British composer Eric Coates died at the age if 71 in 1957. He was the
foremost composer of light orchestral music in England. His suites,
overtures and songs appealed to the masses of Britain. Many became
associated with feature programs broadcast by the BBC radio services. His
Three Elizabetrhs Suite was suggested by an unknown clergyman. Coates
worked to create a piece that would evoke the spirit of British history
and its people through Elizabeth the first, the Queen Mother and the woman
who became Queen to the end of the 20th century. The suite was first heard
on a BBC broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1944. Search Amazon.com for Coates 'Three Elizabeths Suite'
Eric Coates (27 August 1886 – 21 December 1957) was an English composer of light music and a viola player. Eric Coates was born in Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, the son of a doctor, and studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1906, receiving viola lessons from Lionel Tertis. From 1910 he played in the Queen's Hall Orchestra under Henry Wood, becoming principal violist in 1912. He died in Chichester having suffered a stroke and was cremated at the Golders Green Crematorium. His son, Austin Coates (1922-1997), was a writer who lived much of his life in Asia. Eric Coates was not related to Albert Coates, the contemporary conductor and composer. Eric Coates wrote the theme tune for Dambusters.
Wikipedia | Search Amazon.com for Eric Coates
