Short bio Cecilia McDowall
Full biography Cecilia McDowall
Cecilia McDowall is a British contemporary composer born in London, England in 1951. She is known for her prolific contribution to choral compositions and has won several awards and accolades in this field. McDowall's compositions are highly communicative and are not merely facile, but rather she weaves intricate details into the fabric of her works. Her style is characterized by effective antiphonal writing and artful juxtaposition of textures that work together to create an awe-inspiring experience for the listener.
Choral music is not the only genre that McDowall contributes to, she has composed music for a variety of instruments, including the flute. Her works for the flute are particularly noteworthy as she has a deep understanding of the instrument and its capabilities. McDowall has assisted in the production and casting of various flute types and this has had a significant impact on her compositions for the instrument.
Cecilia McDowall has also made a name for herself in the realm of Christmas carols. Her carol for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols , first performed in December 2021, was highly anticipated by fans of her work. McDowall's music has been performed in various parts of the world and she has had the pleasure of working with several celebrated musicians and organizations.
Overall, Cecilia McDowall is a significant figure in contemporary classical music and her music has made a significant impact on the world of choral and instrumental composition. Her works are characterized by highly communicative melodies that create a unique and immersive listening experience for the audience. Her contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and she continues to inspire and delight music lovers around the world with her passion for music and her innovative compositions.
Compositions featuring Cecilia McDowall
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Flight, for organ | 5:47 min | Keyboard | 2019 |
| 2 | Da Vinci Requiem, for soprano, baritone, chorus & orchestra | 34:37 min | Choral | 2019 |
| 3 | Lo! He Slumbers in His Manger, for chorus | 3:11 min | Choral | 2019 |
| 4 | A Prayer to St John the Baptist, for chorus & organ | 4:07 min | Choral | 2018 |
| 5 | O Antiphon Sequence, for organ | 18:10 min | Keyboard | 2018 |
| 6 | God Is Light, for chorus | 5:48 min | Choral | 2017 |
| 7 | Come home, little sister, for chorus & piano | 6:02 min | Choral | 2017 |
| 8 | Love Incorruptible, for chorus | 4:49 min | Choral | 2017 |
| 9 | Adoro te devote, for soloists & chorus | 4:13 min | Choral | 2015 |
| 10 | A Winter's Night, Christmas cantata for chorus, brass, organ & percussion | 18:46 min | Choral | 2014 |
| 11 | Celebration, for organ | 7:42 min | Keyboard | 2014 |
| 12 | George Herbert Trilogy, for organ | 18:00 min | Keyboard | 2013 |
| 13 | Advent Moon, for chorus, organ & optional handbells | 5:00 min | Choral | 2013 |
| 14 | Church Bells Beyond the Stars, for organ | 5:25 min | Keyboard | 2013 |
| 15 | Before the Paling of the Stars, for chorus & organ | 4:35 min | Choral | 2012 |
| 16 | The Lord is Good, for chorus | 5:48 min | Choral | 2012 |
| 17 | Seventy Degrees Below Zero, cantata for tenor & chamber orchestra | 22:11 min | Vocal Music | 2012 |
| 18 | Crossing the Bridge, for orchestra | 12:09 min | Orchestral | 2011 |
| 19 | Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält (Where the Lord God does not Dwell with Us), for organ | 3:29 min | Keyboard | 2011 |
| 20 | Theatre of Tango, for voice, violin & orchestra | 19:03 min | Vocal Music | 2011 |
| 21 | Shipping Forecast, for narrator, chorus, & orchestra | 14:34 min | Choral | 2011 |
| 22 | Aurea luce, for chorus & organ | 6:02 min | Choral | 2010 |
| 23 | I know that my Redeemer liveth, for chorus | 5:28 min | Choral | 2009 |
| 24 | Deus, portus pacis, for chorus | 5:56 min | Choral | 2009 |
| 25 | Framed, for trumpet & piano | 19:23 min | Chamber Music | 2009 |
| 26 | Laudate, for voice, chorus & chamber orchestra | 13:13 min | Choral | 2008 |
| 27 | A Canterbury Mass, for chorus | 15:43 min | Choral | 2007 |
| 28 | Now may we singen, carol for chorus | 3:25 min | Choral | 2007 |
| 29 | Great Hills, concertante for violin, 2 flutes & orchestra | 12:35 min | Concerto | 2007 |
| 30 | Rain, Steam & Speed, for orchestra | 10:21 min | Orchestral | 2006 |
| 31 | Three Antiphons, for 5 trumpets & organ | 8:22 min | Chamber Music | 2006 |
| 32 | Five Seasons, cantata for chorus, oboe, English horn, harp & string orchestra | 25:45 min | Choral | 2006 |
| 33 | I have done what is mine to do, anthem for chorus | 2:21 min | Choral | 2006 |
| 34 | Mein blaues Klavier, for soprano sax & piano | 10:56 min | Chamber Music | 2006 |
| 35 | Radnor Songs, for voice & orchestra | Vocal Music | 2005 | |
| 36 | Dancing Fish, for soprano saxophone & string orchestra | 9:40 min | Concerto | 2004 |
| 37 | Regina Caeli, for chorus | 3:05 min | Choral | 2004 |
| 38 | Ave Maria, for upper voice chorus | 3:20 min | Choral | 2004 |
| 39 | Dance the Dark Streets, concerto grosso for string orchestra with piano obbligato | 12:44 min | Concerto | 2003 |
| 40 | The Moon Dances, for flute & piano | 14:21 min | Chamber Music | 2003 |
| 41 | Fox Woman, for oboe & voice | 9:12 min | Vocal Music | 2002 |
| 42 | Hodie Gloriosa, for ensemble | 8:02 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 43 | Arctic Circle, for wind quintet & piano | 10:05 min | Chamber Music | 2001 |
| 44 | Eleven, for flute & piano | 6:02 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 45 | Pavane, for orchestra | 4:52 min | Orchestral | 1999 |
| 46 | Pavane for piano | 4:03 min | Keyboard | 1999 |
| 47 | Not Just a Place, for flute, cello & piano | 6:57 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 48 | Tapsalteerie, for piano | 5:13 min | Keyboard | 1999 |
| 49 | Not Just a Place, for violin, double bass & piano (or orchestra) | 7:20 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 50 | Seraphim, concerto for solo trumpet, string orchestra & percussion | 14:12 min | Concerto | 1999 |
| 51 | Le Temps Viendra, for oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet & piano | 6:10 min | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| 52 | Soundtracks, for flute & piano | 9:35 min | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| 53 | Vespers in Venice, for piano | 3:05 min | Keyboard | 1997 |
| 54 | Piper's Dream, for flute & piano | 4:05 min | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| 55 | Concert Studies (3), for flute & piano | 3:10 min | Chamber Music | 1994 |
| 56 | Impressions (7), for piccolo & piano | 8:15 min | Chamber Music | 1993 |
| 57 | Winter Music, for wind quintet | 9:06 min | Chamber Music | 1992 |
| 58 | Shakespeare Songs (4), for soprano & piano or string orchestra | 10:57 min | Vocal Music | 1991 |
| 59 | Pastiches (6), for flute & piano | 9:58 min | Chamber Music | 1985 |
| 60 | Standing as I do before God, for soprano & chorus | 5:59 min | Choral | - |
| 61 | Y Deryn Pur ("The Gentle Dove"), for oboe, violin, viola & cello | 6:37 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 62 | Tango Oscuro, for brass ensemble | 5:55 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 63 | The Buzzard, for voice & piano | 2:45 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 64 | White Bee, for countertenor, violin & piano | 4:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 65 | The Case of the Unanswered Wire, for string quartet | 9:23 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 66 | To a Nightingale, for string quartet | 4:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 67 | Three Pastiches, for flute (or clarinet) & piano | Chamber Music | - | |
| 68 | Three Latin Motets, for chorus | 8:56 min | Choral | - |
| 69 | Dream City, for flute, clarinet, string quartet & harp | 19:45 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 70 | A Draught of Fishes, for piano quartet | 3:22 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 71 | A Fancy of Folksongs, for soprano, chorus & harp | 11:31 min | Choral | - |
| 72 | Alma redemptoris mater, motet for 6 voices | 5:07 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 73 | An Unexpected Shore, for soprano & chorus | 5:03 min | Choral | - |
| 74 | Annunciation, advent carol for chorus | 4:07 min | Choral | - |
| 75 | Ave maris stella, for soprano, chorus & string orchestra | 11:49 min | Choral | - |
| 76 | Christus natus est, a cantata for Christmas, for soprano, chorus & small orchestra | 15:10 min | Choral | - |
| 77 | Deus, qui claro lumine, for chorus | 6:21 min | Choral | - |
| 78 | Stabat Mater, for voice, children's chorus, chorus & orchestra | 29:31 min | Choral | - |
| 79 | Gaude et laetare, for chorus & organ | 3:44 min | Choral | - |
| 80 | Lonely Hearts, for chorus, flute, clarinet, harp, violin, viola & cello | 8:24 min | Choral | - |
| 81 | Magnificat, for soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus & small orchestra | 25:34 min | Choral | - |
| 82 | Not Just a Place, for violin & piano | 6:46 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 83 | O Oriens, for chorus (from collective Seven Advent Antiphons) | 4:24 min | Choral | - |
| 84 | Of a Rose, for chorus | 2:27 min | Choral | - |
| 85 | On Angel's Wing, cantata for 2 voices, children's chorus, chorus, piano & percussion | 15:06 min | Choral | - |
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