Cobbett, Walter Willson
Cobbett, Walter Willson
Cobbett, Walter Willson, English patron of music; b. London, July 11, 1847; d. there, Jan. 22, 1937. He was a businessman and amateur violinist. An ardent enthusiast, he traveled widely in Europe and met contemporary composers. He was particularly active in promoting the cause of British chamber music, and arranged a series of Cobbett Competitions. He also commissioned special works and established a Cobbett Medal for services to chamber music. Early recipients included Thomas Dunhill (1924), Mrs. E.S. Coolidge (1925), and A.J. Clements (1926). Among composers who received the Cobbett commissions and awards were Frank Bridge, York Bowen, John Ireland, Vaughan Williams, and Herbert Howells. Cobbett ed. the extremely valuable Cobbett’s Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music (two vols., London; vol. I, 1929; vol. II, 1930; a suppl. to vol. I. was publ. in London in 1957; to vol. II, in 1963).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire