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A year after the University of Portsmouth awarded Cecilia McDowall an honorary doctorate they commissioned an organ work from her, to be performed at each of the graduation ceremonies in 2014. Celebration was written especially to accompany the academic procession and was performed on the mighty Guildhall organ by David Price (University Organist). 'I've tried to capture some of that sense of excitement and joy that fills Portsmouth's Guildhall on these occasions and I have woven into the fabric of the piece a quotation from "To Portsmouth", a cheerful round about the city written by Thomas Ravenscroft at the turn of the seventeenth century.'
This work investigates the musical expression of academic ceremony and civic pride through the composition of a specific organ piece. Cecilia McDowall, a composer recognized with an honorary doctorate, utilizes her expertise in contemporary classical music to create a functional yet celebratory score. The piece serves as a formal accompaniment to graduation processions, bridging historical musical references with modern performance requirements.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and performers view this work as a specialized addition to the liturgical and ceremonial organ repertoire. It is frequently noted for its accessibility and its effective use of historical quotation within a contemporary framework.
Page Count:
12
Publication Date:
2016-07-14
Publisher:
Oxford University Press Music
ISBN-10:
0193406136
ISBN-13:
9780193406131
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