User:Apwoolrich/Frank Mercer (writer on music)
Frank Mercer, (1893-1955), was the editor of the 1935 reprint of Charles Burney's A General History of Music (1776-1789), 2 vol, published by G. T. Foulis. The American edition (from the English printing) was published by Harcourt Brace in 1935. This edition was reprinted in 1957 by Dover Publications, of New York.
He was an accomplished solo pianist,[1] served in WW1, and then joined the music department of the North Western Polytechnic, Kentish Town, London, where he taught piano.[2]. He came to Bristol in 1944 and was involved with the Bristol Amateur Operatic Society as musical director until the early 1950s. As well as his work on Burney he also wrote a Record of Concerts in the 17th and 18th Centuries which was unpublished. [3]
What drew Mercer to work on Burney remains to be discovered. He did his research in the library of the British Museum and the music library of the University of London. Dr Percy Scholes sent him a proof copy of his book The Puritans and Music (1934). The education dept. of Columbia Records loaned him records. [4]
He died at Bristol, 17 January 1955, aged 62. [5]
- ^ The Yorkshire Post, 7 April 1913, 16 February 1914 and 20 February 1922 published reviews of concerts in Bradford in which Mercer took part as a soloist.
- ^ North-Western Polytechnic: Prospectus and Class Time Table, Session 1931-32, p 26, and later ones to 1938-9 (all that survive), Originals in the archive of the London Metropolitan University.
- ^ Western Daily Press, Thursday 20 July 1950, article 'Notes of the day: B.A.O.S. Need a New Musical Director'.
- ^ Charles Burney, A General History of Music, 2 vol 1935, rep 1957, Vol 1, p6
- ^ Death certificate
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