DONALD COOK

Home 9 Composers 9 Donald Cook

Donald Cook (b. 1937) has been active for over 35 years as a music educator and administrator, pianist, church organist, composer/arranger, and choral director. A native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dr. Cook graduated with a B.Mus. (composition-1957) from Mount Allison University, a M.Mus. (church music-1965) from the Union Theological Seminary, and the PhD (musicology — 1982) from King’s College, University of London in England.

Dr. Cook has served as board member of a number of musical organizations including the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Federation for the Humanities, the Canadian Music Educators’ Association, the Canadian Music Centre, the Canadian Music Council, and the London (Ontario) Youth Orchestra. He is a past-chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, the Canadian University Music Society and the International Mozart Chamber Music Competition. He has also served as juror for both the Juno Awards and the Ontario Arts Council.
In 1993 Memorial University of Newfoundland named its new recital hall in his honour, and that same year he was named as a member of the Order of Canada.

Landfall of Cabot, The

by D. F. Cook

SATB with piano  –    CP 1127   
This humorous and ancient Newfoundland folk song questions the landing place of the famous Italian explorer (sailing for the English). In very funny and jaunty lyrics it claims he actually landed (surprisingly) in Bona Vista (Newfoundland). The form is argumentative dialogue between voices (he didn’t – he did!) and clever rhymes with a maximum of unison section singing and a minimum of harmony. Appropriate for mid range community choir. 

Silent Night

arr. by D. F. Cook

SATB a cappella    –    CP 1128    
Just when we thought we had heard every possible iteration of this traditional Franz Gruber Christmas tune our panel of expert musical judges decided this new arrangement by D F Cook (known to Newfoundland  new to us) was fresh and innovative enough to include in our 07 offerings. It features jazz harmonies and baritone solo. An easy read, it could be sung by almost any choir.