Barry Cooper (musicologist)

Barry Cooper (born 1949) is an English musicologist, composer, organist and author, a Beethoven scholar, and is editor of the Beethoven Compendium.

Born in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex,^{[citation needed]} Cooper studied piano and composition in his childhood, leading to scholarships to the Gordonstoun School and later at University College, Oxford,^{[citation needed]} studying organ with John Webster and earning an MA in 1973 and a DPhil in 1974. His musical compositions include an oratorio, The Ascension.

But Cooper is best known for his books on Beethoven (including the 'Beethoven Compendium'), as well as a completion and realization of Beethoven's fragmentary Symphony No. 10. Having extensively studied Beethoven's sketchbooks and written a book about them, Beethoven and the Creative Process, Cooper felt confident enough to identify the sketches for the individual movements of the Symphony and put together those for the first movement into a musically satisfactory whole. The realisation was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wyn Morris. It was then revised and received its public premiere in 1988 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Walter Weller. In a way, this fulfilled Beethoven's promise of his Symphony No. 10 to the Royal Philharmonic Society, since the premiere was at a concert given by this society. Several recordings are available.

From 1974 to 1990, Cooper taught at the University of Aberdeen,^{[citation needed]} where he became interested in early printed music in that town, as well as music theory in 18th century England. He has also discovered rare 17th century French harpsichord music as well as one of the oldest canons now known.^{[citation needed]}

Cooper recently released a new edition of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (for the ABRSM) incorporating three additional sonatas not normally included.^{[citation needed]} Cooper also wrote the accompanying critical text to the sonatas, detailing the changes made and the many thousands of corrections to the sonatas.

Since 1990, Cooper has taught, latterly as Professor of Music, at the University of Manchester. As well as Beethoven's sketches, Cooper teaches courses in Western Music History, editing, bibliography skills and harmony and counterpoint.

Outside of professional life, Cooper is an avid supporter of Altrincham F.C.^{[citation needed]}