McCabe, John (
b Huyton, 1939). Eng. composer, pianist, and critic. As pianist specializes in 20th-cent. Eng. mus. and Haydn. Pianist-in-residence Univ. Coll., Cardiff, 1965–8. Dir., London Coll. of Mus. 1983–90. CBE 1985. Prin. comps.:OPERAS:
The Lion,
The Witch, and The Wardrobe (1968);
The Play of Mother Courage (1974).BALLETS:
The Teachings of Don Juan (1973);
Mary, Queen of Scots (1975);
Edward II (1994–5).ORCH.: syms.; No.1 (
Elegy) (1965), No.2 (1970–1), No.3 (
Hommages) (1978), No.4 (
Of Time and the River) (1994–5); Concerto for Chamber Orch. (1962, rev. 1968);
Variations on a Theme of Hartmann (1964);
Concertante Variations on a Theme of Nicholas Maw (1970);
The Chagall Windows (1974);
Sonata on a Motet, str. (1976); 2
Suites from ballet ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’ (1976);
Jubilee Suite (1977);
The Shadow of Light (1979);
Concerto for Orchestra (1982);
Rainforest, 10 players (1984);
Tuning (1985);
Fire at Durilgai (1988);
Red Leaves (1991).CONCERTOS: pf., No.1 (1966), No.2 (1970), No.3 (
Dialogues) (1976, rev. 1977); vn., No.1 (1959), No.2 (1980); cl. (1971);
Concerto funèbre, va., chamber orch. (1962); Chamber Conc., va., vc., orch. (1965);
Concertante, hpd., chamber ens. (1965);
Concertino, pf. duet, orch. (1968);
Metamorphosen, hpd., orch. (1968); ob. d'amore (1972); cl. (1977);
Rainforest II, tpt., str. (1987);
Double Concerto, ob., cl. (1987–8); fl. (1990); ob. (1995).VOICE & ORCH.:
Notturni ed Alba, sop., orch. (1970);
Voyage, 5 soloists, boys’ ch., ch., orch. (1972);
Time Remembered, sop., ens. (1973);
Stabat Mater, sop., ch., orch. (1976);
Reflections on a Summer Night, ch., orch. (1976);
Music's Empire, 16 solo vv., or SATB soli and ch., or ch. only, orch. (1981);
Wind,
Sand and Stars, sop., ens. (1992).CHAMBER MUSIC:
Partita for str. qt. (1960); 3
Pieces, cl., pf. (1964); str. trio (1965);
Fantasy, brass qt. (1965);
Movements, cl., vn., vc. (1964, rev. 1966);
Partita, vc. (1966);
Nocturnal, pf., str. qt. (1966);
Rounds, brass quintet (1967);
Canto, gui. (1968); ob. qt. (1968); conc., pf., wind quintet (1969);
Canzona, wind, perc. (1970); str. qts. No.2 (1972), No.3 (1979), No.4 (1982), No.5 (1989);
The Goddess Trilogy, hn., pf. (1973–5);
Dances, tpt., pf. (1980);
Desert I:
Lizard, fl., ob., cl., bn., perc. (1981),
II: Horizon, 10 brass (1981),
III: Landscape, pf. trio (1982),
IV: Vista, rec. (1983);
January Sonatina, cl. (1990);
Harbour with Ships (Five Impressions), brass quintet (1991);
Postcards, wind quintet (1991).BRASS BAND:
Images (1978);
Cloudcatcher fells (1985);
Desert II (Horizon), arr. for brass band (1987); Ov.,
Northern lights (1992).WIND BAND: Sym. for 10 wind instr. (1964);
Images (1978, arr. from brass);
Canyons (1991).VOCAL:
Great Lord of Lords (1966);
Hymn to God the Father (1966);
Canticles for Salisbury (1966);
Aspects of Whiteness (1967, rev. 1969);
The Morning Watch (1968);
Norwich Canticles (1970);
Behold a Silly Tender Babe (1975);
Motet (1979);
Siberia (1980);
Visions (1983);
Scenes in America Deserta (1986);
Proud Songsters (1989);
Amen/Alleluia (1991).PIANO:
Variations (1963); 5
Bagatelles (1964);
Fantasy on a Theme of Liszt (1967);
Intermezzi (1968);
Capriccio (1969);
Sostenuto (1969);
Gaudi (1970);
Aubade (1970);
Basse Danse, 2 pf. (1970);
Couples (1975);
Mosaic Study (1980);
Afternoons and Afterwards (1981);
Lamentation Rag (1982);
Haydn Variations (1983);
I have a bonnet trimmed with blue, pf. duet (1992);
Tenebrae (1992–3).ORGAN:
Sinfonia (1961);
Dies Resurrectionis (1963);
Prelude (1964);
Johannis-Partita (1964);
Elegy (1965);
Miniconcerto, organ, perc., and audience (485 penny whistles) (1966).
