John McCabe

For SATB soli or semi-chorus and SATB chorus a cappella. I sing of a Maiden by John McCabe was commissioned by Liverpool Cathedral and first performed by the Choir of Liverpool Cathedral directed by David Poulter on 20th December 2008.

Peace Carol (2006) with text adapted from the Scottish Psalter by Monica and John McCabe is for SATB choir.Peace Carol (2006) received its first performance on 15th May 2014 at St John's College University of Cambridge.According to Rebecca Tavener of Organist's Review the work exhibits 'a sparse...feel to the harmony with evocative open fifths at the end of many phrases and a lilting uneasy yearning quality.'Duration: 3'.

Arranged for SSSAAATTTBBB the lyrics are from an anonymous writer of the fourteenth century and have been adapted by the composer.The composer says: 'Woefully arrayed is a supreme choral setting by William Cornysh Junior who died in 1523 of a text usually regarded as of anonymous composition though there have been some attributions to John Skelton. It is a thoughtful powerful meditation on Christ on the Cross and though Cornysh’s setting has remarkable intensity and contrapuntal artistry I felt a strong wish to add my own response to this fine text. The different versions of it have different verses that used by Cornysh has three verses (plus therefrain) while there are others with four or even five (one attributed to Skelton has five). I have chosen to restrict myself to the three used by Cornysh using my own adaptation of the modernised words which yet incorporates some archaisms a deliberate choice for reasons of rhythm and verbal sound. This setting was commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival 2009 for Stile Antico to whom it is dedicated.''Difficult to perform but not difficult to listen to this 2009 Three Choirs Festival commission was first performed by Stile Antico who have since toured it. It is a heartfelt response to the fourteenth-century text passionate and anguished Christ is on the cross ‘woefully arrayed’. Although written for a secular choir it is a piece that could be sung by many cathedral and collegiate choirs: there is considerable doubling between the sixteen lines and a keyboard reduction to help the initial sorting out. Above all it is dramatic and would communicate directly to audiences if given a chance to hear it.'       - James L Montgomer RSCM review

First performed at the Festival of Saint Cecilia Service on 19th November 2003 in St.Paul's Cathedral.

This little tribute to William Ferris and the William Ferris Chorale consists of two sections the first slow and the second quick. The text is simply the two words of the title the Amen being the first section and (with minimal overlap) the Alleluia the second. In each part the relevant word is gradually built up from its component syllables or sounds and the second section is a gradual progress from a quiet light texture to a blazing final cadence. Commissioned by the William Ferris Chorale for their 20th Anniversary Season and first performed by them on 27 March 1992 at Mount Carmel Church Chicago Illinois conducted by William Ferris.

Written for SATB chorus this is John McCabe's setting of a text by Thomas Hardy celebrating the songbirds of England and the birth/rebirth of life itself. A Piano accompaniment is provided for rehearsal purposes only.

This little tribute to William Ferris and the William Ferris Chorale consists of two sections, the first slow and the second quick. The text is simply the two words of the title, the Amen being the first section and (with minimal overlap) the Alleluia the second. In each part, the relevant word is gradually built up from its component syllables or sounds, and the second section is a gradual progress from a quiet, light texture to a blazing final cadence. Commissioned by the William Ferris Chorale for their 20th Anniversary Season and first performed by them on 27 March 1992 at Mount Carmel Church, Chicago, Illinois, conducted by William Ferris. / SATB

Commissioned by St John’s College Cambridge the first performance of John McCabe's The last and greatest Herald took place at St. John’s College Cambridge on 29th November 2008 by the combined Choir of St. John's College Cambridge conducted by Andrew Nethsingha with Timothy Ravalde Senior Organ Scholar.

Reduction For Satb/Organ-John McCabe's Psalm-Cantata arranged for Soprano Baritone SATB choir and Organ by Iain Farrington.This work was commissioned by the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman who gave the first performance on 16th March 2013 at St. John’s SmithSquare London.'I’ve wanted to write a choral/instrumental piece based on texts from the Psalms for a very long time so this commission from the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman (to whom the work is dedicated) was a wonderful opportunity to put this idea into practice. I decided to write a kind of latter-day equivalent to the Bachcantatas with two soloists (soprano and baritone). The texts are derived from a variety of Psalm sources: some in Latin some in English a meditation by Savonarola and a Henry Vaughan poem.' - John McCabe