The prolific British composer and celebrated pianist has passed away aged 75.

The British composer and pianist John McCabe, CBE has died, aged 75. His death was confirmed by a statement from his publishers Novello and Company saying that Mr McCabe had “passed away peacefully after a long illness.” 

In addition to his prolific output of music, McCabe was celebrated for his performances and recordings of piano music, and in particular his realisations of Haydn’s sonatas are considered some of the most definitive interpretations of those works. His mid-70’s recording of the complete Haydn piano sonatas was described by Gramophone magazine as “one of the great recorded monuments of the keyboard repertoire.”

Born near Liverpool in 1939, McCabe was a precocious talent, composing 13 symphonies before the age of 11, although in later life he would supress these early pieces. Like fellow composers Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle, McCabe studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern College of Music), however his talents for writing music were initially eclipsed by his skills as a pianist. While a small number of pieces gained McCabe some noterity as a composer, such as his Concerto for Orchestra, premiered by the London Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations in 1982, it was not until the 1990s that McCabe would be perceived primarily as a composer.

McCabe’s versatile and evolving compositional voice produced works for almost every musical medium available, from solo works and chamber compositions to large scale pieces including seven symphonies (in addition the 13 juvenile symphonic works), 15 concerti and eight ballet scores such as Edward II which won the 1998 Barclay’s Theatre Award.  His style explored several compositional aesthetics including serialism and in later life minimalism, as well as rock and jazz influences. 

McCabe was recognised for his contribution to British music in 1985 when he was appointed CBE. He is survived by his wife Monica, whom he married in 1974.

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