Remembering John McCabe
9th September 2015
© Reg Wilson/Rex
“John McCabe was a musician of steely, graceful intellect. As both pianist and composer he could distil huge ideas into finely-sculpted gestures. His scores were never fussy, never used too many notes, but were expansively and explosively powerful. He wrote symphonies and ballet scores and painted the same massive colour palette at the keyboard.”
Kate Molleson, The Guardian, 13/8/15
Australia’s Fine Music dedicate radio show to McCabe’s music
The leading Australian classical music radio station, Fine Music, based in Sydney, is honouring John McCabe with a two-hour broadcast on September 27 playing a large selection of his works including the Concerto for Orchestra, Flute Concerto, Cloudcatcher Fells, Canyons and Scenes in America Deserta. The broadcast will also feature recordings of McCabe in his role as a distinguished pianist.
McCabe Piano Music CD re-issue on Naxos
Hard on the heels of the re-release of Arthur Pendragon and other major works on Dutton, comes news of another important reissue. The CD of McCabe performing his own piano music on the British Music Society (BMS) own label has now been reissued by Naxos. The BMS CD was a critic’s choice in Gramophone magazine when it was originally released. It contains over 76 mins of music, including McCabe’s Variations (1963), Five Bagatelles (1964), Aubade and Gaudi (both 1970), Mosaic (1980) and the majestic Haydn Variations of 1983. This work has been described as ‘masterly, unorthodox and original’ and also ‘possibly a masterpiece’.
Read the full five-star CD review in The Guardian here.
Purchase the CD from amazon here.
Presteigne Festival honours John McCabe
John McCabe was honoured and remembered at this year’s Presteigne Festival 2015 with marvellous performances of his piano duet work, Upon Entering a Painting, by Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa, and Tunstall Chimes (solo piano) by Tom Poster. The final, orchestral concert was entitled ‘In Honour of John McCabe’ and opened with his beautiful little autumnal tone-poem Red leaves, lending the concert a wistful and nostalgic atmosphere, full of warmth and consolation. All praise to the town of Presteigne, and to the staff who organise and run the Festival.
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Discover more of John McCabe's music with our Music Sales Classical playlists on Spotify.
