Cecilia McDowall: Da Vinci Requiem, Seventy Degrees Below Zero

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With gently swirling, shimmering, beautifully orchestrated textures of ten imbued with a devotional mystery, the spirit [of the Requiem] is of a step on from the larger choral statements of Vaughan... — BBC Music Magazine, June 2023, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 7th Apr 2023
Catalogue No: SIGCD749
Label: Signum
Length: 56 minutes

Presto Editor's Choice

April 2023

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McDowall, C: Da Vinci Requiem

Work length34:41

$7.00

$9.80

$12.25

Kate Royal (soprano), Roderick Williams (baritone)
Wimbledon Choral, City of London Sinfonia
Neil Ferris

I. Introit and Kyrie

Track length5:17

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

II. The Virgin of the Rocks

Track length4:34

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

III. I Obey Thee, O Lord (Lacrymosa)

Track length4:51

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

IV. Sanctus and Benedictus

Track length4:32

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

V. Agnus Dei

Track length5:24

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VI. O You Who Are Asleep

Track length5:17

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VII. Lux Aeterna

Track length4:46

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

McDowall, C: Seventy Degrees Below Zero

Work length22:14

$4.00

$5.60

$6.95

Benjamin Hulett (tenor)
Wimbledon Choral, City of London Sinfonia
Neil Ferris

I. We Measure

Track length6:27

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

II. The Ice Tree

Track length7:42

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

III. To My Widow

Track length8:05

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

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Interview, Cecilia McDowall on her Da Vinci Requiem and Seventy Degrees below Zero

24th May 2023

The composer discusses two of her new large-scale choral works, her approaches to matching words to music, and her aims as a contemporary composer.

“Da Vinci Requiem brings together my chosen Latin texts from the Missa pro Defunctis with extracts from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, and is structured in seven movements in the shape of an arch... It has been a fascinating exploration, aligning Leonardo’s extraordinary insights, both artistic and philosophical, with such a profound and ancient text.

“Seventy degrees below zero is a three-movement work for chamber orchestra and tenor soloist. [Inspired by work carried out by the Scott Polar Research Institute], the phrase for the title was taken from Scott’s Letter to his wife: ‘Dear, it is not easy to write because of the cold - 70 degrees below zero.’ The scientific exploration and data collected by Captain Scott’s team at the beginning of the 20th century still powerfully underlies the research which continues to this day. It was with a desire to join the past with the present that I asked the poet, Seán Street, to write two poems to accompany Scott’s words: words from ‘then’ and words from ‘now’.” - Cecilia McDowall

Wimbledon Choral has been described by many as “one of the most substantial and formidable choirs in London... a vigorous and sophisticated choral ensemble.” The choir is over 100 years old, re-founded in the early stages of the First World War, but its earliest recorded roots go back to 1870. Today they are a modern, dynamic group of singers, always ready to stretch themselves and try new things, making sure they keep up the reputation of one of the finest amateur symphonic choirs in South East England.

Reviews

June 2023

With gently swirling, shimmering, beautifully orchestrated textures of ten imbued with a devotional mystery, the spirit [of the Requiem] is of a step on from the larger choral statements of Vaughan Williams...The City of London Sinfonia are sensitive partners to the voices throughout, while conductor Neil Ferris should be commended for his judicious pacing and marshalling of all involved.

April 2023

Weaving extracts from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci together with texts from the Latin Mass, the Da Vinci Requiem contains many passages of luminous beauty...More striking still is the almost Britten-esque Seventy Degrees Below Zero, which paints an extraordinarily vivid picture of Scott's final, doomed Antarctic expedition; tenor Ben Hulett is incredibly moving here, particularly in the closing section setting the explorer's last letter to his wife.

Cecilia McDowall: Da Vinci Requiem, Seventy Degrees Below Zero

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Interview, Cecilia McDowall on her Da Vinci Requiem and Seventy Degrees below Zero

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