McCabe, John
McCabe, John
McCabe, John , esteemed English pianist, music educator, and composer; b. Huyton, April 21, 1939. He learned to play piano, violin, and cello as a child. He studied with Proctor Gregg (composition) at the Univ. of Manchester and with Pitfield (composition) and Green (piano) at the Royal Manchester Coll. of Music. He later took courses at the Munich Academy of Music (1964–65) and also studied privately there with Gen-zmer. He was pianist-in- residence at Univ. Coll., Cardiff (1965–67), then settled in London as a pianist, excelling in the music of Haydn and contemporary composers. He was director of the London Coll. of Music from 1983 to 1990. In 1985 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Works
dramatic:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, children’s opera (1968; Manchester, April 29, 1969); This town’s a corporation full of crooked streets, entertainment (1969); Notturni ed Alba, ballet (1970; Münster, April 1976; also for Soprano and Orch., Hereford, Aug. 1970); The Teachings of Don Juan, ballet (Manchester, May 30, 1973); The Play of Mother Courage, chamber opera (Middlesborough, Oct. 3, 1974); Mary Queen of Scots, ballet (1975; Glasgow, March 3, 1976; Suite No. 1, London, March 16, 1987; Suite No. 2, Harlow, Essex, Oct. 23, 1988); Shadow-Reach, ballet after the Sym. No. 2 (Dublin, June 19, 1978); Die Fenster, ballet after The Chagall Windows for Orch. (Stuttgart, Feb. 16, 1980); Edward II, ballet (1994–95; Stuttgart, April 15, 1995); Arthur, Part 1: Arthur Pendragon, ballet (1999; Birmingham, Jan. 25, 2000); Arthur, Part 2: Le Morte d’Arthur, ballet (1999–2000). orch.: 2 violin concertos: No. 1, Sinfonia concertante (1959; Manchester, March 1963) and No. 2 (Birmingham, March 20, 1980); Concerto for Chamber Orch. (1962; rev. 1968); Concerto Funebre for Viola and Chamber Orch. (1962; Glasgow, Sept. 1971); Variations on a Theme of Hartmann (1964; Manchester, Nov. 24, 1965); Chamber Concerto for Viola, Cello, and Orch. (1965); Concertante for Harpsichord and Chamber Ensemble (Liverpool, Dec. 18, 1965); 4 syms.: No. 1, Elegy (1965; Cheltenham, July 4, 1966), No. 2 (Birmingham, Sept. 26, 1971), No. 3, Hommages (London, July 11, 1978), and No. 4, Of Time and the River (1993–94; Melbourne, March 16, 1995); 3 piano concertos: No. 1 (1966; Southport, May 1967), No. 2, Sinfonia Concertante (1970; Middlesborough, Nov. 23, 1971), and No. 3, Dialogues (1976; rev. version, Liverpool, Aug. 5, 1977); Concertante Music (Bath, June 24, 1968); Concertino for Piano Duet and Orch. (1968; Farnham Festival, May 11, 1969); Metamorphosen for Harpsichord and Orch. (1968; Liverpool, Feb. 19, 1972); Concertante Variations on a Theme of Nicholas Maw for Strings (1970; Bristol, March 3, 1971; also for 11 Solo Strings, 1987; Southport, Feb. 7, 1989); Oboe d’Amore Concerto (Portsmouth, April 26, 1972); Basse Danse (1973; Guildford, May 5, 1975; also for 2 Pianos, 1970); The Chagall Windows (1974; Manchester, Jan. 9, 1975; also as the ballet Die Fenster, Stuttgart, Feb. 16, 1980); Sonata on a Motet for Strings (Manchester, March 20, 1976); Jubilee Suite (1977; 1st complete perf., London, June 14, 1986); Clarinet Concerto (1977; Glasgow, June 26, 1978); The Shadow of Light (London, Dec. 6, 1979); Concerto for Orchestra (1982; London, Feb. 10, 1983); Tuning (’s Hertogenbosch, July 27, 1985); Double Concerto (1987–88; London, June 25, 1988); Fire at Durilgai (1988; Manchester, Jan. 13, 1989); Flute Concerto (London, Sept. 20, 1990); Red Leaves (Istanbul, July 11, 1991); Fizzgig (Manchester, Oct. 1, 1994); Oboe Concerto (1994; Isle of Wight, May 7, 1995); Pilgrim for Double String Orch. or Chamber String Orch. (1996); Symphony Edward II (1997). wind and brass ensemble: Sym. for 10 Winds (London, Dec. 1964); Canzona for Winds and Percussion (1970; Farnham Festival, May 1971); Images for Brass Band (London, March 30, 1978; also for Wind Band, Redlands, Calif., May 14, 1978); Desert II: Horizon for 10 Brass Instruments (Ripon, Aug. 4, 1981; also for Brass Band, 1987; London, Oct. 8, 1988); Rainforest I for 10 Players (N.Y., Nov. 30, 1984) and 77/:Dandernongs (Norwich, Oct. 11, 1991); Cloudcatcher Fells for Brass Band (London, Oct. 6, 1985); Centennial Fanfare for Brass Ensemble (London, March 9, 1987); Canyons for Wind Band (London, July 9, 1991); Northern Lights for Brass Band (1992; Manchester, Jan. 25, 1993); Salamander (London, June 25, 1994). chamber: 5 string quartets: No. 1, Partita (1960), No. 2 (Macclesfield Festival, July 17, 1972), No. 3 (Goodwick, July 23, 1979), No. 4 (London, Oct. 20, 1982), and No. 5 (Fishguard Festival, July 23, 1989); Musica Notturna for Violin, Viola, and Piano (1964); 3 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1964); Movements for Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1964; rev. 1966); String Trio (1965); Bagatelles for 2 Clarinets (1965); Fantasy for Brass Quintet (1966); Nocturnal for Piano Quintet (1966); Partita for Cello (1966); Dance-Movements for Horn, Violin, and Piano (1967); Rounds for Brass Quintet (Salford, Feb. 28, 1968); Canto for Guitar (1968); Oboe Quartet (1968; Cardiff, Feb. 11, 1969); Sonata for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (Macclesfield Festival, May 22, 1969); Concerto for Piano and Wind Quintet (1969; Birmingham, Feb. 1970); Dance-Prelude for Oboe d’Amore or Clarinet and Piano (1971); Maze Dances for Violin (1973; London, May 15, 1974); The Goddess Trilogy for Horn and Piano (1973–75); Star-Preludes for Violin and Piano (Los Angeles, April 28, 1978); Dances for Trumpet and Piano (1980); Portraits for Flute and Piano (1980); Desert I: Lizard for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Percussion (1981), 777:Landscape for Violin, Cello, and Piano (Annidale, New South Wales, June 17, 1982), and IV: Vista for Recorder (Altrincham, May 6, 1983); Rainforest II for Trumpet and Strings (Ripon, Aug. 3, 1987); Caravan for String Quartet (Colchester, Feb. 23, 1988); Sam Variations for Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Piano (1989); January Sonatina for Clarinet (1990; Redlands, Calif., Feb. 13, 1991); February Sonatina for Viola (1990); Postcards for Wind Quintet (Huddersfield, Nov. 23, 1991); Harbour with Ships (Five Impressions) for Brass Quintet (1991; Salford, Feb. 16, 1992); . ..not quite a tAnGO. ..for Treble Recorder and Piano (Huddersfield, Nov. 24, 1994); Cello Sonata (1999). keyboard: piano: Variations (1963); 5 Bagatelles (1964); Fantasy on a Theme of Liszt (1967); Intermezzi (1968); Capriccio (Dublin, June 6, 1969); Sostenuto (Bath, Feb. 19, 1969); Gaudi (1970); Aubade (1970); Basse Danse for 2 Pianos (1970; also for Orch., 1973); Paraphrase on “Mary, Queen of Scots” (1979; Kelso, Jan. 11, 1980); Mosaic (St. Asaph’s Wales, Sept. 25, 1980); Afternoons and Afterwords (1981); Lamentation Rag (1982); Haydn Variations (London, Oct. 25, 1983); 7 Have a Bonnet Trimmed With Blue for Piano Duet (1992); Tenebrae (1992–93; Harrogate, Aug. 11, 1994). harpsichord:The Greensleeves Ground (1969). organ:Sinfonia (1961); Dies Resurrectionis (Manchester, March 1, 1963); Prelude (1964); Johannis-Partita (1964); Elegy (1965); Miniconcerto (1966). vocal: 3 Folk Songs for High Voice, Optional Clarinet, and Piano (1963; expanded as 5 Folk Songs for High Voice, Horn, and Piano, 1976; Derby, July 7, 1979); Canticles for Salisbury: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Chorus and Organ (1966); Great Lord of Lords for Chorus and Organ (1966; also for Chorus, Organ, and Instrumental Ensemble); Rain Songs for Soprano, Countertenor or Alto, Cello, and Harpsichord (1966); Aspects of Whiteness for Chorus and Piano (London, June 21, 1967; rev. 1969); Notturni ed Alba for Soprano and Orch. (Hereford, Aug. 1970; also as a ballet, Münster, April 1976); Norwich Canticles: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Chorus (1970); Requiem Sequence for Soprano and Piano (1971; London, Feb. 7, 1979); Voyage, cantata for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Countertenor, Baritone, Bass, Chorus, and Orch. (Worcester, Aug. 30, 1972); Der Letzte Gerichte for Voice, Guitar, and Percussion (1973); Time Remembered for Soprano and 7 Players (Malvern, Oct. 4, 1973); Stabat Mater for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (Northampton, Oct. 28, 1976); Reflections of a Summer Night for Chorus and Orch. (1977); Mangan Triptych (Motet; Siberia; Visions) for Chorus (1979–83; 1stcomplete perf., Harrogate, Aug. 10, 1984); Music’s Empire for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1981; London, Oct. 6, 1982); Scenes from America Deserta for 6 Solo Voices (1986; London, Jan. 29, 1988); Amen/Alleluia for Chorus (1991; Chicago, March 27, 1992); Wind, Sand, and Stars for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (London, July 18, 1992); Irish Songbook for Mezzosoprano and Piano (1993–94; Cambridge, May 5, 1994).
Bibliography
S. Craggs, J. M:A Bio-Bibliography (N.Y., 1991).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire