Cyril Smith (pianist)
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For other persons with the name Cyril Smith, see Cyril Smith (disambiguation).
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Cyril Smith
Birth name Cyril James Smith
Born August 11, 1909(1909-08-11)
Middlesbrough, England, United Kingdom
Died August 2, 1974 (aged 64)
East Sheen, London, United Kingdom
Occupation(s) Virtuoso pianist, pedagogue
Instrument(s) Piano
Years active 1929–1974

Cyril James Smith OBE (born Middlesbrough, England, August 11, 1909; died London, August 2, 1974) [1] was a virtuoso concert pianist of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and piano teacher.

Contents

Personal life

Cyril was born Cyril James Smith at Costa Street, Middlesbrough the son of Charles Smith a foundry bricklayer and Eva Harrison and had an older brother and sister.[2] Cyril married Andrée Antoinette Marie Paty in 1931 but the marriage ended in divorce.[2] In 1937 he married Phyllis Sellick. Cyril and Phyllis's recreational activities included long walks and sailing. They had a son and a daughter and remained married until his death in 1974 at his home in East Sheen, London, the result of a stroke.[2][3]

Performing

Cyril Smith studied at the Royal College of Music from 1926 to 1930 with Herbert Fryer, winning medals and prizes[2] including the Daily Express piano contest in 1928 and made his concert début in Birmingham in 1929.[3] Cyril Smith performed as an off-screen piano accompanist in several of the 30-line Baird system television broadcasts of 1935[2][4][5] and joined the BBC when they took over. It was at the BBC's early television studios that he met his second-wife-to-be pianist Phyllis Sellick.[1][6][7][8] In 1934 Cyril left the BBC to take up an appointment as professor of pianoforte at the Royal College of Music. Cyril and Phyllis married in 1937 pursuing solo careers. During the second world war Cyril performed concerts for ENSA but in 1941 he and his wife began performing together as a piano duo at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts[9] making many international concert tours for ENSA and the British Council touring the Far East in 1945[2] where the hazards to contend with included small animals lodged in pianos and out-of-tune instruments.

Cyril's work was largely from the Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Schubert, Balakirev, and Albéniz repertoire. Malcolm Arnold, Sir Arthur Bliss, Gordon Jacob and Vaughan Williams also wrote music for the duo.[10][11][12] Among Cyril Smith's many performances[13][14][15][16][17] were appearances at The Barn Theatre,[3] Oxted in the 1930s and at the Proms in 1930, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1953 and 1969.[3][18]

In 1956 while at Kharkov at the start of a concert tour of Russia (then the Soviet Union) he suffered a thrombosis and stroke which paralysed his left arm,[2][3][10][11][12][19][20] however with music arranged by themselves, or written or arranged by composer friends Cyril and Phyllis were able to continue to perform three-handed music concerts as a piano duo.[12] Notable among the works composed for them was Malcolm Arnold's Concerto for Two Pianos (3 hands), opus 104 dedicated to Cyril Smith and Phyllis Sellick[21] who premiered it at the Proms in 1969 and recorded it in 1970.[22]

Teaching

Cyril and Phyllis both taught piano at the Royal College of Music[9] - Cyril was appointed professor of pianoforte in 1934.[2] Among those who studied piano with Cyril Smith are: Ray Alston,[23] John Barstow,[24][25][26] Clifford Benson,[27][28] Philip R Buttall,[29][30][31][32][33] Maureen Challinor, June Clark,[34][35][36] Patrick Flynn,[37] Joan Havill,[38][39][40] David Helfgott,[41] Peter Hill,[42][43][44][45][46][47] Niel Immelman,[48][49][50][51][52] Rae de Lisle,[53] Barry Morgan,[40] Thalia Myers,[54][55] Siva Oke,[56] Aydin Önaç,[57] Jennifer Pearce,[58] June Pepin,[59] Joan Ryall,[60] Stephen Savage,[61] Kimberly Schmidt,[62] Jo Spanjer,[63] Kathron Sturrock,[64] Sharon Joy Vogan,[65] David Ward,[66] Fanny Waterman,[67] Gillian Weir,[68][69][70][71] Kenneth Weir,[72] Frank Wibaut,[73] and Simon Young.[74] In 1973 Cyril was once again appointed Professor of Pianoforte until his death the next year.

Autobiography

Cyril Smith's autobiography is entitled Duet for Three Hands (Angus & Robertson, 1958).[1][3][75] One of the chapters was written by his wife Phyllis Sellick.

Honours

Cyril Smith and Phyllis Sellick were both made Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE in 1971.[7]

Discography

  • Cyril Smith, Phyllis Sellick and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra (conductor Malcolm Sargent), Dutton, (P)1947/48[76]
  • Phyllis Sellick, Cyril Smith, Orchestras of the Bournemouth Symphony, Philharmonia, City of Birmingham and the Royal Philharmonic, Arnold: English Dances, HMV Classics[10]
  • Cyril Smith, Phyllis Sellick and Solna Brass, including Rhapsody for Piano (3 hands) by Gordon Jacob, Granada[77]
  • Cyril Smith & Phyllis Sellick, Piano Duos: Faure Mendessohn Franck Schubert, Nimbus Records, (P)1974 (Cyril's last recording)[78]

References

  1. ^ a b c Biographies and Autobiographies, Women at the Piano
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Anne Pimlott Baker, Cyril Smith, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Past Performers, The Barn Theatre, Oxted
  4. ^ Diana Richardson, Talk: John Logie Baird, University of Strathclyde
  5. ^ Bruce Norman, Here's Looking at You - The Story of British Television 1908–1939, Royal Television Society
  6. ^ John Amis, Obituaries: Phyllis Sellick, Guardian Unlimited
  7. ^ a b Obituaries: Phyllis Sellick, The Daily Telegraph
  8. ^ Obituaries: Phyllis Sellick, The Independent
  9. ^ a b Duopianists, Women at the Piano
  10. ^ a b c Adrian Tan, Malcolm Arnold, The Flying Inkpot
  11. ^ a b Steve Schwartz, Record Review: Malcolm Arnold, Classical Net, 1996]
  12. ^ a b c Hans Brofeldt, Piano Music for the Left Hand Alone
  13. ^ Bermuda Festival Programme, September 1952, Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society
  14. ^ Edward Richards,History of the Chichester Symphony Orchestra, Chichester Symphony Orchestra
  15. ^ History, Egham & District Music Club
  16. ^ About Us, Epsom Symphony Orchestra
  17. ^ Leeds Classical Music, Discovering Leeds
  18. ^ Rob Wilton, Promenade Concert Prospectuses, Theatricalia
  19. ^ OZarts Review, 2004
  20. ^ A Buyer's Guide to Historic Piano Recordings Reissued on Compact Discs, University of Maryland
  21. ^ The Malcolm Arnold Discography, MusicWeb International
  22. ^ Sir Malcolm Arnold, Pianos online
  23. ^ Piano Masterclass by Ray Alston, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Music, 2006
  24. ^ Profile: John Barstow, Royal College of Music
  25. ^ Summer School for Pianists
  26. ^ Lot Music
  27. ^ Profile: Clifford Benson, Hyperion Records
  28. ^ Clifford Benson, The Clifford Benson Website, geocities.com
  29. ^ Biography: Philip R Buttall, Saxtet Publications
  30. ^ The Lone Ar-ranger!, Thorne Music
  31. ^ Philip R Buttall, Editions Marc Reift
  32. ^ Philip R Buttall, Classical Artists Worldwide
  33. ^ Philip R Buttall - Biography, philiprbuttal.co.uk
  34. ^ Nick Pepin and June Clark, CDBaby
  35. ^ Joan Ryall and June Clark in Concert, Charlemagne Music
  36. ^ Piano Pieces by June Clark, Charlemagne Music
  37. ^ Patrick Flynn, Conductor, Symphony Silicon Valley
  38. ^ Profile: Joan Havill, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
  39. ^ Profile: Joan Havill, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
  40. ^ a b Expatriots Biographies: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966
  41. ^ David Helfgott's biography, Geocities
  42. ^ Profile: Peter Hill, Music Now
  43. ^ Profile: Peter Hill, allmusic
  44. ^ Peter Hill - Biography, The University of Sheffield
  45. ^ Professor Peter Hill - Biography, The University of Sheffield
  46. ^ Biography: Peter Hill, electrocd.com
  47. ^ Annual Peter Gram Swing Lecture and Concert to Feature 'Music of Olivier Messiaen' , Swarthmore
  48. ^ Fourth International Piano Festival - Niel Immelman, Oxford Philomusica
  49. ^ Profile: Niel Immelman, Oxford Philomusica
  50. ^ Piano Masterclass and Recital, Peter Hill, The University of Hull, 2005
  51. ^ Niel Immelman, Recitals, Jacques Samuels Piano, 2006
  52. ^ Biography: Niel Immelman - Piano, Meridian Records
  53. ^ The Guildhall School Alumni Newsletter, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 2005
  54. ^ Thalia Myers - biography, thaliamyers.com
  55. ^ Thalia Myers biography, ABSRM Publishing
  56. ^ Bill Newman, Tete-a-Tete, Music and Vision Daily, 2006
  57. ^ Chandos People: Aydin Önaç Chandos Symphony Orchestra
  58. ^ Guests: Jennifer Pierce Pianist, Unstructured Light
  59. ^ Profile: June Pepin, Best Books Online
  60. ^ Joan Ryall and June Clark in Concert, Charlemagne music
  61. ^ Profile: Stephen Savage - Artist, Move Records
  62. ^ News Release: Acclaimed Pianist Concludes IHM Chapel Concert Season, 2007, Immaculate Heart of Mary
  63. ^ Paul Amphlett, A Poetry Kit Interview, Poetry Kit
  64. ^ Profile: Kathron Sturrock, The Royal College of Music
  65. ^ Anthony Ritchie, Piano Preludes, Atoll
  66. ^ David Ward biography, ABRSM Publishing]
  67. ^ Fanny Waterman biography, Faber Music
  68. ^ Biography: Gillian Weir, Linn Records
  69. ^ Kenneth Walton, Key player in the uprising, gillianweir.com
  70. ^ Biography: Gillian Weir Biography, gillianweir.com
  71. ^ Kelley Kirk-Swindell, She really captivates the audience, The Daily Reflector
  72. ^ Kenneth Weir biography, kennethweir.com
  73. ^ Profile: Frank Wibaut, Teatro Ghione
  74. ^ Simon Young, Professor of Piano, Trinity College of Music, marcusandrews.com
  75. ^ Richard Aldous, Book Review: Tunes of Glory - The Life of Malcolm Sargent, MusicWeb
  76. ^ Rachmaninov, The Flying Inkpot
  77. ^ Brass on record, 4barsrest.com
  78. ^ Castle Classics Piano, Castle Classics

Further reading
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