Harvey Davies’ (C3 1978-83) achievements in music

Harvey Davies (C3 1978-83) wrote to us to share his news of being awarded a PhD in May 2022 from Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music for his study of the life and chamber works of the English composer Arnold Cooke (1906-2005). The new research includes four CDs of world première Cooke’s chamber music, a thesis, a complete catalogue of his works and a catalogue of known correspondence.

The recordings were made with The Pleyel Ensemble, where Harvey is the Artistic Director and pianist of the group, and are available from their website. The Pleyel Ensemble – Passionate about chamber music / Pleyel Trust

Harvey was excited to discover some very fine music by a prominent British composer whose work he feels has been considerably under-represented in recent decades. His hope is that the new contribution to scholarship will lead to the music becoming better-known, as believes it deserves to be, and intends to continue his research and write the first biography of Arnold Cooke.