John McCabe

The English musician John McCabe was born on 21 April 1939 at Huyton, Liverpool, and by the time he was eleven, had written thirteen symphonies. He studied in Manchester and Munich and then began his dual career as composer and pianist. His rounded life as a musician included seven years as director of the London College of Music, and he also wrote extensively about music.

McCabe first became known as a pianist, playing music by Arnold Bax, John Corigliano, Franz Joseph Haydn, Paul Hindemith, Alan Rawsthorne and Anton Webern. He recorded the complete Haydn Piano Sonatas for Decca, between 1974 and 1976. He was always very generous in performing the music of other contemporary composers, and was a particular champion of British music.

His Variations on a Theme of Hartmann of 1964 first put him on the map as a composer, and he wrote many concerti, symphonies, ballet scores, brass band works, string quartets and solo instrumental pieces.

Much of his music was commissioned, notably the orchestral song cycle Notturni ed alba by the Hereford Three Choirs Festival for performance in 1970, Rainforest I by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York, Cloudcatcher Fells by the Arts Council of Great Britain through Boosey and Hawkes Band Festivals, the ballet score Edward II by Stuttgart Ballet, and the huge two part ballet Arthur by Birmingham Royal Ballet.

McCabe wrote BBC Music Guides 'Bartók's Orchestral Music' (1974) and 'Haydn: Piano Sonatas' (1986), the Novello Short Biography of Rachmaninov (1974) and, for Oxford University Press, Alan Rawsthorne - Portrait of a Composer (1999).

He was awarded the CBE for services to music in 1983, and the Distinguished Musician Award from the Incorporated Society of Musicians in 2004.

John McCabe died in the early hours of  13 February 2015 in Rochester, Kent, following a long battle with a brain tumour.

VISIT JOHN McCABE'S WEBSITE

 

Articles by John McCabe

John McCabe pays tribute to a friend and colleague

In Spring 2003, British composer and pianist John McCabe made his first-ever trip to Lithuania, for concerts and a recording with the St Christopher Chamber Orchestra of Vilnius. Here is a diary of his visit to this delightful country.

Articles about John McCabe

CD Spotlight. An Intriguing Snapshot - Keith Bramich listens to piano music by Robert Matthew-Walker. 'Mark Bebbington ... is exemplary here, bringing out all the contrasts and mood changes ...'

Classical music news - August 2021 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Classical music news. Hang in there together - Classical Music Daily's March 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Classical music news. Adrian Williams - The English Symphony Orchestra announces Adrian Williams as its John McCabe Composer-in-Association for 2019/20

Classical music news. Le Poisson Magique - Resonus issues John McCabe's complete organ music on CD to mark the composer's eightieth birthday year

CD Spotlight. Very Interesting and Original - Geoff Pearce listens to chamber music by John McCabe and David Ellis. '... superb performances delivered by the Camerata Ensemble.'

CD Spotlight. A Deep Understanding - John McCabe's 'lost' Australian recording, commended by Geoff Pearce. 'The music is unfamiliar, but interesting, full of surprises and variety, and the fine piano playing is insightful and committed.'

CD Spotlight. Excellent and Compelling - Chamber music by John McCabe impresses Geoff Pearce. 'This is a fantastic disc, both for the performances and also for this largely unfamiliar music.'

CD Spotlight. A Serious Treat - Brass band works in memoriam, heard by Paul Sarcich. '... the bands are the best of Wales and play demanding music with utter professionalism.'

CD Spotlight. Sure to Please - John McCabe plays Edvard Grieg, warmly recommended by Ron Bierman. 'McCabe gets to the heart of these relatively unfamiliar pieces ...'

CD Spotlight. A Rare Breed - John McCabe plays his own piano music, reviewed by Anthony Davie. '... an excellent and diverse range of pieces covering three decades ...'

CD Spotlight. Probing Interpretations - John McCabe plays Nielsen, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... an exciting and forceful advocate ...'

CD Spotlight. Extremely Well-crafted - British music for oboe and strings, heard by Patric Standford. '... a particularly valuable contribution to the catalogue.'

CD Spotlight. Excellent Performances - Keyboard works by John McCabe, recommended by Bill Newman. '... ideal interpreters ...'

CD Spotlight. Avowedly Definitive - John McCabe plays his own 'Tenebrae', heard by Howard Smith. '... imbued with anger and monumental in both structure and outlook ...'

CD Spotlight. A Hint of Bitters - Music by William Ferris, heard by Howard Smith. 'Well worth investigating.'

CD Spotlight. Rhythmic Freedom - Geoffrey Lancaster plays Haydn, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a very auspicious start.'

Ensemble. Sing ye to the Lord - Roderic Dunnett was at the 2009 Hereford Three Choirs Festival

CD Spotlight. A World of Wonder - Song cycles by John Joubert, recommended by Alice McVeigh. '... a passionate wildness to the piano writing ...'

Ensemble. Especially Dramatic - Premières by Sheriff and McCabe, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

CD Spotlight. Scintillating performance - Tamami Honma plays music by John McCabe, appreciated by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Snowfall in winter - Keith Bramich at a performance by Tamami Honma and friends

Ensemble. Coming of age - Keith Bramich at the twenty-first Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts

Lithuanian Diary - John McCabe concludes the diary of his first-ever trip to Lithuania

Lithuanian Diary - John McCabe continues the diary of his first-ever trip to Lithuania

Lithuanian Diary - John McCabe continues the diary of his first-ever trip to Lithuania

Lithuanian Diary - John McCabe continues the diary of his first ever trip to Lithuania

Lithuanian Diary - In Spring 2003, British composer and pianist John McCabe made his first-ever trip to Lithuania, for concerts and a recording with the St Christopher Chamber Orchestra of Vilnius. Here is a diary of his visit to this delightful country.

Record box. Rich textures - Chamber music by John McCabe, appreciated by Keith Bramich

Second sight. Music with Wilfrid Mellers - The rough and the smooth

Profile. Aaron Rabushka - a portrait by Jennifer Paull

CD Spotlight - Refreshingly free. '... Skærved is dazzlingly good ...' Violin music by Alan Rawsthorne and John McCabe, appreciated by Peter Dale

Ensemble - In memory. Keith Bramich reports on a McCabe première, given as part of Japan 2001

A deeper plane - Roderic Dunnett is impressed by John McCabe's score for 'Le Morte d'Arthur'

Joining threads - Monica McCabe tells the story of the collaboration between David Bintley and John McCabe (concluded from last week)

Joining threads - Monica McCabe tells the story of the collaboration between David Bintley and John McCabe

Presteigne notes - News from the continuing Presteigne Festival in Wales

McCabe in Conversation - Presteigne Festival composer in residence John McCabe talks to the Chief Music Critic of the Birmingham Post, Christopher Morley

A vacation in Welsh border country - Keith Bramich introduces our six day visit to the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts