How did a rural child of the Great Depression emerge from the Australian bush to become one of the most heralded cellists in the world? Beyond the Bow: Nelson Cooke's Life in Music by Song Mei Lee-Wong traces the esteemed Australian cellist's surprising journey from the colliery of Bellbird in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, to the most prominent classical music stages throughout the world. A rousing chronicle of talent, chance, and a mother's unflagging ambition, this rigorously researched account of Cooke's inspiring rise is certain to strike a chord with any committed musician, especially cellists, music students, and college music majors, as well as anyone who is passionate about Australian history. For Cooke, the road to international fame was laden with euphoric highs and equally precipitous lows. After auspicious beginnings in Australia at a young age, Cooke's promising career was cut short when World War II intervened and he was thrust into the long worldwide conflict as a member of the armed service. However, after the war, the young man continued his studies in London under Ivor James and then Pablo Casals, enjoying early successes in the wake of his Wigmore Hall debut. From there, his career continued to evolve, with acclaim as a recitalist for the BBC and a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra under von Karajan and Klemperer. Eventually he would garner great stature as principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra during its meteoric period of ascent in the 1960's and later as principal cellist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During these years, Cooke toured the world extensively with those orchestras, playing in virtually every major international venue, and with most major soloists and conductors. A relatively brief sojourn as a college professor in the United States was followed by his eventual return to Australia, first as Head of the Strings Department at the Canberra School of Music, and then as Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where the dynamism of Cooke the musician and missionary was fully revealed. A tribute to Cooke's lasting and inspiring legacy as Australia's leading cello pedagogue, Beyond the Bow illuminates his contribution to countless Australian cellists over several decades, while also painting a fascinating portrait of the country during its cultural coming of age. Cooke's contribution was recognized in 2011, when he was honored by the Governor-General of Australia with The Order of Australia AM, one of the highest awards that an Australian citizen can receive. A rare glimpse at the talent and trajectory of a committed musician, this accessible foray into personal greatness will captivate anyone who relishes a success story with a breathtaking musical score.
About the Author: Dr. Song Mei Lee-Wong is a noted university historian and researcher. She is currently honorary research associate at Monash University, Melbourne (Clayton Campus), School of Languages, Communication and Linguistics. Dr. Lee-Wong is author of Politeness and Face in Chinese Culture (Peter Lang GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2000). Her articles, book chapters, and book reviews can be found in publications by Mouton de Gruyter, John Benjamins, and Cambridge University Press. She has lectured and taught in Australia and Asia at universities including Monash University, Melbourne; The University of Melbourne; La Trobe University, Melbourne; Nanyang University, Singapore; Chiangmai University, Thailand; and Hong Kong University Space College, Suzhou, China.