Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

April 21, 1939 in Huyton, Liverpool, England

Death

:

February 13, 2015 in Rochester, Kent, England

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

John McCabe was a British composer, pianist, and writer who was born on April 21, 1939, in Huyton, Lancashire, England. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. McCabe began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. McCabe attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition with Thomas Pitfield and piano with Gordon Green. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1960 and went on to study at the Munich Hochschule für Musik with composer Harald Genzmer. He also studied with composer and pianist Franz Reizenstein in London. McCabe's early compositions were influenced by the music of Bartók, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich. His first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1965. The symphony was well-received and established McCabe as a promising young composer. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, McCabe continued to compose orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1971. He also wrote chamber music, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Arditti Quartet in 1972. In addition to his work as a composer, McCabe was also an accomplished pianist. He performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout his career, and he recorded many of his own works as well as the works of other composers. McCabe's music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity, harmonic richness, and emotional intensity. He was known for his ability to blend traditional tonality with modernist techniques, creating a unique and distinctive sound. One of McCabe's most famous works is his Piano Concerto, which he composed in 1976. The concerto is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the soloist, and it has become a staple of the piano repertoire. McCabe himself performed the concerto many times throughout his career. Another notable work by McCabe is his Symphony No. 3, which he composed in 1987. The symphony is a powerful and emotional work that reflects McCabe's interest in the natural world. The piece is structured around the four seasons, with each movement representing a different season. McCabe was also a prolific writer and wrote several books on music, including a biography of the composer Alan Rawsthorne. He was a respected music critic and wrote for several publications, including The Guardian and The Times. In addition to his work as a composer and writer, McCabe was also a dedicated teacher. He taught composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and was a visiting professor at several universities in the United States. McCabe was awarded several honors throughout his career, including the Ivor Novello Award for Classical Music in 1985 and the British Composer Award for Inspiration in 2013. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006 for his services to music. McCabe continued to compose and perform until his death on February 13, 2015, at the age of 75. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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