Cecilia McDowall
Composer
Cecilia McDowall has been described by the International Record Review as having “a communicative gift that is very rare in modern music”. Often inspired by extra-musical influences, her writing combines a rhythmic vitality with expressive lyricism “which is, at times, intensely moving”. She has won many awards and has been short-listed seven times for the British Composer Awards. In 2014 she won the British Composer Award for choral music.
Recent commissions include the Musicians Benevolent Fund St Cecilia anthem for the service of St Cecilia at St Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the joint choirs of Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral; liturgical works for Durham and Liverpool Cathedrals; a commission from the BBC for Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir, the winner of the BBC Radio 3 2008 Choir of the Year; the Welsh Chamber Orchestra with Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone), David Juritz (violin), Anthony Hose (conductor) at the Beaumaris Festival; the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Chorus in conjunction with the NE Community Choir; a short chamber opera, Airborne, marking the centenary of the First World War; and a commission from the Scott Polar research Institute to celebrate the centenary of Scott’s death in 1912 which was performed in the Birmingham Symphony Hall by The London Sinfonia. Another recent choral work, the Shipping Forecast, commissioned by the Portsmouth Choir, gained national media attention.
Much of McDowall’s music has been recorded. The Deux-Elles label has recorded her works for flute and piano and wind ensemble, performed by Ensemble Lumiere and Richard Shaw (piano), including the specially commissioned Arctic Circle for piano and wind quintet. Dutton Epoch has released four recordings performed by the City of Canterbury Chamber Choir and Orchestra Nova directed by George Vass, and the Joyful Company of Singers directed by Peter Broadbent. Three Antiphons has been recorded by the International Celebrity Trumpet Ensemble, consisting of players from the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic on the Brass Classics label. The renowned American choir, Phoenix Chorale, has recorded Three Latin Motets on the Chandos label, winning a Grammy award in February 2009 and a nomination for Best Classical Album.
Oxford University Press has signed Cecilia McDowall as an ‘Oxford’ composer and she is currently composer-in-residence at Dulwich College, London. In 2013 she received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Portsmouth.
Biographical Details
- Year of birth: 1951
- Website: https://ceciliamcdowall.co.uk/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_McDowall
Works by Cecilia McDowall
- A Canterbury Mass
- Adoro te devote
- Alma redemptoris Mater
- Celebration
- Church bells beyond the stars
- Deus, portus pacis
- Deus, qui claro lumine
- Easter Light
- I have done what is mine to do
- I know that my redeemer liveth
- Jesu, the very thought of Thee
- Light Eternal
- Lighten with celestial fire
- Missa Brevis (Tongues of Fire)
- O Antiphon Sequence
- Preces and Responses
- Psallite Domino
- Sacred and Hallowed Fire
- Sounding Heaven and Earth
- St Alban’s Service
- St Pancras Canticles
- Standing as I do before God
- The Lord is Good
- Three Marian Motets
Festival performances of works by Cecilia McDowall
Festival commissionWorld premiereUK premiereLondon premiere
LFCCM @ Home
- Choral Evensong on Tuesday 12 May 2020 (online stream/broadcast)
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 13 May 2020
- Choral Compline on Thursday 14 May 2020 (online stream/broadcast)
- Choral Recital on Saturday 16 May 2020 (online stream/broadcast)
LFCCM 2019
- Organ Recital on Sunday 12 May 2019 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Lunchtime Recital on Tuesday 14 May 2019 at The Queen’s College, Oxford
- Solemn High Mass on Sunday 19 May 2019 at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 19 May 2019 at St Marylebone Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Tuesday 3 December 2019 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2018
- Solemn Mass on Sunday 13 May 2018 at St George’s Cathedral Southwark
- “Songs of Suffrage”: Promenade Concert on Thursday 17 May 2018 at The National Gallery
- Loss and Lamentation on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2017
- Lunchtime Recital on Tuesday 9 May 2017 at The Queen’s College, Oxford
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 10 May 2017 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Thursday 11 May 2017 at St Marylebone Parish Church
- “Mother of God - Songs of Mary”: Promenade Concert on Friday 12 May 2017 at The National Gallery
- Organ Recital on Sunday 14 May 2017 at Westminster Abbey
LFCCM 2016
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 8 May 2016 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 11 May 2016 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2015
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 10 May 2015 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Gala Concert on Saturday 16 May 2015 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Solemn Mass on Sunday 17 May 2015 at Westminster Cathedral
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 17 May 2015 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2014
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 11 May 2014 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 11 May 2014 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Organ Recital on Tuesday 13 May 2014 at Lincoln’s Inn Chapel
- Concert on Friday 16 May 2014 at The National Gallery
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 18 May 2014 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2013
- “Ancient & Modern”: Lunchtime Concert on Friday 17 May 2013 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 19 May 2013 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Parish Mass & Sermon on Sunday 19 May 2013 at St Magnus the Martyr
LFCCM 2012
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 13 May 2012 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Thursday 17 May 2012 at Royal Holloway
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 20 May 2012 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2011
- Choral Evensong on Saturday 7 May 2011 at St Paul’s Cathedral
- Opening Concert on Saturday 7 May 2011 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 8 May 2011 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 8 May 2011 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Organ Recital on Tuesday 10 May 2011 at Lincoln’s Inn Chapel
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 11 May 2011 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Lunchtime Recital on Friday 13 May 2011 at The Purcell Room
LFCCM 2010
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 12 May 2010 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 16 May 2010 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2009
- Opening Concert on Saturday 9 May 2009 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 17 May 2009 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2008
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 18 May 2008 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2006
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 14 May 2006 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2005
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 15 May 2005 at St Pancras Parish Church
Recorded performances of works by Cecilia McDowall
LFCCM 2015
- Alma redemptoris Mater performed by The Marian Consort / Rory McCleery Conductor
- Celebration performed by Léon Charles Organ
- Jesu, the very thought of Thee performed by The Choir of St Pancras Parish Church / Christopher Batchelor Conductor