholar and layman alike. It is a fascinating account of this master musician." STRINGENDO, THE AUSTRALIAN STRINGS ASSOCIATION
"Throughout its pages, the Companion brings new facts and insights to the fore. For many years to come it will remain the key reference work for those fascinated by this remarkable man and his music a true companion indeed!" Bob Van der Linden, NABMSA REVIEWS
"Very fine, informative and absorbing...One of English music's most enigmatic diverse and misunderstood figures." SPIRITED, ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL MAGAZINE
"The Companion has clearly been a labour of love for all involved and it has paid off. It is elegantly laid out and illustrated with illuminating musical examples and photographic images. There is none of the impenetrable academic writing that so often mars books of this type and it is eminently readable." BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY
